2020 Winners of Best Vodka and Best Rum in Ultimate Spirits Challenge Come From Pittsburgh-based Pennsylvania Pure Distilleries

Boyd & Blair Potato Vodka and BLY Silver Rum edge out big-brand competitors earning  Extraordinary, Ultimate Recommendations. “…Nothing short of historic.”

Pittsburgh, PA (July 31, 2020) Pennsylvania Pure Distilleries announced today that its Boyd & Blair Potato Vodka and BLY Silver Rum have both been named the number one spirits in their respective categories by the Ultimate Spirits Challenge, each earning Chairman’s Trophies. This is the second year Boyd & Blair Potato Vodka was ranked as the top vodka, beating its own 2019 rating with a score of 98/100 for the 2020 Challenge year with global brands and perennial award-show winners like Belvedere, Finlandia, Smirnoff, Reyka and more trailing well behind the PA output. BLY Silver Rum also earned a high rating of 95/100. Both spirits earned an Extraordinary, Ultimate Recommendation.

“The fact that Boyd & Blair Potato Vodka, produced in a small distillery near Pittsburgh, PA, has won back-to-back Chairman’s Trophies for the Unflavored Vodka category at Ultimate Spirits Challenge is a testament to its quality. To convincingly prevail two years running against the world’s finest vodkas from nations with storied pedigrees, such as Poland, Sweden, Finland, France, Russia and more, is nothing short of historic.” said Ultimate Beverage founder and Judging Director for the Ultimate Spirits Challenge, F. Paul Pacult,

Pacult also commented on the rum category win, saying “BLY Silver Rum, the Chairman’s Trophy winner in the White Rum category of the 2020 Ultimate Spirits Challenge, bested big name rums from Panama, Indonesia, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua, and the Philippines, all traditional rum-producing nations. The big news here, memorable by any standards, is that BLY Silver is made in a small craft distillery located on the outskirts of Pittsburgh, PA. While not associated as being a rum-producing location, BLY’s victory might alter that viewpoint.”

In addition to these number one rankings, the Ultimate Spirits Challenge has granted Boyd & Blair Potato Vodka and BLY Silver Rum the Tried and True Award, the Great Value award, and the Top 100 Spirits 2020 award, placing them among the top products for the 2020 Challenge year.

“We are honored to be recognized as first place in the vodka and silver rum categories amongst some of the most talented distillers worldwide,” said Barry Young, cofounder and Master Distiller of Pennsylvania Pure Distilleries. “Being awarded for our consistency and for beating our own ratings with higher scores this year truly demonstrates our dedication to creating supreme spirits from our craft distillery.”

Judges for the Ultimate Spirits Challenge spoke to the uniqueness of Boyd and Blair. “Fresh aromas of minerals and cotton are soft and elegant. The round and plush texture fill the mouth with a subtle earthy sweetness as hints of lime zest shine through. Ultimately refined, it is a delight to sip on straight or mixed into any cocktail.”

BLY Silver Rum received similar acclaim. “A fine and distinctive nose alludes to a classically made molasses-based rum.” said judges of the winning spirit. “Butterscotch, vanilla bean, muskmelon, and a touch of ester-y funk: very alluring. The palate is rich and round with coconut and pungent tropical melon balanced by vanilla and mineral.”

About The Ultimate Spirits Challenge

The Ultimate Spirits Challenge is a prestigious yearly evaluation and recognition of high quality spirits and beverages worldwide. In its fifth year as a contender, Pennsylvania Pure Distilleries is proud to have continuously received a top rating for its flagship spirits, standing apart from a record number of entries from over 45 spirit-producing nations.

About Pennsylvania Pure Distilleries

Pennsylvania Pure Distilleries is an independently run American distillery founded on the idea of creating exceptional spirits using locally grown ingredients and packaging. We believe in quality over quantity and that’s why we make every single batch by hand. Our award-winning Boyd & Blair Potato Vodka is currently sold in 43 states, plus Singapore, Hong Kong, and Alberta, Canada. Our 5-star rated BLY Silver Rum and BLY Silver Rum 105 continue to exemplify our high standards and dedication to distilling pristine clear spirits. Our newest release, a Boyd & Blair Craft Cocktail line, uses our award-winning, 98-rated vodka as its base to create ready-to-drink cocktails packaged in 1 liter bottles and 200 ml flasks. To learn more, please visit www.boydandblair.com.

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