Congratulations to Pinckney Bend Distillery. The distillery, located in New Haven, Mo., has earned a gold medal at this year’s San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Pinckney Bend earned the highest honor in the un-aged whiskey category for its corn whiskey, a product the distillery released in December of last year. The results of the premier spirits competition, announced today, posit the 83-proof spirit as one of two in its category to earn a gold medal. The other gold medalist is Dillon’s un-aged whiskey. A total of 1,407 spirits from 63 countries were submitted for evaluation in numerous categories at this year’s competition, now in its 13th year.
This accolade marks the second consecutive year that the Missouri distillery has won top honors at the San Francisco Spirits Competition. Last year, Pinckney Bend’s gin took home a gold. In addition, Pinckney’s vodka was a gold medalist among the 2012 Micro Liquor Spirit Awards.
While Pinckney Bend co-owner Ralph Haynes (pictured) is excited for the news, he and his team are not resting on their laurels. Rather, he’s forging ahead to expand the distillery’s line of small-batch spirits. A corn whiskey, rested for six months in 15-gallon No. 3 charred oak barrels, will hit the market this July. Meanwhile, a sweet mash Missouri malt whiskey should be released sometime in 2014, after having aged for two years.
This article appears in April 2013.