TOPO Piedmont Gin Wins Double Gold at 50Best Awards

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - June 19, 2014 - PRLog -- Top of the Hill Distillery’s Organic Piedmont Gin has earned a double gold medal from the 50Best Awards, a tasting competition from online dining guide TheFiftyBest.com. The gin, introduced in April of 2013, is the third spirit release from the distillery under the brand name TOPO. This is the fourth gold-level award in national and international competitions in only a year.

In July 2013, F. Paul Pacult’s Spirit Journal gave TOPO Organic Piedmont Gin a four star rating, one of the highest honors from the nation’s leading spirit authority. He noted, “Entry taste flashes a note of cucumber, along with a deft touch of citrus oil and orange zest; midpalate is pleasantly fruity, oily and herbal.” In the fall of 2013, the spirit earned gold from the Spirits International Prestige (SIP) Awards in Las Vegas. And this spring, the Beverage Tasting Institute’s 2014 International Review of Spirits gave the spirit a gold medal and a 92 point rating.

“It’s an innovative flavor profile for a gin. The traditional London Dry is not our signature, rather we’ve developed a botanical mix with a lot of range. It mixes beautifully as a simple tonic and a craft cocktail” says TOPO proprietor Scott Maitland.

Cocktail Enthusiast agrees: “TOPO Piedmont Gin is really interesting on the nose. The juniper is there, but it’s subtle. More prominent are some soft, sweet vanilla aromas, plus some fruit, cardamom and a bit of mint. Drink up and you’ll get more cardamom, some cucumber and plenty of citrus. There’s an evergreen background tying things together, and it finishes clean and dry with a hint of black pepper.

This is an easy-drinking gin. Especially at 92 proof. If you’re looking for a London Dry gin to make martinis, this isn’t it. But it’s definitely got lots of flavor. And one thing we like the best: its base spirit, that soft winter wheat, is never overpowered. The sweetness of the wheat shines through to mingle with the botanicals.”

TOPO distillery is the only local and certified organic distillery in North Carolina. In addition to the Organic Piedmont Gin, TOPO makes an organic Carolina Moonshine Whiskey, and an organic Vodka, all using soft red winter wheat grown in Scotland, Neck North Carolina.

Stats:

TOPO Piedmont Gin
92 Proof
46% Alcohol by volume
$28.95 in ABC stores throughout North Carolina and select retailers across the US.

About TOPO Distillery:


Top of the Hill Distillery, located in Chapel Hill, NC, is the only local and certified organic spirits in North Carolina. TOPO Spirits are handcrafted in small batches from wheat sourced less than 100 miles from the distillery. www.topodistillery.com

About The Fifty Best Awards: 


The Fifty Best held a “blind” tasting of 44 gins with 19 pre-qualified judges. The gins were judged and scored separately. The order of service was established beforehand by lottery. Each of the gins were poured into fresh glasses from new sealed bottles, and served at slightly above room temperature. Only ice water, unflavored unsalted crackers and chips were available to cleanse the palate. The judges tasted through six flights of 7 gins and one flight of 3 gins. www.thefiftybest.com

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Interviews, media kit inquires, sample and tour requests should be directed to Dana McMahan at 919-434-1229 or dana@topodistillery.com

More details on TOPO Organic Spirits at www.topodistillery.com.