Two bourbons developed by Ferndale’s Valentine Distilling Co. earned top ratings at an international spirits competition held last month in San Francisco.

Through blind taste-testing, a panel of 43 spirits experts at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition awarded the highest ranking — a double gold medal — to Valentine’s 10-year Mayor Pingree Blue Label and Black Label bourbons among more than 2,100 entries, the company reported.

The event is reportedly known as one of the oldest international spirits competitions of its kind.

“We only enter international spirits competitions to show the world what Detroit has to offer,” said Rifino Valentine, the craft distillery’s founder, and president. “To be awarded these highest honors means so much to us.”
In a recent review for Tasting Panel Magazine by industry tasting expert Meredith May, the Mayor Pingree single barrel Blue label bourbon was described as having “a luxuriously enticing nose of magnolia blossom and brown-buttered apples. The warmth spreads across the mouth, savory tea tannins alight with mango, Asian pear and a thread of toffee.” May rated the spirit at 96 points out of 100.

Read more at Source: The Oakland Press