Manncave Distillers in Weston, W.Va. offers gin, vodka, and moonshine produced in the Mountain State. (WBOY Image)
CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — Mann Cave Distilling, Swilled Dog and Smooth Ambler all took home medals at the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, the oldest tasting competition of its kind in the world.
Out of the three, Mann Cave Distillery in Weston, West Virginia was the only one to take home a double gold medal, earning a score of 96/100 for its Straight Bourbon 4-Year Cask Strength Distillers Reserve. Mann Cave also won a bronze medal in the Vodka category for its “Ambrosia” spirit, despite Ambrosia not technically being vodka; Ambrosia is a unique spirit distilled from West Virginia maple sap and was judged as a vodka because it did not fall into any particular category.
Upper Tract, West Virginia distillery Swilled Dog won two silver medals: one for its Take Me Home Straight Bourbon Whiskey which is finished in a maple syrup cask, and another for its Mon Forest Reserve Dry Gin.
CEO and Co-founder of Swilled Dog Brooke Glover was also awarded the 2024 Dave Pickerell Memorial Craft Member of the Year award by the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States earlier this year. The distillery has recently been periodically releasing limited-run bottles of premium spirits in partnership with the County Roads Trust.
Last but not least, Smooth Ambler in Maxwelton, West Virginia won a gold medal for its Old Scout 7 Bourbon Whiskey.
For a full list of results from the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition you can visit the event’s results page.
