Introducing the *First* First Landing Cup

The Old Dominion has a long and storied tradition of distilling but, until now, there hasn’t been a competition dedicated exclusively to honoring the craft, quality and diversity of spirits made in the commonwealth. 

That has now changed. Last week, the Virginia Distillers Association held the inaugural First Landing Cup — a statewide competition of Virginia-made spirits designed to spotlight excellence in Virginia distilling. While the winners will be announced next month, we’re excited to give you a behind-the-scenes look at how it all came together.

What’s in a Name?

The name “First Landing Cup” pays homage to the place where it all began.

On April 26, 1607, English settlers first landed at Cape Henry (modern-day Virginia Beach), paving the way to Jamestown and the founding of the first permanent English settlement in North America. With fertile soil, settlers quickly realized they had something special: ideal conditions for growing grains like corn, rye and barley. Their discovery launched the art of distilling in colonial America. 

We “settled” on the name as a nod to new frontiers and bold beginnings — just like the spirit shared by Virginia’s earliest and modern distillers. 

A Competition Designed with Purpose

The Virginia Distiller’s Association, supported by the Virginia Spirits Board, brought in the American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA) to ensure the First Landing Cup is as rigorous as it is inclusive and representative. 

Process & Judging Criteria

The First Landing Cup followed the same tried and true structure employed by ACSA in their own nationwide competition and used by a number of agricultural boards across the country. The ACSA team worked with the VDA and the Virginia Spirits Board Marketing Office for more than a year to plan and execute this highly curated competition. 

All entries were judged blind, with spirits evaluated by category on aroma, taste, mouthfeel, finish and overall balance. Each spirit had to stand on its own, without labels or reputations to influence scores.

All Virginia distilleries were invited to submit their best “made in Virginia” bottles, which means any and all production, including distillation, redistillation, maceration, aging and bottling, must take place in the commonwealth.

Judging took place on April 30, 2025, in Richmond, Virginia, and was conducted by panels of trained professionals, including sommeliers, spirits writers, mixologists, academics and industry veterans. Every entry was tasted multiple times, with panel discussions and score calibrations to ensure fairness and consistency.

World-Class Judging

What truly sets the First Landing Cup apart is the caliber of its judges. We assembled a diverse group of tasters with deep expertise in spirits and a shared passion for quality. Their credentials span decades of experience in hospitality, distilling and spirits education. You can read all about them here, but those who know the spirits industry will recognize these names: 

• Caitlin Bartlemay
• Chris Schmid
• Clay Smith
• Cora “Beth” Dixon
• Dave Schmier
• Denaya Jones
• Eric Kozlik
• Erlinda Doherty
• Henry Hill Jr.
• Holly Abner
• Kari Rushing
• Lewis “Lew” Bryson
• Lisa Wicker
• Margaret “Maggie” Campbell
• Margaret “Maggie” Kimberl
• Mariève Isabel
• Monica Wolf
• Nick Crutchfield
• Paul Hletko
• Phillip “Phil” Morgan
• Sailor Guevara – check out her coverage of the day here!

This commitment to excellence ensures that each medal awarded represents more than just taste — it represents mastery, innovation and integrity.

The Awards

Each entry has a chance to medal based on the following scores. 

• 90-100 = Gold
• 80-89 = Silver
• 70-79 = Bronze

The three top scoring spirits in each category were evaluated and scored by a new panel of judges with the highest scoring spirit in each category named “Best in Class.” All spirits given a “Best in Class” rating will be evaluated and scored by yet another broad panel of judges with the top spirit named “Best in Show” and overall winner of the First Landing Cup.

Who Entered?

Some of Virginia’s most celebrated distilleries entered, alongside rising stars and small-batch producers who are redefining local craft. This year’s field offers a powerful snapshot of the talent and diversity driving Virginia spirits forward.

What’s Next?

The results are finalized and will be announced in early June — ensuring winning distilleries have time to get enough product in Virginia ABC stores near you. We hope this behind-the-scenes look gives you a taste of what makes the First Landing Cup special.

But, if you’ve made it this far, you deserve a little teaser: 13 top-tier bottles rose above the rest to earn a gold medal. Another 47 silver medals and 40 bronze medals rounded out the scoring.