Competing against craft distilleries from across North America, Niagara College’s Teaching Distillery was ranked among the best when it was awarded two gold medals, a silver and a bronze, and finished third in the Spirit Distilleries Category at the 2024 U.S. Open Whiskey and Spirits Championship.
“Our Craft Distilling students are gaining the skills they need to lead and succeed in the industry at our Teaching Distillery, and it’s getting noticed at an international level,” said Steve Gill, General Manager of the College’s Learning Enterprises. “Winning these awards is evidence that our students are learning from the best and making their mark with the education they’re receiving at Niagara College.”
NC received gold medals for its School Spirits Whisky and Tanzanite Gin. In the Anything Goes category, the Distillery’s Christmas Gin earned it a silver medal, and its Mediterranean Vodka was awarded a bronze.
“It’s really exciting for us to get the chance to submit these projects (for judging) because it really speaks to the hard work of the students and all the time we spend together developing these products,” said Head Distiller David Dickson. “(The awards) showcase not only these students, but all the products that we make and the capability of our graduates entering the workforce.”
It’s not the first time that Tanzanite Gin and Mediterranean Vodka impressed judges; earlier this year, both spirits were awarded medals at the 2024 Canadian Artisan Spirit Competition as well.
Dickson said it’s the College’s first time winning at multiple competitions with the same entries.
Based off a highly rectified neutral spirit, Mediterranean Vodka includes several spices that are often found in Mediterranean cooking, including basil, mint, lemon and coriander. Meanwhile, Tanzanite Gin is a bright and refreshing spirt with some wood character in the background. It was inspired by the classic London dry style with some flavours of the new style of gin.
Christmas Gin was a new entry for the Distillery. It was a creative endeavor between Assistant Distiller Ian Bickle and graduating students of the Artisan Distilling Program. It’s a baking spice forward gin with a mix of cinnamon, cranberries, allspice and clove that uses a combination of techniques to give the gin flavour.
“The 2022 group was a smaller cohort, so we were able to do some more fun distillations,” Bickle said. “So I challenged them and said: ‘Let’s make a graduation gin. Everyone, give me one botanical for the gin.’ I created the recipe from what they gave me, and we distilled it on their final distillation day. There were some very interesting heavy botanicals, which inspired a gin reminiscent of Christmas cakes and cookies.”
He approached Dickson with the idea of a second batch of Christmas gin the next year, repurposing student gin. Dickson agreed and Bickle produced the 2023 batch release of Christmas gin, which was entered into the competition.
In another first for the competition, several NC Artisan Distilling alumni were invited to judge a portion this year’s event. They were not allowed to judge any of the College’s entries.
Dickson said it was the first time former students were able to volunteer at the U.S. Open Whiskey & Spirits Championship, though alumni have judged beer competitions in the past.
Mediterranean Vodka and Tanzanite Gin are available for a limited time at the College’s Wine Visitor + Education Centre while supplies last, while a new batch of Christmas gin will be released closer to the holidays.
Niagara College’s Teaching Distillery is a 2,500-square-foot facility located at Niagara College’s Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake, which is home to NC’s Artisan Distilling program. Students produce a variety of distilled products including vodka, gin, brandy, rum, whisky and other spirits. The program and the Teaching Distillery launched in September 2018 as the first of its kind in Canada, following the footsteps of NC’s trailblazing Teaching Winery and Teaching Brewery. Visit NC’s School of Wine, Beer and Spirits for program information.
