A pair of craft manufacturers in Northern Colorado and the Boulder Valley recently earned significant accolades in their respective fields of olive oil and whiskey.

Wildly Virgin, a Boulder-based olive oil company renowned for producing small batches from long-standing Portuguese farms, was awarded a gold medal at the New York International Olive Oil Competition for its Joaquim’s Reserve Cobrançosa varietal. Co-founder Nader Akhnoukh expressed the magnitude of this achievement, stating that it not only highlights Wildly Virgin’s commitment to quality but also the excellence of Portuguese olive oil on the global stage. “To not only win gold, but rank among the world’s top 100 olive oils, is an incredible testament to the quality of Portuguese olive oil and the passion behind it,” he said in a prepared statement.

Meanwhile, Root Shoot Spirits, located in Loveland, received the title of American Single Malt Whiskey of the Year at the London Spirits Competition for its premium product. Founder Todd Olander emphasized that this recognition reflects the dedication and hard work that goes into crafting their whiskey, highlighting the importance of their carefully cultivated raw materials. “Recognition for Root Shoot Whiskey is also recognition for the soil, sun, sweat, and stubbornness that went into making it,” Olander remarked, stressing the role of regenerative agricultural practices in producing high-quality whiskey.