Shelter Point Distillery took home not one, but two awards for its Ripple Rock Single Malt whisky at the Bartender Spirits Awards.
Announced on June 20, the event is the "premier spirits competition judged by bartenders in the world," according to a release from Shelter Point Distillery. The locally-distilled single malt was named the 2024 Single Malt Whisky of the year, and awarded a gold medal: a coveted accolade that honours the finest products in the industry.
“This is the first year Shelter Point Distillery has entered the Bartender Spirits Awards Competition, and to win best single malt on our first outing is exceptional,” said Stephen Goodridge, General Manager of Shelter Point Distillery. “It is a testament to the quality of the whisky being distilled and bottled here, and we are thrilled as a Canadian distillery to have our single malts internationally recognized as some of the finest whiskies in the world. This win isn’t just for us – it’s for the entire Vancouver Island whisky distilling industry.”
The competition is one of the most prestigious and respected such competitions in the world. To be able to win a medal, a spirit must meet a very specific judging criteria. The medals also help identify products that the judges think should become additions to restaurant and bar menus. Spirits were judged according to criteria such as how well they pair with food items in addition to their overall mixability and versatility.
"This competition recognizes that bartenders are the true influencers – their passions and tastes provide direction for the consumer, especially via their guidance with wine, beer or spirit recommendations. The creation of new drinks is often driven by bartender tastes and perceptions of current trends. Spirits were judged by Mixability, Balance and Versatility, Taste, Mouthfeel and Finish, Package & Price," the release says.
The whisky takes its name from Campbell River's 1958 Ripple Rock explosion, one of the largest non-nuclear explosions on record.
"The single malt whisky is aged in alligator charred virgin American oak casks and bourbon barrels. Distilled in traditional pot stills with glacier fed aquifer water, Ripple Rock explodes with flavour, with vanilla spice and oak on the nose, caramel with raisins, barbecue notes, pepper and clove on the palate, balanced with toffee and chocolate on the finish."
Shelter Point Distillery’s single malt whiskies start with only the highest quality Canadian two-row barley, grown on the estate and sourced from top B.C. producers. The team employ a traditional approach, including slow fermentation and double pot distillation, to produce the finest expressions of whisky. Each spirit is infused with natural glacier-fed water supplied by an aquifer, then aged within a few hundred yards of the Pacific Ocean in an array of wood casks selected from around the world, imparting distinctive character, complexity and flavours.
Shelter Point Distillery is open daily. Drop-ins are welcome to taste the whiskies, though advance reservations are required for distillery tours. For more information, to shop Shelter Point’s world-class whiskies, or to book your distillery experience, visit www.shelterpoint.ca.
