An exciting result

Recently I entered some of my distilling efforts into the 10th Stillmaster National competition and was absolutely delighted with the results. There were about 600 entries in the competition with around 100 in the hotly contested whisky class.

My Malt Whisky was awarded a Gold Medal and judged best in class.

This was made in small batches using my 10 L Portuguese copper alembic still and aged in oak barrels that had been soaked in sherry prior to filling.

It was aged for 9 months in a 1L cask - which equates to about 10 years in a 225 L barrel by calculation of surface area.

I also make Vodka to use as an extraction base for fruit schnapps and Lemoncello, and as it was here I entered some of that too - and was astounded to win a Gold Medal for that too - as well as another "Best in class".

I drip my vodka through a 1 metre column of activated carbon and I think that helps a lot.

Vignette likes the occasional Fallen Angel and we recently found it hard to get some Advokaat, so I made some and whilst I was at it knocked together some Cherry Brandy to go with it.  There was still some of that lying around so I entered that too, and it also took a Gold Medal!

With a silver medal for both my Butterscotch Schnapps and my Bourbon I am a very happy man.