Valley Distillery Wins One of World’s Most Prestigious Spirits Awards

Arizona Distilling Company April 6, 2015

Arizona Distilling Company, the first and only distillery in Arizona using locally grown grain, announced today that it has earned the prestigious Double Gold Medal for its Desert Dry Gin at the 2015 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, along with three other awards.

The San Francisco World Spirits Competition is the most influential international spirits competition held in America. A panel of 41 nationally recognized spirits experts conduct a blind taste-testing procedure of spirits from more than 65 countries. The results were released today following the judging that occurred March 19- March 22, 2015, in San Francisco. Arizona Distilling Company’s Desert Dry Gin was one of the four American crafted gins to receive a Double Gold Medal at the 2015 competition.

Arizona Distilling Company won a total of four awards at the competition, including a Gold Medal for its Humphrey’s Whiskey, which was one of only three whiskeys to receive a Gold Medal in the Craft Distiller Whiskey category. The company’s other awards were a Silver Medal for its Desert Durum Wheat Whiskey, and a Bronze Medal for its Park Rye Whiskey.  This is the second consecutive year that Arizona Distillery Company’s spirits have been recognized with top honors at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

“We are thrilled with the success since opening in 2012, and to be internationally recognized for our products this year is something that makes us all very proud,” said Jason Grossmiller, Arizona Distilling Company’s lead distiller. “All of our spirits are deeply rooted in Arizona’s history and culture, and it is an honor to represent Arizona on a global scale.”

Last year, Arizona Distilling Company earned a Silver Medal for its Desert Dry Gin and a Bronze Medal for its Desert Durum Wheat Whiskey at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. It was also one of the two U.S. companies to win a medal at The Gin Masters 2014 competition in London.

Since the company’s launch just three years ago, Arizona Distilling Company’s spirits have earned more than 10 awards at the industry’s top competitions, including The Gin Masters, Great American Distillers Festival, and a Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible rating of 89.5 out of 100.

Now, with six products, Arizona Distilling Company is dedicated to manufacturing premium, small-batch and hand-crafted spirits using locally sourced products that celebrate Arizona’s rich history. The company’s Double Gold Medal winner, Desert Dry Gin, is a small-batch gin made with local Arizona botanicals. Its Silver Medal Desert Durum Wheat Whiskey is made using locally sourced grain, and is the first spirit to use Arizona-grown wheat.

Arizona Distilling Company was founded by three Arizona natives and in 2013 released Arizona’s first legally produced bourbon, called Copper City Bourbon. In 2014, it released Park Rye Whiskey, the first rye whiskey to be distilled in Arizona. The same year, Arizona Distilling Company partnered with local Four Peaks Brewery to produce the first spirit in collaboration between a separate brewery and distillery in Arizona’s history, creating Humphrey’s Whiskey.

Arizona Distilling Company’s products are sold at more than 500 Valley locations, including, liquor stores, restaurants, grocery stores and bars. Its spirits can also be purchased directly at its warehouse, located at 508 W 1st St., Tempe, AZ, 85281.Guided tours and tastings are open to the public.

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