Olympia Distilling Co. took home a Silver Medal at the seventh annual Bartender Spirits Awards, an international competition recently held in Chicago, for its Kelsey Gold Gin.
This award highlights the distillery’s commitment to quality, craftsmanship and excellence in producing a spirit that resonates with the U.S. on-premise trade, according to a news release from Olympia Distilling Co. The competition is judged by top bartenders, bar managers and beverage directors from across the United States.
Spirits are rated on their mixability, taste profile, packaging, and value for money, ensuring the winners are not only exceptional in quality but also relevant and practical for the hospitality industry, the release stated.
“The Bartender Spirits Awards are about helping bartenders discover spirits that deliver behind the bar,” said Sid Patel, CEO of Bartender Spirits Awards and the Beverage Trade Network. “The brands that win here have a real opportunity to connect with buyers and earn a place on some of the country’s most respected back bars.”
Kelsey Gold Gin is infused with saffron and boasts a rich, golden hue along with warm floral and earthy notes, according to Olympia Distilling Co.
Tasting notes from the judges:
• Aroma: Subtle saffron with hints of juniper and citrus.
• Palate: Smooth and aromatic, with warm spice and earthy undertones.
• Finish: Long, with a delicate saffron and botanical aftertaste.
Kelsey Gold Gin is 86 proof.
To learn more or make a purchase, visit https://www.kelseygins.com/s/shop.
Five dollars from the sale of each bottle sold goes directly to Kelsey’s New Beginnings, a nonprofit that provides support to cancer patients, such as comfort robes for women enduring radiation, gas cards for families traveling miles for treatment, and much more.
Kelsey Gins were created in honor of Kelsey Buchanan, a young wife and mother of three who helped create the vision for the beverages.
In the summer of 2019, Buchanan received a diagnosis of genetic lung cancer. But even in the face of that battle, Buchanan never let her illness define her, Olympia Distilling Co. stated in a previous news release.
“She had a spark. A fighter’s spirit,” said Lesa Givens, Kelsey’s cousin and co-owner of Olympia Distilling Co. “We wanted to give her something to pour her heart into, something beyond the scans, the surgeries, the waiting rooms. So together, we created something beautiful — Kelsey Gins. A purpose-filled brand, crafted by her hands, fueled by her vision.”
Buchanan was involved in every step of the process. She helped develop the formulas, chose the saffron that gives color to the Gold Gin and selected the butterfly pea flower that gives the Blue Gin its hue.
She died in 2023 at just 37 years old.
