2021 Best of the Northwest Spirits

by | Oct 21, 2021

Announcing the esteemed medalists of the 2021 Best of the Northwest Spirits!

The complete results will be published in the print edition of Sip Magazine out in January 2022 and will feature the full article with tasting notes, industry insight, expert opinions and more to add to your drink shopping list, click here to order a copy.

All spirits are organized from clear to darker and specialty liquors, listed at 750-milliliter bottles and priced in USD unless otherwise noted.

VODKA

PLATINUM
Vodka >> $20
DISTILLERY | Drop Shop Distillery
Hillsboro, OR

DOUBLE GOLD
Rebel Vodka >> $42 CAD
DISTILLERY | Forbidden Spirits Distilling Co.
Kelowna, BC

GOLD
Wheat Vodka >> $29
DISTILLERY | Scratch Distillery
Edmonds, WA

SILVER
Superior Vodka >> $19
DISTILLERY | Pursuit Distilling
Enumclaw, WA

JUDGES’ PICKS
FWD Pacific Northwest Vodka | Headwind Spirits
Portland, OR

Timberline | Hood River Distillers
Hood River, OR

American | Wild Roots
Portland, OR

FLAVORED VODKA

PLATINUM
ALOO Chili Pepper Vodka >> $23
DISTILLERY | OOLA Distillery
Seattle, WA

DOUBLE GOLD
Bar Pilot Chai Tea Vodka >> $25
DISTILLERY | Pilot House Distilling
Astoria, OR

GOLD
Peach Infused Vodka >> $30
DISTILLERY | Wild Roots
Portland, OR

SILVER (TIE)
Cold Spring Huckleberry Vodka >> $33
DISTILLERY | Bozeman Spirits Distilling
Bozeman, MT

SILVER (TIE)
Raspberry Vodka >> $29
DISTILLERY | Bellewood Distilling
Lynden, WA

JUDGES’ PICKS
Barrel Finished Pepper Vodka | Scratch Distillery
Edmonds, WA

Cucumber Vodka | Blackfish Spirits Distillery
Auburn, WS

Rán Vodka | Chambers Bay Distillery
University Place, WA

GIN

PLATINUM
Mianda’s Oregon Summer Gin >> $33
DISTILLERY | Ewing Young Distillery
Newberg, OR

DOUBLE GOLD
Big Gin >> $25
DISTILLERY | Captive Spirits Distilling
Seattle, WA

GOLD
Gin >> $32
DISTILLERY | Bellewood Distilling
Lynden, WA

SILVER
Old Tom Gin >> $35
DISTILLERY | Ransom Spirits
Sheridan, OR

JUDGES’ PICKS
ALOO | Oola Distillery
Seattle, WA

Bailey’s | Drop Shop Distillery
Hillsboro, OR

Ruby River | Bozeman Spirits
Bozeman, MT

BARREL-AGED GIN

PLATINUM
Old Tom Gin >> $35
DISTILLERY | New Deal Distillery
Portland, OR

DOUBLE GOLD
Barrel Finished Gin >> $51
DISTILLERY | Scratch Distillery
Edmonds, WA

GOLD
Bourbon Barreled Big Gin >> $28
DISTILLERY Captive Spirits
Seattle, WA

SILVER
Gintrigue Barrel-Aged Gin >> $40
DISTILLERY | James Bay Distillers
Everett, WA

JUDGES’ PICKS
Barrel-Aged Painted Lady | Pilot House Distilling
Astoria, OR

Peat Barreled | Big Gin
Seattle, WA

Barrel-Aged Gin, Batch #1 | Highside Distilling

RUM

PLATINUM
Hibiscus Coconut Rum >> $39
DISTILLERY | Whistling Andy Distillery
Bigfork, MT

DOUBLE GOLD
Rum 47 Bottled in Bond >> $50
DISTILLERY | Puget Sound Rum Company
Woodinville, WA

GOLD
Rum Paradiso >> $35
DISTILLERY | Divine Distillers
Salem, OR

SILVER (TIE)
Rum 47 White >> $32
DISTILLERY | Puget Sound Rum Company
Woodinville, WA

SILVER (TIE)
Anchor Rose Pineapple Rum >>$25
DISTILLERY | Sinister Distilling
Albany, OR

WHISKEY

PLATINUM
Alter Ego Solera Aged Rye >> $45
DISTILLERY | Doc Swinson’s
Ferndale, WA

DOUBLE GOLD
Edmond’s Own Whiskey >> $69
DISTILLERY | Scratch Distillery
Edmonds, WA

GOLD
Emerald Straight American Whiskey >>$79
DISTILLERY | Ransom Spirits
Sheridan, OR

SILVER (TIE)
Gambler 500 Whiskey >> $29
DISTILLERY | 503 Distilling
Portland, OR

SILVER (TIE)
Straight Rye Whiskey >> $50
DISTILLERY | Stone Barn Brandyworks
Portland, OR

JUDGES’ PICKS
TRIT Straight Whiskey | Branch Point Distillery
Dayton, OR

Sudden Wisdom Straight Rye Whiskey | Montgomery Distillery
Missoula, MT

Whipper Snapper | Ransom Spirits
Sheridan, OR

FLAVORED WHISKEY

PLATINUM
Cold Brew Coffee Whiskey >> $28
DISTILLERY | Pursuit Distilling Co
Enumclaw, WA

DOUBLE GOLD
Sinfire Cinnamon Whisky >> $14
DISTILLERY | Hood River Distillers
Hood River, OR

GOLD
Maple Flavored Whiskey >> $30
DISTILLERY | Black Heron Spirits
West Richland, WA

SILVER (TIE)
Apple Pie Flavored Whiskey >> $30
DISTILLERY | Blackfish Spirits Distillery
Auburn, WA

SILVER (TIE)
Suspect Pineapple Jalapeño Flavored Whiskey >> $23
DISTILLERY | Pursuit Distilling
Enumclaw, WA

JUDGES’ PICKS
Seven Devils Sunnyslope Honey | Koenig Distillery
Caldwell, ID

Peach Rock & Rye | Stone Barn Brandyworks
Portland, OR

SINGLE MALT WHISKEY

PLATINUM
Howard Jacob Single Malt Whiskey >> $50
DISTILLERY | Sinister Distilling Company
Albany, OR

DOUBLE GOLD
Peated American Single Malt Whiskey >> $45
DISTILLERY | Black Heron Spirits
West Richland, WA

GOLD
American Single Malt Whiskey >> $45
DISTILLERY | Black Heron Spirits
West Richland, WA

SILVER
McCarthy’s Oregon Single Malt Whiskey >> $55
DISTILLERY | Clear Creek Distillery
Hood River, OR

JUDGES’ PICKS
American Single Malt Whiskey | Montgomery Distillery
Missoula, MT

The Magnificent Whiskey | Pursuit Distilling Co.
Enumclaw, WA

North Idaho Single Malt | Up North Distillery
Post Falls, ID

BOURBON

PLATINUM
Alter Ego Triple Cask Bourbon >> $65
DISTILLERY | Doc Swinson’s
Ferndale, WA

DOUBLE GOLD
Cask Strength Bourbon >> $65
DISTILLERY | Ewing Young Distillery
Newberg, OR

GOLD
Trail’s End Bourbon >>$40
DISTILLERY | Hood River Distillers
Hood River, OR

SILVER (TIE)
Jim Bridger Bourbon Whiskey >> $37
DISTILLERY | Bozeman Spirits Distillery
Bozeman, MT

SILVER (TIE)
Straight Bourbon >> $37 / 375ml
DISTILLERY | Chambers Bay Distillery
University Place, WA

JUDGES’ PICKS
Straight Bourbon | Blackfish Spirits Distillery
Auburn, WA

Seven Devils Barrel-Proof Straight Bourbon Whiskey | Koenig Distillery
Caldwell, ID

Waitsburg Bourbon | Oola Distillery
Seattle, WA

BRANDY

PLATINUM
Oregon Apple Brandy >> $38 / 375ml
DISTILLERY | Stone Barn Brandyworks
Portland, OR

DOUBLE GOLD
Old Delicious Double Bourbon Barreled Apple Brandy >> $55
DISTILLERY | Clear Creek Distillery
Hood River, OR

GOLD
Pear Brandy >> $40
DISTILLERY | Clear Creek Distillery
Hood River, OR

SILVER
Brandy >> $39
DISTILLERY | Bellewood Distilling
Lynden, WA

JUDGES’ PICKS
Apple Brandy Paradiso | Divine Distillers
Salem, OR

Adam’s Apple Brandy | Forbidden Spirits
Kelowna, BC

Barrel-Aged Apple Brandy | Up North Distillery
Post Falls, ID

AMARO / BITTER DIGESTIF

PLATINUM
Amaro Rosina >> $40
DISTILLERY | Highside Distilling
Bainbridge Island, WA

DOUBLE GOLD
Nocino >> $25 / 350ml
DISTILLERY | Stone Barn Brandyworks
Portland, OR

GOLD
Crimson Snap >> $30
DISTILLERY | ACCOMPANi
Portland, OR

SILVER (TIE)
Genziana Fernanda >> $36
DISTILLERY | Letterpress Distilling, Seattle, WA

SILVER (TIE)
Mari Gold >> $30
DISTILLERY | ACCOMPANIi, Portland, OR

JUDGES’ PICKS
Amaro Mele | Highside Distilling
Bainbridge Island, WA

Fernet Lario | Highside Distilling
Bainbridge Island, WA

VERMOUTH

PLATINUM
Sweet Vermouth >> $25
DISTILLERY | ACCOMPANi
Portland, OR

DOUBLE GOLD
White Vermouth No. 73 >> $18 / 375ml
DISTILLERY Interrobang
Newberg, OR

GOLD
Sweet Vermouth No. 47 >> $18 / 375ml
DISTILLERY | Interrobang
Newberg, OR

SILVER
Sweet Vermouth >> $18 / 375ml
DISTILLERY | Ransom Spirits
Sheridan, OR

LIQUEURS

PLATINUM
Flora Green >> $30
DISTILLERY | ACCOMPANi

DOUBLE GOLD
Hibiscus Liqueur >> $36
DISTILLERY | Salish Sea Organics, Olympia, WA

GOLD
Curaçao >> $29 CAD / 375ml
DISTILLERY | Long Table Distillery
Vancouver, BC

SILVER
Raspberry Critter >> $38
DISTILLERY | The Hardware Distillery Co
Hoodsport, WA

JUDGES’ PICKS
Wildfire Cinnamon Rum | 503 Distilling
Portland, OR

Ullr Nordic Libation | Hood River Distillers
Hood River, OR

Chai Liqueur | Scratch Distillery
Edmonds, WA

SPECIALTY SPIRITS

PLATINUM
Absinthe >> $45 CAD/375ml
DISTILLERY | Long Table Distillery
Vancouver, BC

DOUBLE GOLD
Finocchietto >> $32
DISTILLERY | James Bay Distillery
Everett, WA

GOLD (TIE)
Barrel Reserve Honey Spirits >> $36
DISTILLERY  | Up North Distillery
Post Falls, ID

GOLD (TIE)
Skadi Aquavit >> $35
DISTILLERY | Montgomery Distillery
Missoula, MT

SILVER
Cask Strength Honey Spirits >> $40/350ml
DISTILLERY | Up North Distillery
Post Falls, ID

JUDGES’ PICKS
Coffee | Divine Distillers
Salem, OR

Barrel Finished Skadi | Montgomery Distillery
Missoula, MT

Underground Aquavit | Scratch Distillery
Edmonds, WA

READY-TO-DRINK COCKTAIL

PLATINUM
Astoria Mary >> $15/ 12oz 4-pack
DISTILLERY | Pilot House Distilling
Astoria ,OR

DOUBLE GOLD
Maple Old Fashioned >> $60 / 750ml
DISTILLERY  | Straightaway Cocktails
Portland, OR

GOLD
The Swizzle >> $50 / 750ml
DISTILLERY | Straightaway Cocktails
Portland, OR

SILVER
Greyhound >> $10/12oz 4-pack
DISTILLERY | 10 Barrel Brewing Company
Bend, OR

JUDGES’ PICKS
Wicked Mule | 503 Distilling
Portland, OR

Classic Margarita | 10 Barrel Brewing Co.
Bend, OR

Bloody Mary | 10 Barrel Brewing Co.
Bend, OR

READY TO DRINK HIGHBALL

PLATINUM
Bianco >> $15/ 250ml 4-pack
DISTILLERY | Sprezza
Seattle, WA

DOUBLE GOLD
Rosso >> $15/ 250ml 4-pack
DISTILLERY |  Sprezza
Seattle, WA

GOLD
Peach Vodka & Soda >> $15 / 12oz 4-pack
DISTILLERY | Wild Roots Spirits
Portland, OR

SILVER (TIE)
Blackberry Vodka & Soda >> $15 / 12oz 4-pack
DISTILLERY | Wild Roots Spirits
Portland, OR

SILVER (TIE)
Blood Orange Vodka Soda >> $10 / 12oz 4-pack
DISTILLERY | 10 Barrel Brewing Company
Bend, OR

JUDGES’ PICKS
I’m Your Huckleberry Lemonade | 503 Distilling
Portland, OR

Lemongrass Lime Vodka Soda | 10 Barrel Brewing Co.
Bend, OR

Trail Gin & Tonic | Trail Distilling
Oregon City, OR

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