As a longtime judge at the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition, I know that earning a double gold medal—an award given only to those spirits unanimously deemed worthy of a gold medal by all members of a judging panel—is no small feat. Earning a platinum medal, which is awarded to spirits earning a double gold three years in a row, elevates a product into a truly elite class. Minnesota’s own Lost Woods American Single Malt Whiskey joined that exclusive club this spring when it took home its third consecutive double gold medal, having won its two previous double golds before it was even formally launched last August. Distilled right here in northeast Minneapolis from 100% Wisconsin-grown malted barley and finished with sherry-soaked oak staves after a proprietary accelerated-aging process, Lost Woods has earthy aromas reminiscent of raw honey, followed by rich flavors of burnt sugar and toasted cereal. This is a whiskey that not only tastes good, but does good: 1% of all sales are contributed to environmental organizations working to protect and heal our beleaguered planet. David Mahoney, Consultant