American Distilling Institute (ADI) Awards Spirit Works Distillery with Prestigious Bubble Cap Award for Excellence, Innovation and Community Leadership
Sebastopol, CA, July 14, 2020 – California grain-to-glass craft spirits pioneer Spirit Works Distillery has been named “2020 Distillery of the Year” by the American Distilling Institute (ADI), winning its prestigious national Bubble Cap Award.
Established by ADI in 2010, when the industry reached 400 craft distilleries, the annual Bubble Cap Award for “Distillery of the Year” (named for a device utilized in distillation) is given to “the one distillery of the year that represents the very best in the world of artisan distilling: excellence in quality of spirits, innovation, transparency, authenticity of approach, sustained company growth, community involvement, and embodying the ethos of craft.” By ADI’s definition, a craft distillery must produce less than 100,000 proof gallons per year, be independently owned and operated, and must actually distill their own products.
“Timo and I are truly blown away to receive this national award recognizing Spirit Works Distillery as this year’s leader in the growing craft spirits industry,” stated Ashby Marshall, Co-owner, Founding Distiller, Brand Director at Spirit Works. “We strive every day to maintain our principles surrounding environmental stewardship, transparency in our grain-to-glass process, commitment to creating high-quality spirits, fostering local community and industry relationships, and creating a safe and supportive working atmosphere for our incredible team here. This acknowledgment is a fantastic reinforcement from our industry peers that we are on the right path.”
Spirit Works Distillery is highly respected as one of California’s first grain-to-glass craft distilleries, handcrafting an array of high quality spirits in the heart of Sonoma wine country, including Vodka, Gin, Sloe Gin, Barrel Gin, Navy Strength Gin, Straight Wheat and Rye Whiskeys and most recently, a Four Grain Straight Bourbon Whiskey. As the only producers of traditional Sloe Gin in the U.S (a gin-based liqueur traditionally made in the UK using tart sloe berries, a tiny relative of the plum), for which it has garnered two national Good Food Awards since 2018, the team at Spirit Works Distillery consistently leads with diligence, creativity, and intention.
“As a distillery deeply committed to quality and innovation in making and serving the best grain-to-glass spirits in the world, Spirit Works continues to raise the bar,” said Erik Owens, President of the American Distilling Institute. “But the Bubble Cap award isn’t just about great spirits: it’s about celebrating distilleries that contribute to the craft community. In this area, Spirit Works is also a leader: women-lead, family-run, inclusive, diverse, accepting and supportive of everyone in the community. Ashby and Timo’s previous lives were in environmental justice, and they brought that philosophy to their new endeavor. They not only wanted to make spirits, but wanted to make sure everything they did was giving back to the process. Every decision was looked at from multiple angles, and the decisions they made had to reflect their goal of trying to make the world a better place by their participation in it. We acknowledge and celebrate that leadership!”
ABOUT SPIRIT WORKS DISTILLERY
Founded in the heart of Sonoma County, California in 2012 by husband and wife team Timo and Ashby Marshall, Spirit Works Distillery is a craft spirits producer which handcrafts artisan Vodka, Gin, Sloe Gin, Barrel Gin, Navy Strength Gin, Straight Wheat and Rye Whiskeys and a new Four Grain Straight Bourbon Whiskey onsite using the grain-to-glass method of milling, mashing, fermenting and then distilling organic grains onsite. Timo and Ashby bring years of environmental stewardship to every process and remain one of the few female-lead distilling teams in the US. For more information about Spirit Works Distillery, visit https://spiritworksdistillery.com/ Follow Spirit Works Distillery on Instagram/Facebook at @spiritworksdistillery.
ABOUT AMERICAN DISTILLING INSTITUTE (ADI)
The American Distilling Institute is the oldest and largest organization of small-batch, independently-owned distillers in the United States. Founded in 2003, the organization has grown from a few dozen distillers to more than 1,000 paid members. Each year they support the industry in fostering relationships on their forums, recognizing top spirits with their annual spirits competition, and providing educational conferences.
For more information, images or interviews about Spirit Works Distillery, please contact Erin Hunt Moore at Verdant PR & Marketing at emoore@verdantpr.com or Ashby Marshall at Spirit Works Distillery at ashby@spiritworksdistillery.com.
