Whiskey-maker Judged America's Top Farmer-Distiller

    CHICAGO, IL, December 20, 2023 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Maryland Governor Wes Moore paid a visit to Tobacco Barn Distillery in Hollywood Maryland earlier this week to award the Heartland Whiskey Competition trophy for America's Top Farmer- Distiller. The award is one of the top prizes for the biennial, blind-judged competition sanctioned and supervised by American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA) in which craft distillers from across the country compete for medals and trophies in traditional whiskey categories.

Top Farmer-Distiller was awarded to Tobacco Barn for its eponymous Single-Barrel Bourbon which also won Best-of-State. To be eligible for the award, entrants must operate both a distillery and a working farm. More than 30 percent of all entries for the 2023 competition met that criteria, growing crops specific to their distillery businesses.

The Heartland Whiskey Competition was started by state corn associations to help craft distilleries receive visibility for their businesses. This is the first time that the Top Farmer-Distiller trophy was awarded in the competition's history.

"It is important to recognize craft distillers, an industry that relies on the corn we grow, have sustained their businesses through trying times and continue to improve an already excellent product," states Matt Lambert, Missouri Corn Merchandising Council chairman. "Corn growers throughout the Heartland, through their participating state corn associations, support these entrepreneurs, many of whom are working farmers and all of whom are our customers."

The Heartland Whiskey Competition is a biennial, blind-tasting judging event that is sanctioned and supervised by the American Craft Spirits Association. The competition is sponsored by the promotion arms of participating state corn associations. Competition in several whiskey categories is open to craft distillers from all 50 states and territories. In addition to category competition (e.g., bourbon, moonshine, etc.), "Best of State" awards are given to the top-scoring entries from those states with corn association sponsorship. "Best of Show" is given to the highest-scoring whiskey from the "Best of State" awardees, and "Top-Farmer-Distiller" is given to the top-scoring whiskey that qualifies for that category.

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