For the first time in its seven-year history, Artisan Distillers Canada awarded top honours for its Canadian Artisan Spirit Competition to a distillery from Atlantic Canada.
With the highest score of any entry in all 20 spirit classes, New Brunswick’s Distillerie Fils du Roy earned Canadian Artisan Spirit of the Year, the Canadian Artisan Spirit Competition’s top overall prize, for its Fort Beauséjour Peated Single Malt Whiskey.
The competition, referred to in the artisan spirits world as ‘CASC’, is comprised of a national, independent panel of 14 judges who evaluate hundreds of entries submitted from nearly 80 artisan distilleries from across Canada across a number of criteria.
For the award-winning whisky, judges’ notes mentioned, “smoke, apple, and juicy citrus on the palate with some creamy vanilla on the mid-palate,” and a finish that is “quite peppery and lively.”
Hamer noted that the judges also seemed to appreciate its texture, which was deemed, “lush and velvety with a mellow warmth,” and a smokey taste that, “dominates the finish with clove and cinnamon, and dried fruit appearing just before it fades away.”
Another notable win was DEVINE Spirits Ancient Grains, which has won CASC Gold Medals and Best in Class (Young Whisky) consecutively from 2019 to 2023, as well as Canadian Artisan Spirit of the Year in 2022.
Along with their recent Canadian Whisky Awards gold medal and award as Whisky Spirit of the Year, Ancient Grains is 2023’s most awarded artisan spirit in the country.
In addition to awarding Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals to qualifying spirits, the competition includes classes for:
- Branding
- Bitters
- Zero-Proof Spirits
- Bottled Cocktails
Medals with Distinction are awarded to those spirits or bitters that have met or exceeded their standing from the previous year.
The Terroir honour recognizes distilleries whose use of local ingredients is reflected in the character of their spirits.
Distilleries from across the country distinguished themselves in this year’s competition, with Best in Class honours being awarded to spirits produced in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, as well as bitters produced in the Yukon.
BEST IN CLASS – Canada’s Best Artisan Spirits
- 100% Rye Whisky: Last Mountain Distillery (SK) – LMD Release no.0001. 3 Wood Rye
- Absinthe: Strathcona Spirits Distillery (AB) – Absinthe Blanche Qualité Supérieure
- Aged Gin: Distillerie des Marigots (QC) – Récif Vieilli
- Alternative Rum: DEVINE Distillery (BC) – Black Bear Spiced Honey Shine
- Amaro or Vermouth: Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery (BC) – Amaro Classico
- Brandy: La Miellerie King – distillerie et hydromellerie (QC) – Ruchette
- Classic Gin: Fernie Distillers Inc. (BC) – Forager Spruce Tip Gin
- Classic Vodka: Tumbleweed Spirits (BC) – Tumbleweed Vodka
- Contemporary Gin: Wild Life Distillery (AB) – Classic Gin
- Contemporary Vodka: Stillhead Distillery Inc. (BC) – Van Isle Vodka
- Eau de Vie: Intermiel (QC) – O Signé Macle – Pomme/Apple
- Flavoured Gin: Dunrobin Distilleries Corporation (ON) – Earl Grey Gin
- Fruit Liqueur: Alchemist Distiller, Inc. (BC) – Nectar – Apple Liqueur –
- Infused or Flavoured Vodka: Capital K Distillery Inc. (MB) – Capital K Baltic Bros Bomba Honeyberry Vodka
- Liqueur: The Woods Spirit Co (BC) – Nocino
- Single Grain Whisky: Monashee Spirits Craft Distillery (BC) – Triticale Whisky
- Single Malt Whisky: Distillerie Fils du Roy Inc (NB) – Beauséjour
- Traditional Rum: Barrelling Tide Distillery (NS) – 5 Fathom Dark Rum
- White Spirit: Wynndel Craft Distilleries (BC) – Copperhead Shine
- Young Whisky: DEVINE Distillery (BC) – Ancient Grains
- Bottled Cocktails: Okanagan Spirits (BC) – The Orchard Negroni
- Bitters: Free Pour Jenny’s (YK) – Rhubarb Bitters
See the complete results in all categories here: artisandistillers.ca/2023-results.