DEVINE Distillery’s Ancient Grains Named “Canadian Artisan Spirit of the Year” at the Canadian Artisan Spirit Competition
Fifth annual competition announces winners in 23 categories
Artisan Distillers Canada (ADC) is proud to announce that DEVINE Distillery’s Ancient Grains has earned top honours at the 2022 Canadian Artisan Spirit Competition (CASC), having scored highest overall marks out of hundreds of entries across 20 spirit categories.
“Ancient Grains has demonstrated its pedigree over several years, earning Gold Medals and Best in Class (Young Whisky) in 2019, 2020, and 2021,” said the ADC’s founder, Alex Hamer. “It’s fitting, that this year, this outstanding spirit has claimed the top spot.”
The judges clearly loved this spirit. One remarked in their notes: “Huge fruit and cedar on the nose, with salty caramel, tangerine, and tarragon and lemongrass on the palate, with white pepper on the finish. Rich, almost oily texture carries lingering tastes. A flavour bomb of a young whisky!”
CASC is comprised of a national, independent panel of judges who evaluated entries submitted from nearly 80 artisan distilleries across 10 provinces and territories. In addition to awarding Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals to qualifying spirits, the competition includes classes for:
Branding
Bitters
Zero-Proof Spirits (new for 2022)
Bottled Cocktails (new for 2022)
Medals with Distinction are awarded to those spirits or bitters that have met or exceeded their standing from the previous year. Lastly, the Terroir honour recognizes distilleries whose use of local ingredients is reflected in the character of their spirits.
This year’s competition has shown exceptional results from Quebec, which saw its distilleries earn six Best in Class awards, including two for Alpha Tango Spirits (in Val-d’Or), for its Mission Kosmos (Classic Vodka), and Echo Foxtrot (Flavoured Gin). “Every year we see strong results from across the country,” said Hamer, “but given the recent and rapid growth of distilleries in Quebec, it’s a joy to see them perform so well at the national level.”
BEST IN CLASS AWARDS
The top spirit in each category earns the Best in Class award.
Absinthe: Strathcona Spirits Distillery (AB) – Absinthe Blanche
Aged Gin: Distillerie Fils du Roy Inc. (QC) – Gin Thuya Silver
Alternative Rum: Monashee Spirits Craft Distillery (BC) – Revy Rum
Amaro or Vermouth: Odd Society Spirits (BC) – Bittersweet Vermouth
Brandy: Maple Leaf Spirits Inc (BC) – Lady of the Cask
Classic Gin: Distillerie Wabasso Inc (QC) – Wabasso Original
Classic Vodka: Alpha Tango Spirits (QC) – Mission Kosmos
Contemporary Gin: Ampersand Distilling Company (BC) – Ampersand Gin
Contemporary Vodka: Silver Fox Distillery (ON) – Sterling Vodka
Eau de Vie: Intermiel (QC) – O eau de vie de pomme
Flavoured Gin: Alpha Tango Spirits (QC) – Echo Foxtrot
Fruit Liqueur: La Vallée Bleue Distillerie (QC) – Atokmix
Infused or Flavoured Vodka: Crooked River Distillery | Distillerie (NB) – Barrel Aged Vodka
Liqueur: Sons of Vancouver Distillery (BC) – Blue Curacao
Single Grain Whisky: Shelter Point Distillery (BC) – Shelter Point Montfort 151
Single Malt Whisky: Shelter Point Distillery (BC) – Shelter Point Double Barrel 6
Traditional Rum: Distillerie de Quebec (QC) – St-Roc Fondation
White Whisky: Bridgeland Distillery (AB) – St. Paddy’s 3X Pot Distilled Grain Spirit
Young Whisky: DEVINE Distillery (BC) – Ancient Grains
Bitters: Free Pour Jenny’s (YK) – Highbush Cranberry & Grapefruit Bitters
Bottled Cocktails: Patent 5 Distillery (MB) – Spiced Gin Old Fashioned
Branding: Odd Society Spirits (BC) – Monarch – Five Stage Whisky
Zero-Proof Spirits: Lumette! (BC) – Lumrum
See the complete results in all categories here: artisandistillers.ca/2022-results.
ABOUT THE CANADIAN ARTISAN SPIRIT COMPETITION and ARTISAN DISTILLERS CANADA
Artisan Distillers Canada is a national organization focused on celebrating and highlighting artisan distilleries and spirits across Canada. The annual Canadian Artisan Spirit Competition was founded in 2017 to recognize the best of Canadian artisan distilling. Distilleries must meet ADC qualifications (view here) to participate in the competition.
The first annual Artisan Distillers Canada Conference & Trade Show will be held October 24 – 25, 2022, at the Vancouver Convention Centre.
For more information, visit artisandistillers.ca.
Media release and graphic provided by Laura Serena, Serena PR.
