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If you had any doubt that Colorado’s spirt makers are some of the best in the business, just take a look at some of the awards they won—in 2013 alone.
Altitude Spirits
Silver Outstanding, International Wine & Spirit Competition (Juniper Green Organic London Dry Gin)
Breckenridge Distillery
Colorado Distillery of the Year, New York International Spirits Competition; Gold Medal, New York World Wine & Spirits Competition (Bourbon); Silver Medal, New York World Wine & Spirits Competition (Vodka); Double Gold Medal: Best in Show-Liqueur, New York World Wine & Spirits Competition (Bitters); Silver Medal, International Wine & Spirit Competition (Bourbon); Silver Medal, International Wine & Spirit Competition (Vodka); Bronze Medal, International Wine & Spirit Competition (Bitters); Silver Medal, International Spirits Challenge (Bourbon); Silver Medal, International Spirits Challenge (Bitters); Bronze Medal, International Spirits Challenge (Vodka); Silver Medal, San Francisco World Spirits Competition (Bourbon); Silver Medal, San Francisco World Spirits Competition (Single Barrel Bourbon); Gold Medal, Denver International Spirits Competition (Bourbon); Gold Medal, Denver International Spirits Competition (Spiced Rum); Silver Medal, Spirits of the Americas (Vodka); Silver Medal, Spirits of the Americas (Bourbon); Gold Medal, Spirits of the Americas (Bitters)
Colorado Gold Distillery
Silver Medal, American Distilling Institute Annual Judging of Craft American Spirits (Straight Bourbon Whiskey); Gold Medal, San Francisco World Spirits Competition (Straight Bourbon Whiskey); Bronze Medal, San Francisco World Spirits Competition (Colorado’s Own Corn Whiskey); Silver Medal, International Review of Spirits by the Beverage Testing Institute (Colorado’s Own Corn Whiskey); Bronze Medal, San Francisco World Spirits Competition (Premium Vodka)
Dancing Pines Distillery
Bronze Medal, San Francisco World Spirits Competition (Black Walnut Bourbon Liqueur); Silver Medal, American Distilling Institute Annual Judging of Craft American Spirits (Gin); Silver Medal and Best of Category, American Distilling Institute Annual Judging of Craft American Spirits (Spice Rum); Bronze Medal, American Distilling Institute Annual Judging of Craft American Spirits (White Rum); Silver Medal, Denver International Spirits Competition (Bourbon)
Deerhammer Distilling
Bronze Medal, American Distilling Institute Annual Judging of Craft American Spirits (Whitewater Whiskey); Gold Medal, American Distilling Institute Annual Judging of Craft American Spirits (Down Time Single Malt Whiskey)
Distillery 291
Bronze Medal, American Distilling Institute Annual Judging of Craft American Spirits (Colorado Rye Whiskey)
Downslope Distilling
Gold Medal, International Review of Spirits by the Beverage Testing Institute (Limited Edition Seires Double Diamond Whiskey)
Feisty Spirits
Gold Medal, Denver International Spirits Competition (Kamut Whiskey)
Golden Moon Distillery
Silver Medal, San Francisco World Spirits Competition (Redux Absinthe); Silver Medal, Best in Class, San Francisco World Spirits Competition (Golden Moon Colorado Grappa); Gold Medal, American Distilling Institute Annual Judging of Craft American Spirits (Golden Moon Gin); Gold Medal, American Distilling Institute Annual Judging of Craft American Spirits (Golden Moon Colorado Grappa); Gold Medal, Denver International Spirits Competition (Golden Moon Gin); Silver Medal, Denver International Spirits Competition (Redux Absinthe); Silver Outstanding Medal and Best in Class, International Wine & Spirits Competition (Redux Absinthe); Bronze Medal, International Wine & Spirits Competition (Golden Moon Crème de Violette)
Honey House Distillery
Gold Medal, New York World Wine & Spirits Competition (Colorado Honey Whiskey)
J&L Distillery
Double Gold Medal, Breckenridge Craft Spirits Festival Judgment of the Hill (Sno Vodka); Gold Medal, Breckenridge Craft Spirits Festival Judgment of the Hill (Fyr Liqueur); Silver Medal, Breckenridge Craft Spirits Festival Judgment of the Hill (Sno Gin)
KJ Woods Distillers
Gold Medal, New York World Wine & Spirits Competition (Jinn Gin)
Leopold Bros.
Gold Medal, San Francisco World Spirits Competition (American Small Batch Gin); Gold Medal, San Francisco World Spirits Competition (Michigan Tart Cherry Liqueur); Gold Medal, San Francisco World Spirits Competition (New England Cranberry Liqueur); Gold Medal, San Francisco World Spirits Competition (Fernet Leopold); Silver Medal, San Francisco World Spirits Competition (Silver Tree Vodka); Silver Medal, San Francisco World Spirits Competition (Leopold’s Navy Strength Gin); Bronze Medal, San Francisco World Spirits Competition (Maryland-Style Rye); Bronze Medal, San Francisco World Spirits Competition (Tennessee-Style Whiskey); Bronze Medal, San Francisco World Spirits Competition (Rocky Mountain Blackberry Liqueur); Bronze Medal, San Francisco World Spirits Competition (Maraschino Liqueur); Bronze Medal, San Francisco World Spirits Competition (Three Pins Alpine Herbal Liqueur); Gold Medal, International Review of Spirits by the Beverage Tasting Institute (Leopold’s Navy Strength Gin); Good Food Award (Leopold’s Navy Strength Gin)
Mile High Spirits
Gold Medal, Denver International Spirits Competition (Elevate Vodka); Gold Medal, Denver International Spirits Competition (Peg Leg Rum); Silver Medal, Denver International Spirits Competition (Fireside Bourbon); Silver Medal, Denver International Spirits Competition (Denver Dry Gin); Silver Medal, American Distilling Institute Annual Judging of Craft American Spirits (Oro Rum)
Montanya Distillers
Craft Distillery of the Year, American Distilling Institute Annual Judging of Craft American Spirits; Silver Medal, International Review of Spirits by the Beverage Testing Institute (Oro)
Mystic Mountain
Bronze Medal, San Diego Spirits Festival International Spirits Competition (Moonshine)
Overland Distillery
Gold Medal, Denver International Spirits Competition (Trinity Absinthe)
Peach Street Distillers
Gold Medal and Best of Category, American Distilling Institute Annual Judging of Craft American Spirits (Muscat Grappa); Bronze Medal, American Distilling Institute Annual Judging of Craft American Spirits (Viognier Grappa); Silver Medal and Best of Category, American Distilling Institute Annual Judging of Craft American Spirits (Pear Brandy); Bronze Medal, American Distilling Institute Annual Judging of Craft American Spirits (Jack and Jenny Pear Eau-De-Vie)
Roundhouse Spirits
Gold Medal, International Craft Spirits Awards (Imperial Barrel Aged Gin); Gold Medal, San Diego Spirits Festival International Spirits Competition (Imperial Barrel Aged Gin); Double Gold Medal, Denver International Spirits Competition (Roundhouse Gin); Gold Medal, International Craft Spirits Awards (Roundhouse Gin); Gold Medal, Great American Distillers Festival (Corretto Coffee Liqueur)
Stranahan’s
Double Gold, Breckenridge Craft Spirits Festival Judgment on the Hill Awards (Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey)
Syntax Spirits
Winner, Good Food Award (Powder White Rum); Gold Medal, Craft Lager & Small Batch Festival (Perky Pepper Pepper Flavored Vodka); Bronze Medal, International Review of Spirits by the Beverage Tasting Institute (Powder White Rum)
Woody Creek Distillers
Silver Medal, San Francisco World Spirits Competition (Potato Vodka)
—Images courtesy of Shutterstock