Asheville Distillery Wins Gold
Jun 12, 2026 08:55AM ● By WNC Business
Asheville distillery Chemist Spirits won a Gold Medal for its Rye Whiskey at the 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition — one of the most respected and influential spirits competitions in the world.
"Our Rye Whiskey starts with thoughtfully sourced grains, including rye malt from Asheville's Riverbend Malt House, whose commitment to quality aligns closely with our own values," Chemist wrote in an email announcing the win. "From grain selection through distillation and aging, every step is approached with intention and patience."
"We waited a long time to release a rye because we weren't going to put one out unless it tasted like Chemist Spirits: handcrafted, approachable, and unmistakably Asheville," wrote James Donaldson, founding partner.
The judges tasting notes described the whiskey as a "distinctive and characterful rye—opens with notes of pipe tobacco, cedar, caramel and a subtle mineral edge, leading into a complex, herbaceous palate layered with caraway, cardamom, and chocolate, before concluding in a long, balanced finish that gradually builds with warming rye spice."
Source: Chemist Spirits.
"Our Rye Whiskey starts with thoughtfully sourced grains, including rye malt from Asheville's Riverbend Malt House, whose commitment to quality aligns closely with our own values," Chemist wrote in an email announcing the win. "From grain selection through distillation and aging, every step is approached with intention and patience."
"We waited a long time to release a rye because we weren't going to put one out unless it tasted like Chemist Spirits: handcrafted, approachable, and unmistakably Asheville," wrote James Donaldson, founding partner.
The judges tasting notes described the whiskey as a "distinctive and characterful rye—opens with notes of pipe tobacco, cedar, caramel and a subtle mineral edge, leading into a complex, herbaceous palate layered with caraway, cardamom, and chocolate, before concluding in a long, balanced finish that gradually builds with warming rye spice."
Source: Chemist Spirits.