Arnold, California, For Immediate Release, Mar 2024 – Hinterhaus Distilling, the family-operated distillery in the California Sierra Nevada, earned the Innovation Award at the 2024 Annual Judging of Craft Spirits in Denver, CO, for its Warming Hut holiday spirit. It also took home 9 medals at the competition, making it one of the most decorated distilleries in this year’s lineup.

The competition, hosted by the American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA), includes a curated group of expert judges in the field. Winners are presented during the annual ACSA convention. According to the ACSA, the annual Innovation Award was “created to showcase true creativity, honoring an innovative and remarkable spirit that is not commonly associated with a flavor profile in a known spirits category.”

HINTERHAUS WARMING HUT (38% abv, 76 proof, 375ml, $27 SRP) features a unique annual blend of bourbon, port, and local honey. It is unusual in its contents and has quickly become a fan-favorite for holiday gifting and enjoyment.

“Warming Hut was the original result of a happy accident,” says Hinterhaus co-owner|head distiller Nate Randall.  “One of our finished bourbon casks had spent a bit too long in its port barrel and we decided to see how we could make it a stand-alone product by playing into its warm, rich notes.

After months of R&D, we arrived at a blend that features bourbon, port, and local honey alongside other ingredients. It’s allowed us to explore the landscape of distilled spirit specialties which can be among the most creative and under-appreciated categories.”

Echoing the sentiment, Hinterhaus co-owner|operator Bonnie Boglioli-Randall says, “Smaller distillers like us are constantly searching for ways to problem solve and improve with limited resources. Receiving the Innovation Award is a huge and unexpected honor for us. We thank the judges for recognizing the efforts that go into Warming Hut, as well as the truth shared by all of us in the craft distilling industry that you often have to roll up your sleeves and think outside of the box.”

In addition to the Innovation Award, Hinterhaus Distilling left the awards ceremony with 7 medals for its spirits – one for every spirit submitted- and 2 packaging award medals. “We’re proud of the consistency of our range of products, as well as the unique flavor profiles that represent our Sierra region,” says Boglioli-Randall.

Hinterhaus’ South Grove Gin, American Single Malt Whiskey Discovery, Anorak and Warming Hut distilled spirits specialties all received silver medals. North Grove Vodka, Calaveras Cask Finish Bourbon, and Single Barrel Reserve Bourbon earned bronze medals.

The company’s packaging took home the gold medal for its North Grove Vodka and the only silver medal awarded for its brand portfolio of packaging.

Warming Hut becomes available for purchase each year on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, at the distillery’s bottle shop and on the distillery’s website shop: www.HinterhausDistilling.com.

Hinterhaus’ other medalists can be purchased year-round on the distillery’s website shop for shipping as well as at a growing number of on and off-premise sites in California and Colorado.

ABOUT HINTERHAUS DISTILLING
Founded in 2020 by husband and wife team Nate Randall and Bonnie Boglioli-Randall and operated by the Randall family, Hinterhaus Distilling reflects the rugged mountainscape of its Sierra Nevada perch. It benefits from high-quality local ingredients and fresh Sierra water. The distillery sits in the tourist destination of Arnold, CA, in the Sierra Mountain Range, at an elevation of 4300 ft.

Abundant alpine recreation entices visitors from around the world to the area, while fresh Sierra snowmelt provides the perfect water for processing their spirits.  Hinterhaus collaborates with various local and regional partners including wine barrel-finished bourbons from nearby foothill wineries, grape-distilled vodka and gin, and American single malt whiskies crafted from northern California-grown and malted barley. Hinterhaus leverages a hybrid pot
still with an accompanying 20-plate column and a vapor infusion gin basket to craft a variety of spirits.

It utilizes open fermentation, and barrel ages in its unique mountain climate that sees hot and dry weather in the summer along with cold and wet winters. Its on-site bottle shop, tasting & cocktail room, and branded gear mercantile welcome patrons into a modern mountain escape and offers views into the production space.

Hinterhaus Distilling is a proud member of the American Single Malt Whiskey Commission, the American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA), and the Craft Malt Guild (CMG). Hinterhaus spirits have garnered attention nationally by earning top spots in competition from the American Distilling Institute, American Craft Spirits Association, Sunset Magazine, Wine Enthusiast, and more. Hinterhaus was featured on a PBS documentary, American Grown, titled ‘Ag-daptation’ in 2021, and is frequently cited in Top lists of spirits including Wine Enthusiast, Uproxx, Whiskey Review, and more.

FOR MORE INFORMATION & FOR PURCHASES, PLEASE VISIT:
https://www.hinterhausdistilling.com/