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# Far North Spirits Grand Winner of DISCUS Competition
- URL: https://bevnews.net/far-north-spirits-grand-winner-of-discus-competition/
- Published: 2026-03-05T03:37:58.000Z
- Updated: 2026-03-05T03:37:58.000Z
- Author: Joel Whitaker

**Far North Spirits** was named the grand winner of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States’ (DISCUS) [Innovation Showcase](https://distilledspirits.org/innovation-showcase/?ref=bevnews.net) competition during the awards presentation at the 2026 DISCUS annual conference in Louisville, Ky. 

[Far North Spirits](https://farnorthspirits.com/?ref=bevnews.net) took home first place for its Single Varietal Rye Whiskey. The Minnesota distillery aimed to push back on monoculture in the industry, deciding instead to grow unique, open-pollinated rye grain varietals on their century-old family farm. These rye varietals are selected and farmed specifically for their flavor when distilled, a radical approach that is virtually unheard of in the industry. 

Far North mills, ferments and distills all of its spirits with the same meticulous method, but each rye varietal produces a whiskey with its own unmistakable character and flavor profile, showcasing the remarkable diversity within a single grain. The process is grounded in terroir and transparency, with the distillery controlling every step from seed planting to final barrel aging. 

[**Wheyward Spirit**](https://www.wheywardspirit.com/?ref=bevnews.net) came in second for its Wheyward Spirit & Wheyward Wheyskey. Rather than using a typical grain, grape or agave to produce its spirits, Wheyward Spirit sources upcycled whey to make innovative farm-to-flask spirits. This more holistic approach to fermentation and distillation allows the distillery to retain a signature flavor true to its source. Whether savored aged (Wheyward Wheyskey) or unaged (Wheyward Spirit), this innovation is defined as a specialty spirit for diverse mixology. 

Third place was awarded to [Proof 8](https://www.proof-8.com/?ref=bevnews.net)’s Digital Deeds, a secure, tamper-proof digital identity assigned to a cask when it enters a warehouse or is filled at a distillery. Digital Deeds stay with the cask for its lifetime, recording details like ownership, origin, age, alcohol-by-volume (ABV) and location. 

This gives a transparent audit trail visible to all stakeholders: distilleries, warehouses, brokers, HMRC and cask owners. As an alternative to outdated analog systems, Digital Deeds also help to prevent fraud, meet regulatory requirements and improve operational efficiency.