Craft Whiskey Distillers Showcase Agricultural Heritage in 2025 Heartland Whiskey Competition
TL;DR
Craft distillers have a chance to win prestigious awards in the 2025 Heartland Whiskey Competition, showcasing their skills and products.
The competition is limited to craft whiskeys with corn ingredients, with judging taking place on July 15 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The competition celebrates the agricultural heritage behind America's finest whiskeys, supporting family-owned distilleries and locally-grown corn.
Innovative farmer-distillers are creating unique whiskey expressions, elevating the role of corn in premium spirits and redefining American whiskey.
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The 2025 Heartland Whiskey Competition will showcase the innovative craft spirits landscape, with judging set for July 15 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The biennial event, sponsored by corn marketing associations from 21 states, will recognize exceptional whiskeys produced by craft distillers across the United States.
This year's competition places special emphasis on farmer-distillers, who represent a unique segment of the spirits industry that combines agricultural production with artisanal spirit making. In the 2023 competition, over 30% of entries were from farmer-distillers, underscoring the growing importance of this category.
The competition will award prestigious honors across multiple categories, including the coveted Top Farmer-Distiller Trophy, which is awarded to the distillery with the highest average score across three different entries. Additional awards include Best Farmer-Distilled Bourbon and Best Farmer-Distilled 'Beyond Bourbon' Whiskey.
The competition highlights the critical role of corn in American whiskey production, with entries strictly limited to craft whiskeys containing corn as an ingredient. State corn marketing associations from major agricultural states like Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and Kansas are supporting the event, representing more than 75% of U.S. craft distillers.
Margie A.S. Lehrman, CEO of the American Craft Spirits Association, emphasized the competition's significance in driving innovation within the craft spirits sector. The event not only celebrates exceptional whiskey but also reinforces the agricultural roots and creative spirit of American distilleries.
A panel of expert mixologists and industry professionals will judge the submissions in a blind tasting, with winners to be announced in early September. The competition represents a critical platform for craft distillers to showcase their skill, innovation, and commitment to quality spirits rooted in local agricultural traditions.
Curated from 24-7 Press Release
