YORK, Maine — Wiggly Bridge Distillery, a family-owned and operated craft distillery in York, has been awarded a Gold medal by The Fifty Best for its New England Single Malt Whiskey.

The Fifty Best is a digital guide to wines and spirits. Using professional criteria, a panel of judges blind-tasted more than a dozen American single malt whiskies and rated them individually on a 1- to 5-point scoring system with 5 being the highest.

After tallying the scores, Wiggly Bridge Distillery was one of the ones who came out on top.

Their award-winning New England Single Malt is crafted from 100% Maine-grown malted barley.

“My son and I have always been connoisseurs of top-notch whiskies, with a special penchant for bourbon,” stated David Woods, co-proprietor of Wiggly Bridge. “Our foray into crafting a unique New England Single Malt Whisky stimulated by a wish to innovate while paying tribute to tradition. This recognition illustrates our pledge to high quality.”

Woods detailed that the extraction process commences with barley gathered from the upper regions of Maine. It endures floor malting at Blue Ox Malthouse in Lisbon Falls, Maine, prior to initiating the route of cooking, fermenting, distilling, and barrel maturing at Wiggly Bridge’s facility.

The adjudicators’ remarks reflect a detailed portrait of the whisky’s complex character: “Beginning from the fragrant blend of caramel, toffee, and mocha to the intricate palate incorporating hints of honey, dried fruit, and ginger, culminating in a finish brimming with dark chocolate, mocha, and a velvety, ultra-smooth texture. This profile highlights the distillery’s expertise within the craft, producing a whisky that personifies the spirit of creativity and tradition that defines the American single malt category.”

Wiggly Bridge Distillery was instituted in 2012 by David Woods and his progeny David Woods Jr. The distillery derives its name from the Wiggly Bridge, a miniature wooden footbridge in York, reputed to be the world’s smallest suspension bridge. The distillery extends a selection of spirits, such as bourbon, rye, rum, gin, and vodka, besides tours, tastings, and occasions. The distillery has acquired numerous accolades and distinctions for its contributions, inclusive of the 2019 Best In Category at the Seattle International Spirits Competition.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Wiggly Bridge Distillery in York wins gold medal for whiskey