Gervasi Vineyard Resort & Spa was just awarded top honors for its spirits by two major international competitions, the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC) and the American Distilling Institute (ADI) International Spirits Competition.
Both competitions honored Gervasi Spirits with the best of the best honors. The awards and recognition are the result of the continued promise to guests by Gervasi to provide excellence in every area and every product Gervasi offers.
Double Gold and Best in Class at SFWSC
Gervasi Spirits once again experienced a remarkable showing at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC), one of the most respected and influential spirits competitions around the world.
This is the second consecutive year Gervasi (GV) has been highly recognized and awarded at the prestigious and respected competition.
The Gervasi brand took home multiple medals, including the Double Gold and Best in Class for its distinctive Pink Peppercorn Gin, and Silver Medals for the Honey Heat Whiskey and Gervasi’s two newest bourbons, Straight Bourbon Whiskey and Single Barrel Bourbon.
The Double Gold Medal is awarded to spirits that receive a unanimous top ranking from all judges. Receiving such a high honor highlights Gervasi’s Pink Peppercorn Gin as a recognized standout among global contenders.
The peppercorn gin is known for its aromatic complexity and unique botanical blend. The amazing gin captivated the expert panel and, with the award, takes its place as one of the finest gins in the world. It was inspired by GV’s head distiller Shae Pridemore.
He wanted to create a product that consumers would enjoy the taste and feel. With the floral of the peppercorn, Pridemore added a hint of lavender to incorporate a sense of summer with a slight taste of heat. The infusion of anise wraps in a bit of sweetness while cardamom gives the spirit a cooling sensation to the tongue on the finish. “Pink Peppercorn Gin is a product that I am extremely proud and passionate about. This is a humbling experience to be honored for the second year with a Double Gold Medal in the San Francisco World Spirits Competition,” said Pridemore. “I would not have been able to achieve such a unique product without the help from my Assistant Distiller, Michael Phillips, my amazing wife Katie, and our two great kids Kennedy and Oliver.”
Gervasi’s guests can try the award-winning gin in a special cocktail called Pretty in Pink – highlighted on our feature menus. The amazing cocktail has GS Pink Peppercorn Gin, Agave Syrup, Thyme, Lime Juice, and Grapefruit Juice. It can be also be purchased by the bottle to take home to make cocktails for their guests.While winning the Double Gold for a second year is a high honor, Gervasi Spirits also earned Silver Medals for three of its signature whiskeys. To ensure fair and credible recognition, each product in the competition was evaluated through a blind tasting by an esteemed panel of judges. Winning such esteemed awards underscores the distillery’s growing excellence in whiskey craftsmanship.
Honey Heat Whiskey – Honey Heat is the fusion of smooth whiskey, locally sourced honey, and a fiery kick of select chilis – sweetness meets spice.
Straight Bourbon Whiskey – A carefully crafted bourbon aged to perfection, delivering a rich and smooth flavor profile with notes of butterscotch, caramel, dried fruits, baking spices, and sweet barrel.
Single Barrel Bourbon – A limited-edition release showcasing the depth and complexity of a single, hand-selected barrel, offering a truly unique tasting experience for bourbon enthusiasts.
“We are incredibly honored to be recognized on this international stage,” said Scott Swaldo, CEO of Gervasi Vineyard and Gervasi Spirits. “Our team is passionate about producing high-quality, innovative spirits, and this recognition from SFWSC is a testament to that dedication.”
The San Francisco World Spirits Competition, now in its 25th year, is known for setting the global standard of excellence. This competition receives thousands of entries from around the world and winning a medal (much less winning multiple medals) at SFWSC is a prestigious achievement that reflects both quality and craftsmanship.
Top Awards from the ADI Competition
The ADI International Spirits Competition is one of the most respected and comprehensive judging events for craft distilleries worldwide. Its panel of experts and judges includes master distillers, retailers, and spirit industry professionals. The competition evaluates entries on several areas, including aroma, taste, balance, and overall craftsmanship.
Among the top honors awarded to Gervasi:
- Gervasi’s Pink Peppercorn Gin was awarded Best of Class – Signature Botanical Gin, distinguishing it as the leading product in its class. The Pink Peppercorn Gin earned a coveted Double Gold Medal, placing it among the highest-rated spirits of the entire competition.
- Additionally, Gervasi’s Single Barrel Bourbon was awarded a Silver Medal, and the Straight Bourbon Whiskey received a Bronze Medal—both affirming the distillery’s excellence in American whiskey production.
“This recognition from ADI is a tremendous honor,” said Pridemore. “These awards reflect the passion, precision, and innovation that drive our distillation process every day. We’re thrilled to be recognized on an international stage among some of the world’s most respected craft spirit producers.”
State-of-the-Art Distillery Produces Top Winners
GV’s state-of-the-art distillery inside The Still House is designed for an annual capacity of 25,000 bottles. Each spirit crafted at Gervasi is a labor of love, from sourcing the finest ingredients to the careful distilling process. Every bottle of its bourbon, vodka, gin, or rum reflects the passion and expertise of the distillery team.
Gervasi began developing and producing spirits in 2019 as a commitment to Gervasi guests to craft exceptional spirits of uncompromising quality and taste. With an unwavering dedication to innovation, excellence and taste, Gervasi Spirits has received acclaim from spirits enthusiasts, solidifying its position as a leader in the industry.
Gervasi Spirits, a division of Gervasi Vineyard, continues to grow its portfolio of award-winning products, crafted with intention and proudly distilled in Canton, Ohio.