The Brand’s Portfolio is No Stranger to Medals of Distinction
Kihei, Hawaii (May 14, 2024) – Kupu Spirits has once again been recognized for its exceptional lineup of spirits, receiving multiple awards for its outstanding products. The brand’s impressive portfolio is no stranger to medals, earning the distinction as one of the Top 5 Spirits Distilleries based on the number of awards won at the recent 2024 U.S. Open Whiskey and Spirits Championship, further solidifying its reputation as a top player in the industry. Kupu Spirits earned five total medals in their respective categories, including two Gold medals for its Barrel-Aged Gin and a specialty Whiskey Smoke Blend 1, as well as three Silver medals for Blended Whiskey, Gin, and the newly launched canned cocktail, Maui Mojito.
Lead Distiller Nick Reiss stated, “We are grateful for the recognition from the panel at this year’s U.S. Open Whiskey & Spirits Championship where Kupu Spirits showed well in its respective categories. Grabbing Gold with our Barrel-Aged Gin and our upcoming Cask Finished Whiskey release reminds me that our craftsmanship is about honoring tradition, yet always striving for perfection and innovation. At Kupu, we’ll continue to learn, refine our technique, and give back to the art of crafting spirits.”
Among accolades received, Gold medal winner Kupu Spirits Barrel-Aged Gin is distilled from grain and a proprietary blend of botanicals including juniper, coriander, local citrus, angelica roots, and grains of paradise, then aged a minimum of three months via a Solera Aging method in Port casks. Kupu Spirits Barrel-Aged Gin offers rich and complex characteristics with notes of licorice, citrus, and rosewater.
Kupu Spirits Whiskey Smoke Blend 1 won Gold in the “Whiskey finished in wine or other spirits barrels” category. Reiss added that he had pulled two barrels of experimental whiskies that were blended and had been aged in secondary finishing casks. Those barrels happened to have been “smoked” from the wildfires that occurred on Maui in August 2023. The Specialty was bottled as a Limited Release, but not pursued due to sensitivities surrounding the fires.
Silver Medals were awarded for Kupu’s Blended Whiskey and Kupu Gin, both of which have seen great success in other competitions including, but not limited to, the ADI International Spirits Competition. Kupu Spirits Blended Whiskey is distilled from a blend of corn, rye, and malted barley then aged on the slopes of Haleakala in new charred American oak barrels. The 88 proof Whiskey is an exceptional expression of caramel and vanilla building to peppery spicy notes with a hint of nuttiness.
Award-winning Kupu Spirits Gin is distilled from grain and a proprietary blend of botanicals including juniper, local citrus, lemon peel, licorice root, and hibiscus. In 2022, Kupu Spirits Gin became a Platinum Winner at the 2022 Ascot Awards and earned a Double Gold Medal as the distinguished “Best Gin” from The Fifty Best.
Kupu Spirits new, ready-to-enjoy Maui Mojito is a Pacific Island-style version of the classic Cuban beverage. Light rum blended with sugarcane, natural coconut, lime and mint flavors, this canned cocktail with an ABV of 7% offers a distinct, cool yet slightly sweet taste with subtle herbal and tropical aromas.
Entries in the competition were judged in blind evaluation across 34 Award Categories. For a complete list of all of the winners, visit The U.S. Open Whiskey and Spirits Championship.
For more information and to connect with the brand, visit www.KupuSpirits.com and follow Kupu Spirits on Instagram, Facebook, and X.