awards Archives | Batch 22

Batch 22 American Aquavit has been named Specialty Spirit of the Year at the 2026 New Orleans Spirits Competition, earning the competition’s highest honor for specialty spirits.

In addition to receiving this prestigious recognition, Batch 22 also earned Best of Category and a Gold Medal, making it one of the competition’s most decorated spirits of 2026.

This latest achievement adds to an already impressive year of recognition for Batch 22; it further establishes the brand as one of the leading examples of American aquavit and validates Batch 22’s unique mission to highlight aquavit as a category worthy of attention by American consumers.

Batch 22 best american aquavit specialty spirit of the year 2026

Batch 22 Earns Three Major Honors at the 2026 New Orleans Spirits Competition

The New Orleans Spirits Competition celebrates exceptional spirits from around the world, recognizing brands that demonstrate quality, craftsmanship, and innovation across a variety of categories.

For Batch 22, this year’s competition resulted in three major accolades:

Specialty Spirit of the Year
The highest specialty spirit honor awarded at the competition, recognizing Batch 22 as the top specialty spirit overall.

Best of Category
Awarded to the highest-scoring spirit within its category, highlighting Batch 22’s exceptional performance among its peers.

Gold Medal
A recognition of excellence in quality, craftsmanship, and overall execution.

Together, these awards represent more than just medals. They reflect the dedication, creativity, and attention to detail that go into every bottle of Batch 22 American Aquavit.

Specialty Spirit of the Year: A Defining Achievement for Batch 22

While every award is meaningful, being named Specialty Spirit of the Year represents a significant milestone for Batch 22.

This recognition shines a spotlight on the Batch 22 mission, which is focused on opening the eyes of consumers to the versatility and complexity of great aquavit.

As the spirit category gains attention among enthusiasts, bartenders, and collectors, Batch 22 is working to get aquavit behind the bar and on the menu at locations all over the U.S.

What Makes Batch 22 One of the Best American Aquavits?

Aquavit has a rich history that dates back centuries. As the national spirit of most Nordic countries, aquavit is known for its unique botanical character, often featuring notes of caraway, citrus, dill, and other spices.

Batch 22 brings the Nordic tradition to the U.S. with an American interpretation of the spirit. Crafted with a focus on balance, complexity, and versatility, Batch 22 offers a distinctive expression that honors aquavit’s heritage while creating something uniquely its own.

Industry experts have taken notice, as Batch 22 has earned enthusiastic support from respected figures in both the beverage and culinary worlds. Renowned spirits judge and cocktail educator Tiffany Barriere praised the brand, saying, “This aquavit challenges the status quo of what an aquavit can be and that is exciting. The quality of liquid in this bottle is stunning.”

A Modern Aquavit Crafted for Sipping and Cocktails

One of the things that makes Batch 22 stand out is its versatility.

While aquavit has traditionally been enjoyed as a “shot” spirit (poured straight from the freezer), modern expressions like Batch 22 are showing how adaptable the category can be. Its balanced botanical profile makes it an excellent choice neat, paired with food, or as the base spirit in creative cocktails.

Batch 22’s Growing List of Award-Winning Achievements

The 2026 New Orleans Spirits Competition honors continue a remarkable year for Batch 22 American Aquavit.

Earlier in 2026, Batch 22 received additional recognition from respected spirits competitions, including:

And now:

Specialty Spirit of the Year, Best of Category, and Gold Medal at the 2026 New Orleans Spirits Competition

With each new award, Batch 22 continues to gain recognition as one of the most exciting and respected American aquavits available today.

Experience Award-Winning American Aquavit

From its Scandinavian roots to its modern American expression, Batch 22 is helping redefine what aquavit can be.

Recognized by judges, spirits enthusiasts, and industry professionals, Batch 22 American Aquavit continues to showcase the craftsmanship and innovation behind this growing spirit category.

Discover why Batch 22 is earning recognition as one of the best American aquavits and experience the award-winning spirit for yourself.

EXPLORE BATCH 22 AMERICAN AQUAVIT, CURRENTLY ON SALE →

Batch 22 American Aquavit is continuing to gain recognition as an award-winning aquavit, earning a 2026 Platinum Medal at the L.A. Spirits Awards, one of the most respected blind-tasting competitions in the country.

This recognition marks an important milestone not only for Batch 22, but for aquavit as a growing category in the United States. As more bartenders, restaurants, and consumers continue to explore spirits beyond traditional vodka, gin, and whiskey, aquavit is gaining meaningful traction nationwide, and this award is another clear sign of that momentum.

What the Platinum Medal Means

The Platinum Medal is one of the highest honors awarded by the L.A. Spirits Awards. Spirits are evaluated through a blind tasting process, meaning each entry is judged solely on its aroma, flavor, structure, and overall quality without any influence from brand, price, or packaging.

To receive Platinum, a spirit must earn unanimous Gold medal nominations from every judge on the panel during the principal tasting round. In other words, every judge independently identified Batch 22 as one of the finest spirits in its class.

This distinction places Batch 22 among the top spirits recognized in this year’s competition and serves as powerful third party validation of the quality in the bottle.

Why This Matters for Aquavit

This award is more than recognition for a single product. It is another sign that aquavit is continuing to gain visibility and popularity across the U.S.

Long considered a regional Scandinavian spirit, aquavit is now finding a growing place in modern cocktail culture. Bartenders are increasingly using it as a base in spirit forward classics, citrus driven cocktails, and food friendly drinks that benefit from its botanical complexity.

For Batch 22, the Platinum Medal helps to reinforce what we are already seeing in the market: increasing consumer curiosity, stronger on-premise adoption, and a broader national awareness of the category.

What Is Aquavit?

Aquavit is a traditional Scandinavian spirit typically distilled from grain or potatoes and flavored with botanicals such as caraway, dill, fennel, and other herbs.

For centuries, it has been poured across Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and other Nordic countries, often enjoyed alongside meals and celebrations. In recent years, aquavit has gained renewed interest internationally as bartenders and home enthusiasts look for new base spirits that offer more character than neutral vodka and a different profile than gin.

Its versatility has made it increasingly popular in both classic and modern cocktail formats.

How Batch 22 Helps Drive the Category Forward

Batch 22 represents a modern American expression of aquavit.

Created in Los Angeles, Batch 22 was developed as an American aquavit built for today’s cocktail culture while remaining rooted in the spirit’s Nordic origins. Its clean botanical profile and versatility make it ideal for cocktails like the Viking Martini, Nordic Gold, and Valhalla Sunset.

This is where the brand’s direction continues to resonate:

Ancient Spirit. Modern Pour.

A centuries old spirit is finding new life in the modern bar, and Batch 22 is helping lead that movement.

A Spirit Gaining National Recognition

While this recognition comes from Los Angeles, its significance reaches far beyond the region.

The Platinum Medal from the L.A. Spirits Awards is another signal that aquavit, and specifically Batch 22, is gaining traction nationwide. From restaurant placements and cocktail programs to growing consumer awareness online, the category is continuing to build momentum.

For a spirit once considered niche in the United States, this kind of recognition helps accelerate awareness, trial, and credibility.

The Platinum Medal is more than an award—it is another sign that aquavit’s moment is here.

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Batch 22 American Aquavit Named Specialty Spirit of the Year at the 2026 New Orleans Spirits Competition