Lyons, Colo., November 14, 2019 - The judging process turned into Alchemy at the 2019 Breckenridge Craft Spirits Festival for Spirit Hound Distillers as their Oak Barrel Finished Gin and Colorado Honey Whisk(e)y were both awarded gold medals. For the Honey Whisky, the result was twice as good as it received a double-gold medal - a distinction which hasn’t been awarded in the American single malt category since 2015.
The one of a kind Colorado Honey Whisky was created in collaboration with another nearby Colorado small business, Bee Squared Apiaries. Unlike other mass produced Whiskeys that use saccharine-sweet flavorings, Spirit Hound produced a true and authentic product by aging their whisky in actual honey barrels with a very hands-on process. The additional investment in time and sweat delivered a natural single malt, with amplified flavors and honey characters, without being overly sweet. The rare double-gold medal distinction is evidence that the hard work paid off.
“When you pour your heart and soul in a bottle it’s natural to think what you’ve made is great,” said Spirit Hound Head Distiller and Mad Scientist, Craig Engelhorn. “And we felt Colorado Honey was damn good. But to be recognized with a medal that hasn’t even been given out in four years was pretty serious affirmation that we were right. It’s an honor and something we share with all our fans - they’ve played a huge part in this and something we don’t take for granted.”
The Oak Barrel Finished Gin was recognized for its warming flavors of Mexican vanilla, cassia cinnamon, and nutmeg. The distinctive taste is a result of very intentional interplay between liquid and wood. The pairing starts with Spirit Hound’s decision to use brand-new Oak barrels because the fresh, toasted oak contributes unique sweet, caramelized sugar notes to the gin. The classic gin has an herbal spiciness that showcases fennel and anise, so resting it in a barrel mutes those flavors and allows the cinnamon, coriander, and cardamom to shine through. The gold medal flavor is the off-spring of a well-calculated pairing, and not something to be missed.
Both of the small batch, seasonal releases are highly sought after, sell out fast, and can be difficult to find. However the following upcoming events are great opportunities to taste the gold medal spirits, and meet the mad scientists behind the barrels who came up with them.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Friday, November 15th Bottled in Bond - 4 Year Whisky Details
Friday, November 22nd Richardo’s Re-Release Details
Saturday, December 7th 7th Anniversary Party Details
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