The News
Hoot + Howl Spirits, based in Golden, Colorado, won nine awards at the American Distilling Institute (ADI) Spirits Competition and six awards at the Denver International Spirits Competition. The distillery's products, including Vodka, Amaro Cask Bourbon, Black Tea Liqueur, Gin, Armagnac Cask Bourbon, and Triple Sec, received medals at both events. The company's packaging, designed with Turn It Up Media, also earned recognition, including Double Gold Medals for Excellence in Packaging.
Distributors in the craft‑spirit sector are constantly evaluating how competition’s accolades translate into sales. Hoot + Howl Spirits’ recent haul of nine ADI medals and six DISC golds illustrates that premium quality can still command higher prices even when a brand is confined to a handful of local retailers.
The awards span vodka, gin, an amaro‑cask bourbon, black‑tea liqueur, an armagnac‑cask bourbon, and triple‑sec—underscoring the company’s use of double distillation and tranchage to create historically inspired products. The cask‑finished bourbons are priced in line with typical specialty‑shop levels for this category.
Yet Hoot + Howl’s presence is limited to selected Colorado retailers—a fact that becomes more pronounced when viewed against the backdrop of a $637 billion global spirits market that grew 5–6% annually in 2023. In Colorado alone, over 50 new distilleries opened in five years and production reached 1.2 million gallons last year.
High‑profile awards do not automatically translate into wider shelf space, especially when nationwide wholesale channels are absent. Distributors must assess whether the premium associated with these accolades can be sustained within their current channel mix. Those already stocking Hoot + Howl in Colorado outlets can leverage tastings and signage to reinforce the brand’s higher price point. For distributors outside Colorado, expanding distribution would require significant investment before awards alone could drive volume.
Ultimately, award recognition is a valuable differentiator, but without broader wholesale access it remains largely a niche asset for craft‑spirit buyers.
Original Press Release
Hoot + Howl Spirits’ mountain-crafted, historically-inspired spirits recently made a huge impact at two of the industry’s most respected competitions. The Golden-based distillery, which reimagines historical spirits and traditional distilling processes, earned nine awards at the American Distilling Institute (ADI) Spirits Competition, announced today, and six awards at the Denver International Spirits Competition in April.
At ADI, where medals are awarded solely on the quality of the spirit as evaluated by an expert panel, Hoot + Howl earned a gold medal for Vodka; silver medals for Amaro Cask Bourbon, Black Tea Liqueur, and Gin; and bronze medals for Armagnac Cask Bourbon and Triple Sec.
Hoot + Howl’s unique branding, created in collaboration with Colorado-based beverage and outdoor marketing agency Turn It Up Media, also received recognition at the ADI Spirits Competition, bringing home a Double Gold Medal for Excellence in Packaging for Black Tea Liqueur; an Excellence in Packaging Trophy in the off-the-shelf packaging category; and an Excellence in Packaging Double Gold Medal for the Hoot + Howl brand identity.
At DISC, the Rocky Mountain region's largest professional spirits contest, Hoot + Howl earned gold medals for Amaro Cask Bourbon, Armagnac Cask Bourbon, and Triple Sec, and silver medals for Black Tea Liqueur, Vodka, and Gin.
“We take inspiration from the distillers of the past to make spirits that shine on the modern palate,” said Hoot + Howl Founder Callan Deline.
Hoot + Howl uses time-honored techniques, reviving historical distilling knowledge not often used in modern spirits-making. Historical methods – like double distillation, slow temperature curves, and tranchage – may take longer to perform, but they result in mellow, nuanced, complex spirits that stand apart.
Hoot + Howl’s award-winning lineup includes:
Amaro Cask Bourbon (Silver at ADI / Gold, 92pts at DISC): This spirit was blended from seven-year-old bourbon and finished for one year in a Sicilian amaro cask. It delivers a rich balance of sweet, bitter, and herbal notes.
Armagnac Cask Bourbon (Bronze at ADI / Gold, 91pts at DISC): This spirit is blended from seven-year-old bourbon and finished for one year in an ex-Armagnac cask. It’s rich with layers of fruit, spice and oak.
Triple Sec (Bronze at ADI / Gold, 91pts at DISC): Double distilled and mellowed through the historical tranchage process, Hoot + Howl’s Triple Sec Liqueur is crafted with bitter orange, lemon, and bergamot peels, offering vibrant citrus flavors with hints of orange blossom, vanilla, and spice.
Black Tea Liqueur (Silver at ADI / Silver, 87pts at DISC): Double distilled and infused with loose leaf black tea, bergamot peel and rich Demerara sugar, this liqueur also undergoes the historical process of tranchage, capturing the essence of a perfectly brewed sweet tea.
Vodka (Gold at ADI / Silver, 87pts DISC): Filtered for purity and cut with pristine Colorado water, Hoot + Howl Vodka is clean, smooth, and crisp. Its subtle sweetness and silky finish make it perfect for sipping neat, on the rocks, or as the foundation for any cocktail.
Gin (Silver at ADI / Silver, 86pts at DISC): Inspired by Colorado’s alpine landscape, Hoot + Howl’s double-distilled mountain gin blends native botanicals like spruce tips and white sage with bay laurel, juniper, and other mountainous botanicals.
NEW: Saint Alpin Herbal Liqueur: Released across Colorado this month, Saint Alpin is Hoot + Howl’s unique take on an alpine herbal liqueur, inspired by the great European traditions of Chartreuse, génépi, and absinthe. Double distilled, naturally colored with hyssop and petite wormwood, and rested for an extended period, Saint Alpin delivers unmatched natural clarity, depth and smoothness.
Bottles of Hoot + Howl’s award-winning, historically-inspired lineup of spirits are available across Colorado at select retailers. Learn more at hootandhowl.co.
Sources consulted (web research):
- Leading The Pack Colorados Hoot Howl Spirits Wins Big In 2026
- Colorados Hoot Howl Spirits Brings Home National Awards
- Awarded Colorado Whiskey Makers 40878622
- Colorados Hoot Howl Spirits Brings Home National Awards
- Colorado Distillery Hoot Howl Is Creating Colorado Centric Spirits 24…
Source: BevNET