Blue Corn Rye Earns Major Spirits Competition Recognition Smokeye Hill Whiskey, the Colorado-based craft distiller, announced that its Barrel Proof Blended Rye Whiskey earned double platinum awards at the 2026 American Spirits Council of Tasters (ASCOTs) and was named Runner-Up for Best American Rye Whiskey. The same expression also received a gold rating and 95 points at the International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC). The honors represent a significant milestone for the brand, which launched its bourbon line in May 2024 and introduced the rye expression in October 2025. Smokeye Hill's Barrel Proof Blended Rye is the first rye made with blue corn on the market, built on a proprietary four-grain mashbill of rye, heirloom blue corn, yellow corn, and malted barley.

Heritage Grain as Competitive Differentiator Founder Blake Johns centered the brand's identity around blue corn, a heirloom grain rooted in his Southwestern heritage and historically underutilized in American whiskey production. The whiskey is distilled in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, then barreled and matured in Colorado Springs at 6,100 feet elevation in 30-gallon American white oak casks charred to Nos. 2, 3, and 4. Colorado's fluctuating climate accelerates barrel expansion and contraction, naturally speeding the aging process. Tasting notes include butterscotch, honey, and warm spice on the nose, with a palate of caramel, cinnamon, dried apricot, vanilla, toasted oak, and pepper. The finish is described as "long and lingering, marked by honeyed oak, warming spice, and black tea."

Distribution and Previous Recognition Smokeye Hill builds on its 2024 ASCOT Bourbon of the Year award with these new wins. The brand is available in California, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, Washington, Georgia, Texas, Alaska, and Tennessee, plus online retailers including Seelbachs, Spirits Network, and Keg N Bottle.

Why It Matters

For spirits buyers and hospitality operators, Smokeye Hill's award trajectory and blue corn differentiation signal growing consumer appetite for craft spirits grounded in authentic regional storytelling and ingredient-forward production. The brand's rapid accumulation of major competition honors in its first two years suggests strong category momentum in the barrel-proof rye segment.

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Written by FBM Publications Editors