USA TODAY 10Best
Ironroot Republic named Best Craft Whiskey Distillery
Best Craft Whiskey Distillery (2019)
The American craft whiskey scene has really come into its own over the past few years, expanding beyond the traditional Tennessee and Kentucky bourbons to include ryes, single malts, blends and white whiskeys made with a combination of old-world and new-school techniques.
The top 10 winners in the category Best Craft Whiskey Distillery are as follows:
Photo courtesy of Sons of Liberty Beer & Spirits Co.
No. 10: Sons of Liberty Beer & Spirits Co. - South Kingstown, R.I.
Sons of Liberty Beer & Spirits Co. in Rhode Island crafts three bourbons, five single malts and a few seasonal whiskies. The single malts often take inspiration from beer, even using darker malts traditionally associated with stouts and Belgian ales. The limited edition wheated single malt is distilled from wheat bear.
Photo courtesy of Firestone & Robertson Distilling Co.
No. 9: Firestone & Robertson Distilling Co. - Fort Worth
Firestone & Robertson Distilling Co., based in Fort Worth, is known for their TX Whiskey and TX Bourbon. The former is a blended whiskey while the latter is a straight bourbon made with yellow dent Texas corn, soft red winter wheat, distillers malt and a proprietary strain of yeast from a Texas pecan tree.
Photo courtesy of Traverse City Whiskey Co.
No. 8: Traverse City Whiskey Co. - Traverse City, Mich.
Traverse City Whiskey Co. makes five grain-to-bottle whiskeys, including a straight bourbon, barrel proof bourbon, rye and a port barrel finished whiskey. One of the more unique offerings is the American Cherry Edition, a whiskey steeped with Montmorency cherries grown on the distillery’s own family farm.
Photo courtesy of Dustin Hall / Brewtography Project
No. 7: Laws Whiskey House - Denver
Laws Whiskey House in Denver not only seeks to make excellent whiskey, but also to educate and share that love of whiskey with others. Spirits are distilled from grain to bottle in-house using Colorado ingredients to create four grain bourbons, straight ryes, malt whiskeys, wheat whiskeys and corn whiskeys.
Photo courtesy of Smooth Ambler
No. 6: Smooth Ambler - Maxwelton, W.V.
Smooth Ambler uses fresh mountain water and hand-selected grains in crafting their line of four whiskeys. The flagship Old Scout American Whiskey is a blend of whiskeys distilled from bourbon mash bills, one aged in new oak and the other in re-charred bourbon casks. Old Scout Single Barrel Bourbon is bottled at cask-strength. The Big Level Bourbon incorporates wheat and malted barley into the mash, while Smooth Ambler Contradiction is a blend of classic and wheated bourbons.
Photo courtesy of Seven Stills Brewery & Distillery
No. 5: Seven Stills - San Francisco
Seven Stills makes whiskey a bit differently. Instead of the typical mash of corn, barley, rye or wheat, this San Francisco distillery uses craft beers as the starting point. Offerings include a Core Series made from in-house beers, as well as a Collaboration Series in partnership with other breweries and an Experimental Series available exclusively at the distillery.
Photo courtesy of Sugarlands Distilling Company
No. 4: Sugarlands Distilling Company - Gatlinburg, Tenn.
While Sugarlands Distilling Company is best known for its moonshines, the distillery also makes the award-winning Roaming Man Tennessee Straight Rye Whiskey, a cask strength spirit with notes of black pepper, vanilla, tobacco, caramel and oak.
Photo courtesy of Limestone Branch Distillery
No. 3: Limestone Branch Distillery - Lebanon, Ky.
The award-winning family of whiskeys from Limestone Branch Distillery in Kentucky includes Yellowstone Select (a straight blended bourbon), Yellowstone Limited Edition (another blended bourbon used the best of Limestone Branch’s own stock) and Minor Case Straight Rye Whiskey finished in sherry casks.
Photo courtesy of Sagamore Spirit
No. 2: Sagamore Spirit - Baltimore
Sagamore Spirit crafts rye whiskies on Baltimore’s waterfront, aged and proofed with Sagamore Farm spring water. Each batch is bottled and labeled by hand. Whiskey lovers can choose from a line of six rye whiskies, including a cask strength, double oak, port finish and moscatel barrel finished whiskey.
Photo courtesy of Ironroot Republic
No. 1: Ironroot Republic - Denison, Texas
Ironroot Republic mashes, ferments, distills, ages and bottles all their spirits in Denison, Texas for a true grain-to-glass experience. The lineup includes three whiskies –two straight bourbons and a limited release straight corn whiskey.
A panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to pick the initial 20 nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote.
Congratulations to all these winning distilleries!
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Brian Christensen
Brian Christensen is the co-founder of Artisan... Read More
Brian Christensen is the co-founder of Artisan Spirit Magazine, the most trusted distilling trade journal in America, and the Still Talking Podcast, an irreverent distilling podcast his wife won’t even listen to. He is a member of multiple industry committees, advisor boards, and spirits competitions around the country. Brian is lucky enough to spend his days working with distillers, suppliers, state guilds, and industry associations around the world to tell stories that both inform and educate.
Brian Christensen
Brian Christensen is the co-founder of Artisan Spirit Magazine, the most trusted distilling trade journal in America, and the Still Talking Podcast, an irreverent distilling podcast his wife won’t even listen to. He is a member of multiple industry committees, advisor boards, and spirits competitions around the country. Brian is lucky enough to spend his days working with distillers, suppliers, state guilds, and industry associations around the world to tell stories that both inform and educate.
Eric Grossman
Eric Grossman is a travel and food/drink writer... Read More
Eric Grossman is a travel and food/drink writer who has visited more than 60 countries. Always up for an adventure, Eric is constantly searching for new and inspiring experiences, with a keen interest in luxury travel and urban exploration. Memorable experiences have run the gamut from discussing the future of food with Ferran Adrià to sharing a stage with Coldplay.
Eric Grossman
Eric Grossman is a travel and food/drink writer who has visited more than 60 countries. Always up for an adventure, Eric is constantly searching for new and inspiring experiences, with a keen interest in luxury travel and urban exploration. Memorable experiences have run the gamut from discussing the future of food with Ferran Adrià to sharing a stage with Coldplay.
Jack Robertiello
Jack Robertiello has worked with or written about... Read More
Jack Robertiello has worked with or written about spirits, wine, food and restaurants for most of his adult life, for many publications. He speaks frequently at conferences and meetings, and judges at numerous competitions, including the annual San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Robertiello also gives private classes and seminars on tasting wine and spirits, and has advised producers, importers, marketers and publicists about the field. He lives in Brooklyn, NY.
Jack Robertiello
Jack Robertiello has worked with or written about spirits, wine, food and restaurants for most of his adult life, for many publications. He speaks frequently at conferences and meetings, and judges at numerous competitions, including the annual San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Robertiello also gives private classes and seminars on tasting wine and spirits, and has advised producers, importers, marketers and publicists about the field. He lives in Brooklyn, NY.
Wayne Curtis
Wayne Curtis is the author of And a Bottle of Rum:... Read More
Wayne Curtis is the author of And a Bottle of Rum: A History of the New World in Ten Cocktails, which was updated and re-released in 2018. He has written about cocktails, spirits, travel and history for many publications, including The Atlantic, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. He currently covers spirits and cocktails for The Daily Beast, Garden & Gun, Spirited, Distiller and 750 Daily. He lives in New Orleans except during the yellow fever.
Wayne Curtis
Wayne Curtis is the author of And a Bottle of Rum: A History of the New World in Ten Cocktails, which was updated and re-released in 2018. He has written about cocktails, spirits, travel and history for many publications, including The Atlantic, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. He currently covers spirits and cocktails for The Daily Beast, Garden & Gun, Spirited, Distiller and 750 Daily. He lives in New Orleans except during the yellow fever.
Ziggy Eschliman
Known on the airwaves as Ziggy the Wine Gal, Ziggy... Read More
Known on the airwaves as Ziggy the Wine Gal, Ziggy Eschliman is among America's most enthusiastic, authoritative and entertaining libation experts. Her internationally known company, ZigStyle, combines her artistry for wine country entertaining and gardening while integrating her expertise of wine & spirits, showcasing a unique lifestyle. For over 25 years Ziggy has set and reported trends in all things wine and spirits. Her radio shows are broadcast throughout wine country and are available online.
Ziggy Eschliman
Known on the airwaves as Ziggy the Wine Gal, Ziggy Eschliman is among America's most enthusiastic, authoritative and entertaining libation experts. Her internationally known company, ZigStyle, combines her artistry for wine country entertaining and gardening while integrating her expertise of wine & spirits, showcasing a unique lifestyle. For over 25 years Ziggy has set and reported trends in all things wine and spirits. Her radio shows are broadcast throughout wine country and are available online.