Local Choice Spirits’ Boone’s Bourbon ranked top six in the world

Locally distilled Homegrown Boone’s Bourbon was ranked one of the top bourbons in the world at the 2020 New York International Spirits Competition (NYISC). The competition held virtually this year is different from other major competitions. The tasting panel is made up entirely of professional buyers from restaurant beverage directors to bartenders.  

 

Boone’s Bourbon is produced by Daniel Island resident “Pixie” Paula Dezzutti’s Charleston-based Local Choice Spirits at her Striped Pig Distillery. The entrepreneurial mother of nine has created several spirit brands with celebrities, including her award winning collaboration with South Carolina singer and songwriter Tyler Boone.  

 

Her collaboration with Boone began a couple years ago when he reached out to fellow South Carolinian Dezzutti to collaborate on his signature bourbon.  

 

“When I finally launched Boone’s Bourbon in 2018, I met my mentor and this person treated me both as a partner and also as a loving member of her ever growing family,” he said. “You don’t find a lot of females in this industry and you don’t meet anyone like Pixie Paula. She is a force to be reckoned with and I wouldn’t want anyone else in my corner except her.”

 

Boone’s Bourbon was awarded the “Double Gold” — a special honor given to spirits considered to be the finest in the world by every judge on the panel. 

 

 “Double Golds” were awarded to just 42 of the more than 1,200 NYISC entries received from around the world. Local Choice Spirits took home several other awards, including Producer of The Year.

 

The accolades continued when Forbes featured the spirit in an article about the top six bourbon brands in the world. While almost 95% of all the bourbon comes from Kentucky, Forbes called Boone’s Bourbon “a geographic outlier” showing that great bourbon can be crafted anywhere.

 

Dezzutti was excited, but not surprised by the win and the mention in Forbes.  

 

“I used to say I felt we were going to win the Guinness Book of World Records because we were so successful right out of the gate. But now I say, Forbes featured us as the top 6 bourbons in the world! What more needs to be said, except for all the other amazing work we have done,” Dezzutti exclaimed.

 

Working together they have successfully marketed Boone’s Bourbon into states all over the country. 

 

 “Since Local Choice started in 2011 we have been working really hard to get (South Carolina) products on the map. We have won over 100 awards beating the market leaders across the board in all categories of spirits, but most impressive is the fact that we have won 15 awards in the Double Gold Category or better. Even a best in show!”

 

Dezzutti is not one to rest on her laurels, she is currently making hand sanitizer and personalizing the labels for businesses and special occasions. She is also in the process of unveiling a new website, along with her new book, “Skirt Smarts: Purpose With A Plan.”