Announcing the Winners of the Annual Sunset International Spirits Competition

It’s a wonderful wide, wide world of spirits in the West, and each year we host the Sunset International Spirits Competition to steer you to bottles worth seeking out. Late last year we assembled an esteemed panel of judges and tasted our way through hundreds of bottles that collectively represent what’s being distilled throughout the West and beyond and have just published an issue celebrating the honorees. Whether it’s whiskey, bourbon, rum, liqueur. or gin, one and all they embody what spirits lovers want most incredible flavor the highest production standards  and above all deliciousness. Cheers to the winners of the 2023 Sunset International Spirits Competition!

Brand	Name	Award	Extra Honors	Website
Pendray’s Distillery	Pendray's Distillery XO Brandy—Buy It!	Best of the Best/Best of Class	Best Brandy	pasoportwine.com
Brucato Amaro	Chaparral	Double Gold/Best of Class	Best Liqueur	brucatoamaro.com
Cierto Tequila	Private Collection, Extra A–ejo	Double Gold/Best of Class	Best Tequila	cierto.com
Cutwater Spirits	Cutwater Mezcal Reposado	Double Gold/Best of Class	Best Mezcal	cutwaterspirits.com
Cutwater Spirits	Cutwater Spicy Bloody Mary	Gold/Best of Class	Best Ready to Drink	cutwaterspirits.com
Hinterhaus Distilling	South Grove Gin	Double Gold/Best of Class	Best Gin	hinterhausdistilling.com
Jewell Distillery Citron Vodka	Jewell Citron Vodka	Double Gold/Best of Class	Best Vodka Flavored/Infused	jewelldistillery.com
Royal Mash	Royal Mash Vintage 2020	Double Gold/Best of Class	Best Vodka	royalmash.com
Savage & Cooke	Savage & Cooke Bourbon Whiskey	Double Gold/Best of Class	Best Whiskey	savageandcooke.com
High Noon	High Noon Grapefruit	Double Gold/Best of Class	Best Hard Seltzer	gallo.com
Venus Spirits	El Ladron Yolo - CA Roasted Agave	Double Gold/Best of Class	Best Other Agave Spirits	venusspirits.com
Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey	Uncle Nearest 1884 Small Batch Whiskey	Double Gold/Best of Class		unclenearest.com
Beehive Distilling	Barrel Reserve	Double Gold/Best of Class		beehivedistilling.com
Cierto Tequila	Private Collection, Anejo	Double Gold/Best of Class		cierto.com
Cutwater Spirits	Cutwater Strawberry Margarita	Double Gold/Best of Class		cutwaterspirits.com
Cutwater Spirits	Cutwater Tropical Tiki Rum Mai Tai	Double Gold/Best of Class		cutwaterspirits.com
Cutwater Spirits	Cutwater White Russian	Double Gold/Best of Class		cutwaterspirits.com
503 Distilling	Silent Rock Vanilla Whiskey Cream	Double Gold/Best of Class		503distilling.com
Angel's Envy	Angel's Envy 2023 Cask Strength Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Sauternes and Toasted Oak Barrels	Double Gold/Best of Class		angelsenvy.com
Rancho La Gloria	Espresso Martini	Double Gold/Best of Class		rancholagloria.com
Spirit Works Distillery	Barrel Reserve Sloe Gin	Double Gold/Best of Class		spiritworksdistilling.com
St. George Spirits NOLA Coffee Liqueur	NOLA Coffee Liqueur	Double Gold/Best of Class		stgeorgespirits.com
Terrapin	Terrapin Spruce	Double Gold/Best of Class		tcdistilling.com
Boldt	Bottled in Bond Rye Whiskey	Gold/Best of Class		alchemydistillery.com
Crater Lake Spirits	Black Butte Whiskey Cask Strength	Gold/Best of Class		craterlakespirits.com
Las Californias	Las Californias Citrico	Gold/Best of Class		lascalifornias.com
Cutwater Spirits	Cutwater Whiskey Lemonade	Gold/Best of Class		cutwaterspirits.com
Sienna Spirits Distillery	Arizona Reaper	Gold/Best of Class		lovetonfarmsdistillery.com
Fast Penny Spirits	Amaricano Shakerato	Gold/Best of Class		fastpennyspirits.com

And let’s celebrate our other honorees

• Double Gold
• Gold

The Competition Judges:

• Dan Berger, award-winning wine columnist
• Debra Del Fiorentino, sommelier, CSW, and CWP
• Ziggy Eschliman, radio and TV host, blogger, the Contessa of Cocktails.
• Tara Heffernon, sommelier and restaurant owner
• Jason Jorgensen, co-founder and head distiller Alley 6
• Jennifer Kelly, sommelier, consultant, and spirit expert
• Lara Sanfilippo, sommelier and restaurant owner
• Chris Sawyer, sommelier to the stars, radio and TV personality
• Jason Schneider, general manager, Bottle Barn, chief spirit buyer
• Vicki Tomesello, sommelier and consultant
• Larry Van Aalst, sommelier, radio host, The Sonoma Report, CRN radio

Read the 2024 Spirits Issue

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