PLYMOUTH – Plank Road Distillery has earned a spot among the top 10 craft rum distilleries in the United States for the third consecutive year, as voted by USA TODAY readers.
Located at 601 Eastern Ave., the distillery claimed the second position in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for craft spirits, following the lead of LYON RUM from St. Michaels, Maryland.
In this year’s rankings, Plank Road Distillery outperformed notable competitors such as St. Augustine Distillery in Florida and Koloa Rum Company in Hawaii.
Last year, Plank Road Distillery finished second behind LYON RUM, while in 2023 it placed behind Key West Legal Rum.
In 2021, readers recognized Plank Road as the fourth best new craft distillery.
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Jarin and Michele Gelhar launched Plank Road in 2019, focusing on a range of craft spirits including vodka, gin, and bourbon.
Jarin previously shared with the Sheboygan Press that being ranked second in 2022 was “very humbling.”
Among the categories for the reader choice awards were Best Craft Vodka, Best Canned Cocktail Company, and Best Craft Distillery Tour.
Explore the history of a distillery building: Plymouth’s oldest building, now a distillery, dates to 1846. It started as an inn and has also served as a blacksmith shop and a church.
Additionally, two more companies from Wisconsin made their mark in the rankings: Madison’s State Line Distillery secured the fifth position for Best Craft Specialty Spirits, while Dane’s J Henry & Sons also ranked fifth in the Best Craft Whiskey category.
The process for the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards begins with a selection of industry experts who are invited to propose their favorite nominees in various travel, lifestyle, and food and drink categories. Following their recommendations, editors compile a list of final nominees that is then made available for public voting.
Earlier this year, the Sports Car Club of America’s National Championship Runoffs took place at Road America, where it was recognized as one of the top 10 best motorsports races by USA TODAY readers. The event earned a commendable fourth place in the rankings, based on the 2024 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.
Have a story tip? Contact Alex Garner at 224-374-2332 or agarner@gannett.com. You can also follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @alexx_garner.
This article originally appeared on Sheboygan Press: USA TODAY readers: Plymouth’s Plank Road Distillery rum placed second
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