Golden, Colorado-based Hoot + Howl Spirits collected seven medals at the 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC), earning an award for every spirit in its portfolio. The results, announced on June 10, include a Double Gold for the distillery’s Armagnac Cask Bourbon and Gold medals for its gin, alpine liqueur, and Amaro Cask Bourbon.
The SFWSC is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious spirits competitions in the world, with awards determined through a rigorous masked tasting process.
Hoot + Howl’s Armagnac Cask Bourbon, a blend of seven-year-old bourbon finished for one year in an ex-Armagnac cask, took the top honor of Double Gold. The distillery’s Saint Alpin Liqueur, an alpine herbal liqueur distilled with 18 botanicals, and its double-distilled mountain gin each received Gold medals. Its Amaro Cask Bourbon, finished in a Sicilian amaro cask, also earned Gold.
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Silver medals went to the brand’s Triple Sec and Vodka, while its Black Tea Liqueur received a Bronze.
The SFWSC recognition caps a strong competition season for the craft distillery. Hoot + Howl also earned medals at the 2026 American Distilling Institute Spirits Competition and the Denver International Spirits Competition.
The distillery says it revives historical distilling techniques not commonly used in modern production. Methods such as double distillation, slow temperature curves, and tranchage are central to its process.
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READ THE STORY"At Hoot + Howl, we blend history’s recipes and time-honored methods with a little modern mountain magic that’s unique to us," said founder Callan Deline. "We’re thrilled to share the resulting spirits with the world, and to showcase the quality of Colorado-made spirits."
Founded in Golden, the distillery describes its lineup as a reimagining of historical recipes designed to deliver what it calls "a fresh, modern sense of adventure."
Colorado’s craft distilling sector has grown significantly in recent years, with the state now home to more than 100 licensed distilleries. The Colorado Distillers Guild has played a key role in promoting the region’s spirits producers on the national stage.
Hoot + Howl’s award-winning spirits are available across Colorado at select retailers. More information can be found at hootandhowl.co.
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