Boyd & Blair vodka, rum both named best in worldwide competition
“Make that a double” has new meaning for Boyd & Blair spirits.
Pennsylvania Pure Distilleries’ 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, an annual evaluation and recognition of high quality spirits and beverages worldwide. Each won chairman’s trophies.
It’s the second year in a row for the vodka.
The Glenshaw distillery uses Pennsylvania potatoes for the vodka and molasses for the rum. Those local ingredients help set the distillery apart, said Barry Younger, co-founder and master distiller. He also uses a pot still versus a continuous still.
“That gives me more control over the distillation process,” said Young, who joined forces with Quantum Spirits in Carnegie and the state to make hand sanitizer, alongside their drinkable spirits, during the pandemic. “I can continuously taste the product and have more flexibility. It’s all about flavor. I make what I want to drink. My philosophy is not going to change.”
The vodka was chosen above well-known brands such as Belvedere, Finlandia, Smirnoff and Reyka. Judges said that its “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,” according to a news release.
The rum won over others from Panama, Indonesia, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua and the Philippines. The judges said “a fine and distinctive nose alludes to a classically made molasses-based rum.”
F. Paul Pacult, Ultimate Beverage founder and judging director for the Ultimate Spirits Challenge, said Boyd & Blair winning back-to-back is a “testament to its quality.” For 17 years, Pacult wrote about spirits for the New York Times Magazine and Delta Airlines’ Sky Magazine, and was Wine Enthusiast Magazine’s spirits columnist and tasting editor.
“This is remarkable,” said Pacult of Hudson Valley, N.Y. “And if Barry wins next year, we might think of creating a Hall of Fame and have him be the inaugural inductee. I know a lot of people who make vodka, and his attention to detail in terms of production is what separates him.”
Pacult said the distillery is in the top 10 to 15 in the world. Ready-to-drink cocktails of blood orange cosmopolitan, pomegranate and daiquiri are a nice complement to his spirits, Pacult said.
All you need is ice.
Young said sales are strong because people aren’t going to restaurants for cocktails.
The vodka is available in 340 state Wine and Spirits stores, and the rum is sold in 90 of them. Ready-to-drink cocktails are available in 120 of the stores.
“Everything goes back to his dedication,” said Pacult. “He never compromises on quality. If it’s not right, it doesn’t go out.”
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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