A Competition of Virginia-Made Spirits

Raise a glass, Virginia! The results are in for the inaugural First Landing Cup, a competition of Virginia-made spirits.

With 108 entries from 33 distilleries statewide, each spirit was judged on aroma, taste, mouthfeel, finish and overall balance. A total of 101 medals were awarded, recognizing exceptional flavor and craftsmanship.

Meet the Top Winners

Topping the competition was Virginia Distillery Company’s Courage & Conviction Signature Malt, which earned Best in Show honors, distinguishing it as the highest-scoring spirit across all categories. Five other distilleries earned “Best in Class” honors in their respective categories, while judges awarded 13 gold, 48 silver and 40 bronze medals overall.

Taste the Best of Virginia with the Gold Medal Spirits Trail

We’re excited to introduce the Gold Medal Spirits Trail, a new limited-time passport experience featuring the gold-medal winners of the inaugural First Landing Cup! 

This exclusive trail guides you through the 11 top-winning distilleries across the commonwealth—encouraging you to taste the best of Virginia, learn more about these award-winning spirits and discover why Virginia is the Birthplace of American Spirits.

Ready to explore? Visit the Explore tab in your Virginia Spirits Passport app or sign up below to begin.

Meet the Gold Medalists

🥇 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 CO. – Courage & Conviction Signature Malt

Tasting Notes

Our judges conducted a comprehensive sensory evaluation for every submission, focusing on:

• Nose. The sense of smell plays a crucial role in the overall tasting experience, often contributing significantly more to flavor perception than taste alone. The “nose” of a spirit refers to the various aromatic compounds that contribute to its character.
• Palate. The experience of how the spirit feels and tastes in the mouth. Judges will evaluate each spirits’ flavor profile and mouthfeel.
• Finish. The lingering impression of the spirit after it’s swallowed. Judges will note how long the flavors persist and whether they evolve or change over time.
• Balance. The harmonious interplay between all the elements of the spirit. This refers to how well the nose, palate and finish integrate together, an indicator of quality and craftsmanship.

Rating Scale

The numerical rating is used to determine medal winners. Scored on a 100-point scale, with weights tailored to each category. This competition follows a modified mean scoring, with the highest and lowest scores discarded to determine the average.

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

Medal Certification & Awards

Medals are verified by the panel after initial scoring, and results are finalized through majority consensus to ensure accuracy. Top scorers in each category form a final flight for “Best of Class” evaluation. Scoring criteria include appearance, balance, finish, complexity and finesse.

Cheers to the Inaugural First Landing Cup!

The First Landing Cup is a testament to the dedication and talent of local distillers, setting the standard for excellence in the industry while honoring time-honored traditions in Virginia, the Birthplace of American Spirits.

Administered by the Virginia Distillers Association with support from the Virginia Spirits Board, this blind-judged event is designed to recognize and honor the skill, innovation and craftsmanship behind Virginia’s thriving spirits community. Special thanks to the American Craft Spirits Association for helping us design the competition.