RICHMOND, Va. (June 3, 2025) — The Virginia Distillers Association, in partnership with the Virginia Spirits Board, is proud to unveil the winners of the inaugural First Landing Cup, a statewide competition recognizing excellence in Virginia-made spirits. 

The First Landing Cup celebrates Virginia-made spirits that exemplify excellence in craftsmanship, innovation and quality. Named after the historic 1607 landing at Cape Henry—the birthplace of American distilling—the competition drew 108 entries across multiple categories, all judged blind by a panel of 21 nationally recognized spirits experts. 

Topping the competition was Virginia Distillery Company's Courage & Conviction Signature Malt, which earned Best in Show honors, distinguishing it as the highest-scoring spirit across all categories. Five other distilleries earned “Best in Class” honors in their respective categories, while judges awarded 13 gold, 48 silver and 40 bronze medals overall. 

First Landing Cup 2025 Best in Class Gold Medal Winners 

• Best in Class Whiskey and Best in Show Virginia Distillery Company - Courage & Conviction Signature Malt 
• Best in Class Gin: Highlands Distilling Company - Dragon Navy Strength Gin 
• Best in Class Specialty Spirit: Mt. Defiance Distillery - Mt. Defiance Absinthe Supérieure  
• Best in Class Vodka: MurLarkey Distilled Spirits - Papi's Salsa Borracha Vodka 
• Best in Class Brandy: Old House Vineyards - Estate Brandy XO 
• Best in Class Rum: Three Crosses Distilling Company - Crossed Rifles Spiced Rum  

First Landing Cup 2025 Gold Medal Winners 

• Caiseal Beer & Spirits Co. - Caiseal Peated American Single Malt Whiskey
• Catoctin Creek - Catoctin Creek Hot Honey Rye
• Highlands Distilling Company - Dragon Navy Strength Gin
• KO Distilling - KO Distiller's Reserve Bottled-in-Bond Straight Rye Whiskey 
• KO Distilling - KO Distiller's Reserve Bottled-in-Bond Straight Bourbon Whiskey 
• Mt. Defiance Distillery - Mt. Defiance Absinthe Supérieure
• MurLarkey Distilled Spirits - Papi's Salsa Borracha Vodka
• MurLarkey Distilled Spirits - MurLarkey ImaGination Gin
• Old House Vineyards - Estate Brandy XO
• Ragged Branch Distillery - Ragged Branch Rye Whiskey
• Three Crosses Distilling Co. - Crossed Rifles Spiced Rum
• Virago Spirits - Modern Gin with Oolong Tea
• Virginia Distillery Company - Courage & Conviction Signature Malt 

Full list of gold, silver and bronze medalists available at virginiaspirits.org/first-landing-cup. 

To celebrate, the Virginia Spirits Board is launching a Virginia Spirits Passport Gold Medal Trail, a self-guided tasting journey highlighting this year's gold medal winners. Visitors can explore award-winning distilleries, meet the makers and experience firsthand what makes Virginia spirits world-class. 

In support of this celebration, Virginia ABC will feature the gold medal-winning bottles in retail locations across the commonwealth. 

“Industry experts have recognized what we've known – Virginia-made spirits rank among the best of the best,” said CEO Dale Farino of Virginia ABC. “Virginia ABC is proud to work closely with our Virginia distillers on the responsible production and sale of spirits. We will be prominently featuring First Landing Cup honorees, as well as other quality Virginia-made spirits, for eager customers at our network of stores." 

“We worked to ensure the First Landing Cup was of the absolute highest caliber by bringing 21 of the country's most notable and knowledgeable spirits experts to Richmond for the blind tasting,” said Becky Harris, president of the Virginia Distillers Association. “The result elevates the profile of Virginia's distilling community, leaving no question that Virginia's distilleries are producing world class spirits that can easily compete on a national stage.” 

“Here in Virginia, we don't just make great spirits—we tell great stories,” said Scott Harris, chair of the Virginia Spirits Board. “The First Landing Cup is our way of spotlighting excellence—raising a glass to the talent, hustle, and heritage behind every bottle. It's a fun and meaningful way to show the world just how strong—and spirited—Virginia's distilling scene really is.”

For more information about the First Landing Cup, including the full list of medalists, visit virginiaspirits.org/first-landing-cup. 

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About Virginia Distillers Association 

The Virginia Distillers Association was founded to serve as a unifying voice for the Virginia spirits industry. Its mission is to advance the legislative interests of Virginia distillers and to educate its members on regulatory compliance in collaboration with the Virginia ABC. The Association strives to foster a thriving community of Virginia spirits producers dedicated to crafting world-class products for consumers across the Commonwealth and around the world. 

About Virginia Spirits Board 

The Virginia legislature established the Virginia Spirits Board in 2020. The purpose of the Spirits Board is to allocate funds to projects that expand spirits distilling research, education, and promotion of the growing of grains and the production of spirits in the commonwealth. The Virginia Spirits Board is one of 16 commodity boards within the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. 

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