By Andi Anderson
Lonely Oak Distillery's Steeple Ridge Single Barrel Bourbon was named Iowa's best craft whiskey in a blind judging competition supervised by the American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA) in St. Louis, Missouri. This competition, partly sponsored by the Iowa Corn Promotion Board, focused on entries containing corn in their mash bill, and only entries from sponsored states were eligible for the Best-of-State category.
The goal of the sponsorship was to highlight the diversity of products that use corn and to express gratitude to customers for their loyalty to corn-based products. Ryan Sauer, Vice President of Market Development at Iowa Corn, expressed pleasure in Iowa's performance at the competition and encouraged people to sample Iowa's craft spirits responsibly.
The competition featured judges chosen by ACSA for their expertise in craft whiskey, with the blind competition supervised by Chris Montana, the owner of Du Nord Social Spirits in Minnesota. Judges evaluated each spirit within its respective category, and Best-of-State trophies were awarded to products with the highest scores in their respective states, regardless of the category.
The competition also acknowledged the important role of corn in craft distillation, as many craft distillers use locally sourced grains, often from the states in which they operate. This sponsorship from the Iowa Corn Promotion Board supports craft distillers and helps them market their products effectively.
For a full list of winners and the sponsoring corn states, you can visit the ACSA website. This recognition highlights the quality and craftsmanship of Iowa's craft whiskey producers and their commitment to using locally grown ingredients like corn in their products.
Photo Credit: Lonely Oak Distillery
Categories: Iowa, General