Craft Spirits Berlin 2023 Double VON EST Win

The Craft Spirits Berlin Awards are dedicated to handcrafted spirits. It is Europe’s largest competition in this field.

Judging Criteria

Submitted products are judged by a panel of experts in a blind tasting. The jury includes distillers, sommeliers and sensory experts.

Each product is assessed individually and by at least three judges. The criteria tested include smell, taste, balance and typicity. Judging is based on a 100-point scale.

Gold, silver and bronze medals are awarded according to the number of points achieved. In recent years, around half of the products evaluated have won a medal.

Our Result

It was our first time entering the Craft Spirits Berlin Awards and we submitted both our small batch single-grain organic Estonian vodkas – VON EST Sangaste Rye & VON EST Winter Wheat.

We were pleased to score well — at 91 and 89 points respectively — and win two silver medals. Placing 4th & 9th by points, to give us two vodkas in the Top Ten, along with the highest score for an Estonian entry, was pretty amazing.

Official Press Release

Excellent crafts: the winners of Berlin’s Craft Spirits Berlin Awards 2023

The international spirits competition finished with a lively award ceremony

“Those who do not take pleasure in drinking are fools”, said the Greek poet Euripides almost 2,500 years ago. At that time, it was taken for granted that liquid delights were handcrafted. In recent years, more and more distilleries have been rediscovering the virtues of artisanal production. This has resulted in the establishment of premium spirits with an extravagant flavor profile. The best in the industry were chosen on March 4, 2023 at the Säälchen at Holzmarkt 25 in Berlin. It was a lavish celebration and a vibrant get-together of the international craft spirits scene.

This year’s entries include classics and exotics: pear brandy from Baden, liquid pitch and agave brandy from Mexico, vodka from Estonia and apple-honeycomb brandy from the Czech Republic, pastry-infused liqueur from Münsterland as well as Japanese rice distillates, a fruit spirit from Patagonia and a mountain pine liqueur from Switzerland.

The variety shows: handmade spirits are on the rise. “All of us are winners”, says Theo Ligthart, coorganizer of the largest and most important international competition for handcrafted spirits, “the excellent spirits, liqueur wines, soft drinks, fillers and syrups gift us moments of pleasure. Through the Craft Spirits Berlin Awards, they will now receive the attention they deserve and find their place in bars, restaurants and retail.” Co-organizer Dr. Thomas Kochan agrees: “Especially for small distilleries, the Craft Spirits Berlin Awards are a great chance to become known – across the globe!”

The global significance of the awards is already becoming evident when looking at the participants: this year, distilleries from 27 countries faced the international jury of experts and sensory experts. In blind tastings, the submitted products were evaluated on the basis of a 100-point scheme – with at least three jurors testing the smell, taste, balance and peculiarity of each product. Gold, silver and bronze medals are then awarded according to the number of points achieved.

Craft Spirits Berlin, March 6, 2023

Full Competition Results

See the full list of medal winners at the Craft Spirits Berlin Awards 2023 results webpage.

Our Detailed Results

See below for our medals, along with judges’ scorecards and tasting notes:

VON EST Sangaste Rye Organic Estonian Vodka

Score for Craft Spirits Berlin Awards 2023

91 Points – Silver Medal

Tasting Notes

In the nose very restrained – then comes stronger in the mouth – rye character recognizable – exciting creamy.

A nice length, soft, and slightly sweet. No overpowering alcohol. Nicely medium-bodied. Medium length with cereal notes.

Somewhat gooseberry, fruity aroma. Neutral to very slightly cereal on the palate.

VON EST Winter Wheat Organic Estonian Vodka

Score for Craft Spirits Berlin Awards 2023

89 Points – Silver Medal

Tasting Notes

Slightly fruity aroma, bright toned. Similar in taste. Somewhat sharp in the finish.

Wheat perceptible in the nose – creamy in the mouth – mouth lining – alcohol minimally edgy – wheat remains discreet

A relatively soft nose. A palate with some cereal notes. A lively length. A good vodka.