The American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA) this week announced the top medalists in the 2023 Heartland Whiskey Competition, which was open to craft whiskeys from all 50 states that incorporate corn in their mash bill (the mix of grains used to make whiskey). In this fourth, biennial blind-judging event, whiskeys from 20 “Heartland” states competed for Best of Show, Best of State, Top Farmer-Distiller, along with entries from all 50 states that competed in traditional whiskey categories (e.g., rye, bourbon, etc.).
The competition, generously sponsored by state corn marketing associations, took place in early August, in St. Louis, Missouri. ACSA facilitated the judging process and its recent board president Chris Montana—owner of Du Nord Social Spirits in Minnesota—served as Judging Director. Judges selected from the Missouri and Illinois spirits industry by ACSA were chosen for their knowledge of craft whiskey.
Best of Show was captured by Casey Jones Distillery from Hopkinsville, Kentucky, for its Casey Jones Single Barrel Original 4 Grain Wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon, which also earned the top score in the Four Grain Whiskey category.
Top Farmer-Distiller, a new category for the 2023 competition, was captured by Tobacco Barn Distillery of Hollywood, Maryland, for its Single Barrel Bourbon. Tobacco Barn is owned by Scott Sanders, Sean Coogan and Dan Dawson, the latter of whom operates the farm—family-owned for more than 100 years—where all of the corn for their winning bourbon is grown. Many corn farmers own and operate craft distilleries and have won top honors in previous Heartland Whiskey Competitions.
“Corn farmers, through their state corn associations, have supported the U.S. craft distilling industry through this important competition,” stated Margie A.S. Lehrman, C.E.O. of ACSA. “We greatly appreciate their continued support and the fact they supply our members with the best corn product in the world.”
The 2023 competition saw significant growth in the number of participating states and entries which greatly increased competition for medals. Only 12 whiskeys were awarded a gold medal, while 74 received silver, and 47 bronze. “It is important to recognize craft distillers, an industry that relies on the corn we grow, have sustained their businesses through trying times and continue to improve an already excellent product,” states Brent Hoerr, Missouri Corn Merchandising Council chairman. “Corn growers throughout the Heartland, through their participating state corn associations, support these entrepreneurs, many of whom are working farmers and all of whom are our customers.”
Click here to see a full list of all medalists.
2023 Heartland Whiskey Competition National Awards
Best of Show
Casey Jones Single Barrel Original 4 Grain Wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Casey Jones Distillery
Top Farmer-DistillerSingle Barrel Bourbon
Tobacco Barn Distillery
2023 Heartland Whiskey Competition Category Awards
Blended WhiskeyBurton James Whiskey Batch 2: Rookie Season: Batter Up
B.H. James Distillers
Bottled in BondBottled In Bond Rubenesque
Wood Hat Spirits
BourbonFive Stories Single Barrel Bourbon
Northern Row Brewery & Distillery
Corn WhiskeyHandlebar Handcrafted White Corn Whiskey
Old Scotland Road Distillery
Flavored WhiskeyFayette County Fire Red Hot Cinnamon Whiskey
Witness Distillery
Four GrainCasey Jones Single Barrel Original 4 Grain Wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Casey Jones Distillery
Light WhiskeyStar Union Spirits American Corn Series Cabernet Sauvignon
Star Union Spirits
Read to Drink (RTD)Boot Hill Distillery Whiskey Cola
Boot Hill Distillery
Rye WhiskeyWhiskey Acres Straight Rye Whiskey
Whiskey Acres Distilling Co.
Straight
Middle West Spirits Straight Wheat Whiskey
Middle West Spirits
2023 Heartland Whiskey Competition Best of State Awards
CaliforniaSingle Barrel Blue Corn Bourbon
Shelter Distilling
Colorado291 Colorado Bourbon Whiskey Small Batch
Distillery 291
Illinois
Whiskey Acres Straight Rye Whiskey
Whiskey Acres Distilling Co.
IndianaHugh Hamer Straight Bourbon Rum Finish Cask Strength
West Fork Whiskey Co.
IowaSteeple Ridge Single Barrel Bourbon
Lonely Oak Distillery
KansasBoot Hill Distillery Whiskey Cola
Boot Hill Distillery
KentuckyCasey Jones Single Barrel Original 4 Grain Wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Casey Jones Distillery
MarylandSingle Barrel Bourbon
Tobacco Barn Distillery
MichiganFeatherbone Bourbon Whiskey
Journeyman Distillery
MinnesotaSingle Barrel Bourbon
10,000 Drops Craft Distillers
MissouriQueens Reserve
Wood Hat Spirits
NebraskaNebraska Straight Bourbon
Loup River Distilling
New YorkHandlebar Handcrafted White Corn Whiskey
Old Scotland Road Distillery
North CarolinaCook’s Mill Whiskey Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Queen Spirits
OhioFive Stories Single Barrel Bourbon
Northern Row Brewery & Distillery
PennsylvaniaVeterans Cut Bottle in Bond
Eight Oaks Farm Distillery
TennesseeSingle Barrel Rye Whiskey Batch 002
Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey
TexasPreemption Texas Straight Single Barrel #101 Bourbon
1845 Distilling Co.
WashingtonPrivate Reserve Bourbon
Quartz Mountain Distillers
Wisconsin
Driftless Glen Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Driftless Glen Distillery
Scoring and Medal Criteria
The scoring of whiskeys, with judges hand-selected from the Missouri and Illinois spirits community, was based on a 100-point system with 10 main categories of consideration: Appearance (10 points), Aroma Intensity (10 points), Aroma Complexity (10 points), Palate Concentration (10 points), Palate Complexity (10 points), Body (10 points), Alcohol (10 points), Texture (10 points), Finish (10 points), and Pour for a Peer (10 points). Whiskeys were then assigned a medal based on the average score determined by the following benchmarks: 70-79 = Bronze; 80-89 = Silver; 90-100 = Gold. Best in State was awarded to the whiskey with the top score among all judged whiskeys from that state. Best Farmer-Distiller was awarded to the whiskey with the top score among all judged whiskeys submitted by Famer-Distillers. The top scoring whiskeys were judged a final time in consideration of Best in Show distinction.