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.

 

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