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Prestigious Whisky Magazine Award Goes to Craft Distillery

Being named one of only 10 winners of the 2014 World Whiskies Awards given by Whisky Magazine in London eased the pain of peeling 32,000 lbs of pumpkins at the Sons of Liberty Spirits Company based in South Kingston, Rhode Island. The award was for “World’s Best Flavored Whiskey” and it is the first time it has been taken home by an American craft distillery.

We wrote about Sons of Liberty’s Pumpkin Whiskey last Fall when they introduced their Pumpkin Spice Whiskey using about 4,000 lbs of locally gown pumpkins. It was so successful that they upped production this year and now with this award, they’re processing more pumpkins than ever. Sons of Liberty owner, Mike Reppucci told us that about 20 volunteers cut, cored, scooped (with ice cream scoopers) 8,000 2-lb pumpkins in two days. That’s physically really hard work. Now quadruple it to 32,000 lbs. The pumpkin is roasted and pressed for juice, which is then blended with an American Single Malt Whiskey.

Mike described the pumpkin flavor coming through but without the sugary, saccharin taste common to flavored spirits. The barrel-aged whiskey imparts the traditional autumn spices of clove, allspice, vanilla and cinnamon capturing the essence of a New England Fall.

The distillery will produce about 10,000 bottles in two sizes: 375 ml retailing for around $29.99 and 750 ml retailing for $49.99. The first 5,000 are already distributed and selling fast. Because quantities are limited, Spiced Pumpkin Whiskey is available only in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. However, if your state allows shipping, two stores in Rhode Island that will ship are Bottles Fine Wine and Spirits, Providence and Town Wine and Spirits, Rumford.

Other award-winning Sons of Liberty whiskeys include Hop Flavored Whiskey, which was awarded Gold Medals at the 2014 Craft Spirits Awards International Competition in Los Angeles, CA and the 14^thannual San Francisco World Spirits Competition where it was the only flavored whiskey to win Gold.