ACSA Announces 2023 Heartland Whiskey Competition Awards

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-Distilleralong 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.

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