Well this is just great. You work hard to keep something awesome a secret so that you won’t have to share and along comes USA Today to ruin all the fun.

Sure, USA Today it’s all good. Just come into town and let “EVERYBODY” know that we have the finest vodka distillery in the country. That’s just great. Okay, enough of the sarcasm, because it really is great.

We announced right here in late August, that St. Louis Distillery, makers of the award-winning Cardinal Sin Vodka and Cardinal Sin Starka, has just been selected by USA TODAY as a nominee for the best craft vodka distillery in the US. Voting was completed last Friday afternoon and THEY WON!

“It’s a great honor to be selected as the best craft vodka distillery in the country,” said distiller Bill Schroer. “We set out to create a truly exceptional vodka. As a craft distillery, we’ve been able to experiment and follow a different path than the major labels. This award validates the work and decisions that we have made to build something different.”

Twenty craft vodka distilleries from across the country were selected by a panel of experts including expert contributors and editors from USA TODAY and 10Best.com to participate in the 4-week online contest. The contest was promoted across USA TODAY Travel Media Group’s digital and mobile products, as well as social media to encourage voting.

“Over the past five years, there has been a boom of craft distilleries, so this award comes as an even greater recognition. We know we’ve got something special; it’s rewarding to know others recognize that as well,” said Greg Deters, distiller.

St. Louis Distillery was not the only regional craft distillery selected for having quality vodkas. Pinckney Bend Distillery out of New Haven, Mo. came in at number four and Mastermind Vodka in Pontoon Beach, Il. was selected seventh. Square One Brewery and Distillery in St. Louis received a nomination.

“We couldn’t have done this without the support of our customers and craft spirits lovers,” said Distiller Steve Herberholt. “We are grateful for the consumers who continue to choose our products and have made our distillery such a great hit.”

Cardinal Sin Starka is the United States’ first barrel-aged starka vodka. Cardinal Sin Vodka is placed in new Missouri white oak medium-charred barrels and aged for a minimum of six months. This transforms the clear spirit into an amber colored spirit with an enhanced flavor profile reminiscent of other barrel-aged products. Starkas are traditional Polish celebratory barrel-aged vodkas that date back to the 15th century.

The St. Louis Distillery was founded in 2012 by three friends; Greg Deters, Steve Herberholt, and Bill Schroer. The distillery is located at 755 Friedens Rd., St. Charles, 63303.

About St. Louis Distillery

St. Louis Distillery pushes the envelope of artisan distilling with the intent to produce absolutely smooth, ultra-pure vodkas. Hand-crafted in the heart of the Midwest since 2012, the distillers of Cardinal Sin Vodka and Cardinal Sin Starka have gone to great lengths choosing the finest ingredients and creating a one-of-a-kind distillation process to craft the most flavorful vodka you’ve ever tasted. St. Louis Distillery products are distributed in Missouri by Major Brands, in Illinois by BreakThru Beverage, in Western Illinois by Haubrich Enterprises and In Georgia by Artisan Beverage of Georgia. Facebook. Twitter. Instagram.