Meet the 2025 First Landing Cup Winners

It’s time to toast to the best of Virginia! The results are in for the inaugural First Landing Cup, a first-of-its-kind competition of distilled spirits made right here in the Old Dominion.

Last month, a world-class panel of judges came to Richmond, Virginia, to taste 108 craft spirits from 33 distilleries across the commonwealth. A total of 101 medals were awarded, recognizing exceptional flavor and craftsmanship. Learn more about the competition and process here.

Without further ado, let’s see which bottles rose to the top.

The Medalists

Of the 101 award-winning spirits, 13 earned gold medals. An additional 48 took home silver medals and 40 more took bronze. Find all the medalists here.

Striking Gold

• CAISEAL BEER & SPIRITS CO. – Caiseal Peated American Single Malt Whiskey
• CATOCTIN CREEK – Catoctin Creek Hot Honey Rye
• HIGHLANDS DISTILLING CO. – Dragon Navy Strength Gin
• KO DISTILLING – KO Distiller’s Reserve Bottled-in-Bond Straight Rye Whiskey
• KO DISTILLING – KO Distiller’s Reserve Bottled-in-Bond Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• MT. DEFIANCE DISTILLERY – Mt. Defiance Absinthe Supérieure
• MURLARKEY DISTILLED SPIRITS – Papi’s Salsa Borracha Vodka
• MURLARKEY DISTILLED SPIRITS – MurLarkey ImaGination Gin
• OLD HOUSE VINEYARDS – Estate Brandy XO
• RAGGED BRANCH DISTILLERY – Ragged Branch Rye Whiskey
• THREE CROSSES DISTILLING CO. – Crossed Rifles Spiced Rum
• VIRAGO SPIRITS – Modern Gin with Oolong Tea
• VIRGINIA DISTILLERY COMPANY – Courage & Conviction Signature Malt

In case you’re wondering, that’s six whiskeys, three gins, one vodka, one rum, one brandy and one absinthe. Only two distilleries earned more than one gold medal: KO Distilling and MurLarkey Distilled Spirits, both located in Manassas.

The Gold Medal Spirits Trail

We’re excited to introduce the Gold Medal Spirits Trail, a new limited-time passport experience featuring all the gold-medal winners.

Ready to explore? Visit the Explore tab in your Virginia Spirits Passport app or head to VirginiaSpirits.Org/First-Landing-Cup to begin.

The Top Shelf, Top Winners

After each “Best in Class,” highest-scoring spirit was selected in each respective category, another round of sampling compared bottles head-to-head to decide the overall winner or Best in Show.

Best in Show and Best in Class Whiskey: Virginia Distillery Company, Courage & Conviction Signature Malt

Courage & Conviction Flagship has notes of caramel and butterscotch and evolves on the palate with hints of dark dried fruit, raspberry, cocoa, barrel spice and vanilla. Learn more about American Single Malt here.

Best in Class Gin: Highlands Distilling Company, Dragon Navy Strength Gin

114 proof. Starting with a neutral spirit, the team at Highlands Distilling Company add juniper and other botanicals. It’s Navy Strength, highlighting traditions.

Best in Class Specialty Spirit: Mt. Defiance Distillery, Mt. Defiance Absinthe Supérieure

A traditional, French-style verte absinthe created from a late 19th century French recipe. Distilled using whole botanicals, naturally colored and bottled at 140 proof.

Best in Class Vodka: MurLarkey Distilled Spirits, Papi’s Salsa Borracha Vodka

Infused using a proprietary technique and blend of 15 all-natural botanicals and fresh garden vegetables.

Best in Class Brandy: Old House Vineyards, Estate Brandy XO

Grown and bottled in Culpeper, VA. Rich and refined, offering aromas of dried fig and toasted almond.

Best in Class Rum: Three Crosses Distilling Company, Crossed Rifles Spiced Rum

Made from American bagasse sugar and molasses. Seeped with only natural spices. 80 Proof.

Your spirits collection is incomplete until you get the best of the best from Virginia. Get your hands on the winning bottles while you still can.