SanTan Spirits, the distilling side of SanTan Brewing Company, is proud to announce they earned top awards this week at the New York World Wine & Spirits Competition for their Sacred Stave and Butcher Jones Whiskeys, claiming four medals: three double gold, one silver and a best of class designation. A labor of love five years in the making.
“These awards are a wonderful vindication of the thousands of hours spent curating our barrels over the last 5 years. It means our distilling team, under Brant Gasparek, is on the right path with a focus on maturation and blending to create unparalleled whiskey. Our brewers are also winners this day because without their diligence in fermenting the highest quality beers we would not be able to create the flavors that are so pronounced in our whiskey expressions. The best beers make world class whiskey,” said Anthony Canecchia, founder + brewmaster, SanTan Spirits and SanTan Brewing Company.
Awards include these placements:
DOUBLE GOLD
100% Malted American Barley. Artisan pot distilled. Aged in oak. Finished in hand-selected wine barrels.
Bright fruit, cherry cola, baking spices in a bed of maple caramel. Butcher Jones barrels are patiently aged, curated, and blended by Head Distiller, Brant Gasparek. Proofed to cask strength.
- Sacred Stave American Single Malt Whiskey, Cask Strength – Best of Class!
100% Malted American Barley. Artisan pot distilled. Aged in oak. Finished in hand-selected wine barrels. Proofed to cask strength.
SILVER
- Butcher Jones Arizona Straight Rye Whiskey, 100 Proof
Bright fruit, cherry cola, baking spices in a bed of maple caramel. Butcher Jones barrels are patiently aged, curated, and blended by Head Distiller, Brant Gasparek.
“At SanTan Spirits, our whiskey is curated over a period of 2-4 years to achieve the flavor profile we are looking for. Our method of E’Levage involves rotating our barrels to different climates during their aging process. We have an amazing advantage here in Arizona with the dry climate and heat, it allows each batch to breath deep into the wood,” continued Canecchia.
During the aging process, samples are taking and evaluated for development and maturity in flavor during development. Some batches are proofed slightly in the barrel in order to coax more sugars out of the staves. Next, barrels are blended to reduce the proof slowly to about 105 proof and then return them to the barrel so that they can condition for another 45-60 days. The final step is to proof each barrel by about 2% weekly until the target flavor is achieved.
One double gold winner, Sacred Stave American Single Malt Whiskey, 90 Proof, is available for purchase now in Arizona at local independent liquor stores, Total Wine and Fry’s Food & Drug. Stop by SanTan’s Spirits House Tasting Room & Cocktail Bar in Downtown Chandler to try all of the winning brands.
