At the regional World Whiskies Awards held in Louisville, Kentucky on February 14, a distiller from the Pacific Northwest named their Cocoa Bomb chocolate whiskey the best-flavored whiskey in the United States.
Heritage Distilling produces the 75-proof, chocolate-flavored whiskey at its facilities in Eugene, Oregon, and Tumwater, Washington.
Following their victory in the national awards, which were hosted by Whisky Magazine, Cocoa Bomb will compete globally later this winter.
The CEO and co-founder of Heritage Distilling Co., Justin Stiefel, stated, “This is the third time we’ve won that (category), which has never been done with any brand, even the big guys.” Since we’ve won twice, we’re crossing our fingers to see what happens when they reveal the world’s best-flavored whiskey next month.
Heritage Distilling’s Brown Sugar Bourbon has won the title of Best Flavored Whiskey in the World twice. (Actor Jamie Foxx acquired that brand in 2021; it is currently known as Brown Sugar Blend.)
According to Stiefel, one of the market sectors with the highest growth is flavored whiskey, specifically Fireball cinnamon whiskey.
According to him, flavored whiskey is a category that people in their 20s can start with. Flavored whiskeys are one way that women are starting to dabble in the whiskey market, which is still the fastest-growing area of the whiskey market.
Bourbon with a high corn content is combined with cane sugar and dark and semi-sweet chocolate to create Cocoa Bomb. According to Heritage’s website, the resulting whiskey has hints of marshmallow, dark chocolate, and cocoa.
According to Stiefel, you wouldn’t necessarily recognize it as whiskey if you closed your eyes and took a taste. The answer would be, “Oh, this is a really dark chocolate that is amazing.”
In 2012, Heritage Distilling was founded in Washington state, and in 2016, the company constructed a distillery in Eugene. Both sites provide about equal amounts to the production. The company’s two Eugene tasting rooms are located inside the distillery, where guests can observe the production floor, and at the 5th Street Public Market.
In addition, the business is constructing Oregon’s first tribally-owned distillery on Native land adjacent to The Mill Casino Hotel & RV Park in North Bend in collaboration with the Coquille Indian Tribe.
Both Heritage goods and a new brand, Ko-Kwel Spirits, which is based on the tribe’s name spelled traditionally, will be available at the distillery.
Heritage purchased Eugene’s Thinking Tree Distillery a year ago. In April, the business intends to open a new tasting room there.
Here is Oregon and The Oregonian/OregonLive are covered by Samantha Swindler. You may reach her at oregonian.com/sswindler.
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