By Chelsea Blair
The San Francisco World Spirits Competition has released the list of winners for their 2024 competition, which was held this April. The international competition had over 3,600 entries this year, and since starting in 2022 has made its name as the largest spirits competition the world. Each year, medal winners range from some of the most renowned international distillers to small-batch producers across the globe.
Among the award winners were three West Virginia distilleries, including Greenbrier County’s very own Smooth Ambler Spirits, which is located in Maxwelton. This year, their Old Scout 7 Bourbon Whiskey earned a gold medal. Described as having “bold, sweet and spicy flavors with subtle apple, leather, and cherry pipe tobacco,” Old Scout 7 is a high-rye, 99 proof spirit that has been aged for seven years.
Overall, Smooth Ambler has won over 30 awards for their spirits, including Best in the World single barrel whiskey at The World Whiskies Awards by Whisky Magazine in 2016. The company stated, “We didn’t just set out to make award winning whiskey. We also set out to create a source of pride for West Virginians everywhere.”
Two other distilleries in the state placed in the prestigious competition. Man Cave Distilling, located in Weston, won a bronze medal for their Ambrosia and a double gold medal for their Straight Bourbon 4 Year Cask Strength Distillers Reserve, and Swilled Dog won two silver medals for their Take Me Home: Straight Bourbon Whiskey finishing with a Maple Syrup Cask and their Mon Forest Reserve Dry Gin.
