Artisan Distillers Canada has announced the 2020 results for the Canadian Artisan Spirit Competition (CASC), the only national spirit competition reserved exclusively for artisan distilleries.
Now in its third year, CASC, presented by Artisan Distillers Canada (ADC), has once again attracted a record number of entries. The competition has also expanded its scope this year, including:
- A category for Canadian-made Bitters
- A Terroir category, allowing producers to highlight products expressive of place, through the provenance of its ingredients and taste profiles
- A Branding category for bottle packaging
- New spirit categories to reflect the growing variety and volume of spirits submitted to the competition.
“With new categories this year, we’re better able to showcase the impressive skills of our artisan distillers,” stated Alex Hamer, CASC’s founder. “I’m particularly excited about the introduction of the Terroir category, which allows producers to highlight their use of local ingredients. The addition of Bitters and Branding to the competition also allows producers to draw attention to the creativity we’re seeing across the country.”
The annual prestigious title of CANADIAN ARTISAN SPIRIT OF THE YEAR
was won by Sheringham Distillery Kazuki Gin.
Sheringham Distillery continues to demonstrate its excellence and leadership in the Canadian distilling industry, having also won CASC’s Canadian Artisan Spirit of the Year in 2018 with its Akvavit. The Kazuki Gin earned a Gold Medal at CASC in 2019, and this year earned the highest score of any spirit entered into the competition, regardless of category.
The judges’ sentiments were clear, with comments including:
“A virtuoso textural and flavour tap dance!”
“Aromas of green tea, white blossoms, juniper, sweet resin and tree bark. Soft green tea flavours with a mild sweetness and firm bite from the alcohol.”
“The nose on this gin is bright, delicate, complex and lively. It screams spring.”
BEST IN CLASS – SPIRITS
- Absinthe: Arbutus Distillery – Arbutus Barrel Aged Absinthe
- Akvavit: Confluence Distilling – Vinland Aquavit Amaro or Vermouth
- Brandy or Eau de Vie: Odd Society Spirits – Bittersweet Vermouth
- Gin – Aged: Wild Life Distillery – Barrel-aged Gin
- Gin – Classic: Eau Claire Distillery – Parlour Gin
- Gin – Contemporary: Sheringham Distillery – Kazuki Gin
- Liqueur: Halifax Distilling Co – JD Shore Rum Cream
- Liqueur – Fruit: Gagetown Distilling & Cidery – Strawberry Liqueur
- Rum: Merridale Cidery & Distillery – Cowichan Spiced Rhumb
- Vodka – Flavoured or Infused: Monashee Spirits Craft Distillery – Garlic Vodka
- Vodka – Contemporary: The Liberty Distillery – Truth Oat Vodka – Distiller’s Reserve
- Vodka – Classic: Les Subversifs – La Vodka de Irma
- Whisky – Single Grain: Black Fox Farm and Distillery – Black Fox Whisky
- Whisky – Single Malt: Shelter Point Distillery – Shelter Point Single Malt
- Young Whisky: de Vine Spirits – Ancient Grains (Best in Class 2019)
- White Spirit: Tumbleweed Spirits – Raspberry Moonshine
BEST IN CLASS – BRANDING
- Ironworks Distillery – Around the World Rum
BEST IN CLASS – BITTERS
- Monashee Spirits – Barrel Aged House Aromatic Bitters
The artisan spirits and bitters submitted by distillers across the country were scored by a national panel of independent judges.
Complete results: artisandistillers.ca/2020-results
View Results by Region: BC & Yukon, Prairies, Ontario, Quebec, Maritimes & Newfoundland and Labrador
ABOUT THE CANADIAN ARTISAN SPIRIT COMPETITION and ARTISAN DISTILLERS CANADA
Artisan Distillers Canada is a national organization focused on celebrating and highlighting artisan distilleries and spirits across Canada. The Canadian Artisan Spirit Competition was founded in 2017 to celebrate the best of Canadian artisan distilling. Distilleries must meet our qualifications: artisandistillers.ca/artisan-distillery in order to participate in the competition.
The first annual Artisan Distillers Canada Conference & Trade Show will be held in Vancouver on November 3, 2020.
For more information: artisandistillers.ca
