Hilton Head Distillery earns nine medals in two spirits competitions

Hilton Head Distillery earned a total of nine medals in two 2026 spirits competitions, receiving recognition for several of its rum products ahead of the company’s 10th anniversary celebration this fall.

The Hilton Head Island distillery received three medals at the 2026 American Distilling Institute International Spirits Competition and six medals at the 2026 Bartender Spirits Awards, according to the company.

At the ADI International Spirits Competition, the distillery received silver medals for its Spiced Rum and Espresso Roast Rum, and a bronze medal for its Platinum Rum.

At the Bartender Spirits Awards, Hilton Head Distillery received a gold medal, with a score of 95 points, for its E.S.D. Extra Special Dark Rum. It also earned silver medals for Espresso Roast Rum, Platinum Rum, Toasted Coconut Rum and Spiced Rum, along with a bronze medal for Bananas Foster Rum.

According to the American Distilling Institute, the annual competition is judged through blind tastings in which spirits are evaluated on aroma, flavor, balance and overall quality.

The Bartender Spirits Awards are judged by bartenders, beverage directors and hospitality professionals. According to the competition, entries are evaluated on mixability, versatility, value, packaging, aroma, flavor, balance and overall quality.
Master Distiller Cody Chinn said the awards reflect the distillery’s progress and provide feedback as it prepares to enter additional competitions.

“Everything we entered medaled this year and we received some great feedback from judges,” Chinn said. “This was a good first step to showcasing what we are doing at Hilton Head Distillery, but we intend to enter again next year and add the ACSA (American Craft Spirits Association) competition and the San Francisco World Spirits Competition to the lineup.”