The renowned American event had already delayed the competition because of Covid-19 adopting a new format for the awards.
The 2020 New York State Distilled Spirits Competition rewards the best of New York in spirits and wine. This competition was the first competition founded in the International Competition Series.
This year the competition celebrated virtually, recognized Saint Lawrence Spirits with the title of New York State Distillery of the Year. The Clayton-origin distillery accumulated the most points in all categories in this year’s competition.
In addition, the distillery won the best individual award, the Governor’s Cup, for its Captain’s Flask Bourbon.
Saint Lawrence Spirits is a distillery with a tasting room, farm-to-table restaurant, and boutique hotel located in a mansion on the Saint Lawrence River. They also have a tasting room at 510 Riverside Drive in the town of Clayton. They are known for producing vodka, four types of gin and three types of absinthe, as well as moonshine, bourbon and other whiskeys and an Empire Cream.
In the category of absinthe, a rather unusual spirit for New York producers, Saint Lawrence swept the three medals: gold, silver and bronze. It also swept the Corn Moonshine category.
Here’s listing of the 2020 winners in the major categories:
American Craft Whiskey
Gold: Yankee Distillers (Clifton Park, Saratoga County) Straight Single Malt Whiskey
Gold: St. Lawrence Spirits (Clayton, Jefferson County) Ryesing Tide Whiskey
Gold: The Schenectady Distilling Co. (Glenville, Schenectady County) Gateway American Whiskey
Silver: St. Lawrence Spirits (Clayton, Jefferson County) Wheelhouse Whiskey
Silver: Yankee Distillers (Clifton Park, Saratoga County) Straight Wheat Whiskey
Silver: St. Lawrence Spirits (Clayton, Jefferson County) Flagship American Straight Whiskey
Bronze: St. Lawrence Spirits (Clayton, Jefferson County) Ice Breaker Whiskey Barrel Strength
Bronze: Old Home Distillers (Lebanon, Madison County) New York Single Malt Whiskey
American Rye Whiskey
Gold: St. Lawrence Spirits (Clayton, Jefferson County) Rye Not Whiskey
Bronze: Old Home Distillers (Lebanon, Madison County) Electric Mayhem Rye Whiskey
American Straight Rye Whiskey
Gold: St. Lawrence Spirits (Clayton, Jefferson County) Straight Rye Whiskey Single Barrel
Bronze: Black Button Distilling (Rochester, Monroe County) Empire Rye Whiskey
Gin
Gold: Black Button Distilling (Rochester, Monroe County) Citrus Forward Gin
Gold: St. Lawrence Spirits (Clayton, Jefferson County) Penet Square Gin
Silver: St. Lawrence Spirits (Clayton, Jefferson County) Barrel Aged Down Bound Gin
Silver: St. Lawrence Spirits (Clayton, Jefferson County) Down Bound Gin
Bronze: St. Lawrence Spirits (Clayton, Jefferson County) New York Dry Gin
Bronze: St. Lawrence Spirits (Clayton, Jefferson County) American Anchored Gin
Small Batch Bourbon 10 Yrs. & Younger
Gold:
Kings County Distillery (Brooklyn, Kings County) Straight Bourbon, Barrel Strength
Kings County Distillery (Brooklyn, Kings County) Bottled-in-Bond Straight Bourbon
St. Lawrence Spirits (Clayton, Jefferson County) Captain’s Flask Bourbon.
Silver: Old Home Distillers (Lebanon, Madison County) Brothers’ Cut Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Silver: Kings County Distillery (Brooklyn, Kings County) Straight Bourbon
Bronze: The Schenectady Distilling Co. (Glenville, Schenectady County) Black Rock Bourbon Whiskey
Bronze: Kings County Distillery (Brooklyn, Kings County) Straight Bourbon – Blender’s Reserve, Very Small Batch
Straight Bourbon
Silver: St. Lawrence Spirits (Clayton, Jefferson County) Kentucky Son Straight Bourbon Barrel Strength
Silver: Yankee Distillers (Clifton Park, Saratoga County) Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Bronze: Black Button Distilling (Rochester, Monroe County) Four Grain Bourbon
Bronze: St. Lawrence Spirits (Clayton, Jefferson County) Kentucky Son Straight Bourbon
Saint Lawrence Spirits absinthe
All three absinthe varieties from Saint Lawrence Spirits in Clayton won medals at the 2020 New York State Distilled Spirits Competition.
Other categories:
Absinthe
Bronze: Saint Lawrence Spirits Blanche Absinthe
Gold: Saint Lawrence Spirits La Fee Rouge Absinthe
Silver: Saint Lawrence Spirits Verte Absinthe
Apple Brandy
Bronze: Apple Country Spirits Five Year Applejack
Coffee Liqueur
Bronze: Black Button Distilling Coffee Liqueur
Corn Whiskey Moonshine
Bronze: Saint Lawrence Spirits Ryes In Shine Moonshine
Bronze: Saint Lawrence Spirits Admiral’s Albatross Moonshine
Silver: Saint Lawrence Spirits Hard Water Moonshine
Cream / Dairy Liqueurs
Gold:
Last Shot Distillery (Skaneateles) Orange Creme Lightning
Saint Lawrence Spirits Empire Cream
Last Shot Distillery Chocolate Cream Brulee
Silver: Black Button Distilling Bespoke Bourbon Cream
Flavored Whiskey
Silver: Old Home Distillers Maple Flavored Whiskey
Fruit Liqueur
Bronze: Black Button Distilling Apple Pie Moonshine
Herbal / Botanicals Liqueurs
Bronze: Rock Valley Spirits Elderflower Liqueur
Other Grain Vodka
Gold: Saint Lawrence Spirits Vodka
Other Moonshine
Bronze: Saint Lawrence Spirits Rye Knot Moonshine
Gold: Saint Lawrence Spirits Even Keel Moonshine
Silver: The Schenectady Distilling Co.. Clinton’s Folly Muleshine
Other Whiskey
Bronze: Kings County Distillery Peated Bourbon
Bronze: Saint Lawrence Spirits Admiral’s Collection Straight American Whiskey #2
Gold: Saint Lawrence Spirits Admiral’s Collection Straight American Whiskey #4
Silver: Saint Lawrence Spirits Admiral’s Collection Straight American Whiskey #3
Silver: Saint Lawrence Spirits Admiral’s Collection Straight American Whiskey #1
Other White Spirits
Gold: The Better Man Distilling Co. Equinox
Rum White
Bronze: Yankee Distillers Colonial White Rum
Wheat Vodka
Bronze: Rock Valley Spirits Vodka
Silver: Yankee Distillers Eleven Lakes Vodka
Don’t drink and drive. Enjoy responsibly.