It was announced that the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC) awarded MurLarkey Distilled Spirits three medals as part of its 18th annual competition including gold for the Divine Clarity Vodka. The Bristow, Virginia, distillery also took home two bronze medals for the Imagination Gin and Heritage Old Country Whiskey.
Hailed as one of the most influential spirit competitions in the industry, SFWSC judging process has attracted the attention of distillers from all over the world. By using blind tastings, the celebrated judges of SFWSC can focus solely on the characteristics displayed by each spirit. Judges are selected every year, ranging from world-renowned mixologists to national beverage reporters. This year, SFWSC received its largest amount of entries to date with over 2,000 submissions.
The award-winning Divine Clarity Vodka made a name for itself this year at SFWSC winning its second gold medal, after also receiving gold at American Distilling Institute’s 11th Annual Judging of Craft Spirits in 2017. Made in-house from 100% pure potato of the finest quality, Divine Clarity delivers a fresh clean taste that only a potato vodka can deliver.
MurLarkey’s all-natural and gluten-free handcrafted Imagination Gin was recognized as one of the leading standards of gin this year. This proprietary blend of 12 distinct fresh-cut, all-natural botanicals caught the attention of the judges, receiving a bronze medal. The spirit is perfect on the rocks or with a splash of tonic.
Heritage Old Country Whiskey is MurLarkey’s interpretation of classic Irish Whiskey and pays homage to their Irish roots. This gluten-free whiskey is painstakingly crafted, starting with a mash bill of premium corn, rye, and barley, finished in wine casks. This year, the judges were enamored by the inviting nose and enticing tastes of this spirit enough to award it a bronze medal.
MurLarkey CEO Tom Murray could not be more excited for the accolades MurLarkey has received in its first two years of business, saying, “For a first-year entry to medal at San Francisco is an amazing honor in itself; to take Gold for our vodka and two Bronze for our gin and whiskey is almost surreal. The entire MurLarkey team is ecstatic and we couldn’t be prouder of these awards.”
Since 2016, MurLarkey has challenged convention producing a broad array of award-winning, premium, handcrafted spirits and broadening its distribution networks. MurLarkey is currently distributed by VA ABC and Breakthru Beverage Group and now available at over 80 Virginia ABC stores, 100’s of restaurants and hotels across DC and Virginia and soon will be available in Maryland through Total Wine and More. MurLarkey’s extensive selection of spirits can also be purchased or sampled at the distillery’s tasting room (7961 Gainsford Court, Bristow VA; 571-284-7961). The distillery is open Thursday 10am to 5pm, Friday 10am to 6pm, and Saturday 1pm to 6pm as well as Monday through Wednesday by appointment.
