Excellence in craft distilling has earned Niagara College three prestigious medals at the 2025 U.S. Open Spirits Championship. The international competition recognized the college’s Teaching Distillery with two gold medals and one bronze medal for their innovative craft spirits.
The gold medals were awarded to the college’s Absinthe in the Specialty Spirits category and Spiced Old Fashioned in the Bottled Cocktails category. Their Canadian Rum earned a bronze medal in the Spiced/Flavoured Rum category. All three award-winning products are part of the college’s Spirits 101 product line released in August 2024.
Niagara College’s innovative Spirits 101 line showcases award-winning craftsmanship with gold-medal Absinthe, gold-medal Spiced Old Fashioned, and bronze-medal Canadian Rum.
The gold-medal winning Absinthe was developed as a capstone project by 2024 graduates of the Artisan Distilling program. Students Karandeep Singh, Navdeep Kaur, Utkarsh Solanki, and Sapna Rani created the spirit during their eight-month program at the Teaching Distillery.
Head Distiller David Dickson praised the students’ achievement. “Our students applied their knowledge and skills to create a world-class spirit that can compete on an international stage. We’re incredibly proud of their accomplishment.”
Marc Nantel, Vice President of Research at Niagara College, emphasized the value of applied education. “These awards demonstrate how our hands-on learning approach prepares students for success in the craft distilling industry. Students gain real-world experience while producing award-winning products.”
The Teaching Distillery provides students with practical experience in all aspects of craft distilling. The program’s unique learning enterprises approach allows students to participate in every stage of production from concept to retail. This approach aligns with Niagara College’s strategic goals for 2022-2027 and has helped build the institution’s reputation in the craft distilling industry.
This marks the third consecutive year that Niagara College has won medals at this prestigious competition. The recognition validates the college’s innovative teaching methods and reinforces Canada’s standing in international spirits competitions.
The U.S. Open Spirits Championship uses a blind judging process with an international panel of experts evaluating entries across multiple categories. Niagara College’s consistent success at this competition highlights the quality of its distilling program and its commitment to industry standards.
Consistent recognition on the international stage reflects the strength of Niagara’s educational programs and industry training. Achievements like this inspire continued growth in specialized fields across the region. Learn more about local successes and professional development opportunities on Marketplace Niagara.
