Craft whiskey subscription service RackHouse Whiskey Club announced its 2021 Craft Distillery of the Year Award winner as 10th Mountain Whiskey & Spirits out of Vail, Colorado. 

The inaugural winner was chosen by popular vote by fans and members of RackHouse Whiskey Club, which is a craft whiskey of the month subscription service. The awards began with a public nomination period to ultimately choose a list of 10 finalists based on four criteria: Compelling story, impact on community, marketing presence, and branding and packaging. The winner was then chosen by public vote.  

“Since 2017, RackHouse Whiskey Club has traveled the country in search of independent distilleries doing things differently,” Dannie Strable, CEO of RackHouse Whiskey Club, said in a news release. “We have always believed that the people and their story are what makes the whiskey. Think of this as the people’s award. Congratulations to 10th Mountain Whiskey & Spirits for being named our first ever Craft Distillery of the Year.”

“As an eight-year-old distillery, and on behalf of our entire team of 14, this recognition from RackHouse Whiskey Club really means a ton to all of us,” Ryan Thompson, CEO of 10th Mountain Whiskey & Spirits said. “It’s a great industry to be part of and there is more hard work that goes into it than most people think. This award recognizes all of our team and the effort they put into the business on a daily basis.”

10th Mountain Whiskey and Spirits was featured in the February, 2020 RackHouse Whiskey Club box.

The other finalists were:

Uncle Nearest Green Distillery

Westward Distillery

Wigle Whiskey

Wilderness Trail

Bardstown Bourbon Company

Dad’s Hat Pennsylvania Rye Whiskey

Frey Ranch Distillery

High Bank Distillery

Wyoming Whiskey