Till American Wheat Vodka Receives New Award at New York International Spirits Competition

ATCHISON, Kan., Feb. 16, 2017 -- MGP’s award-winning Till American Wheat Vodka has earned additional worldwide distinction for outstanding quality and taste from prominent experts in the global distilled spirits industry.

Till Vodka, produced in Atchison, Kan., was recently honored as Kansas Vodka of the Year at the New York International Spirits Competition.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8ff71092-3968-491c-9f86-6435debbea08

This latest achievement occurred at the famed New York International Spirits Competition where Till Vodka was honored as “Kansas Vodka of the Year.”  Results of the competition, which was held in the fall, were released early this year.

Close to 600 distilled spirits from around the world were entered in the event, which consisted of a blind tasting by a panel of experienced judges.  Award criteria were also based on category and price factors.

"Made using the finest quality Kansas wheat, grown by hardworking Kansas farmers, Till American Wheat Vodka represents the passion, hard work and honest values of the heartland from which it comes,” said Andy Mansinne, vice president for brands.  “Distilled by the proud men and women of Atchison, Kansas, the result is a uniquely smooth premium vodka.”

Shanae Randolph, MGP beverage brands director, stated,  “We are highly excited about the Kansas Vodka of the Year award, as well as the previous awards that Till Vodka has received.  Each speaks volumes about the expertise and dedication that go into making it.  This level of recognition is not only significant, but very meaningful in terms of how rapidly Till Vodka is earning distinction for its remarkable qualities.”

Within just the first seven months following its release last spring, Till Vodka had already received five prestigious awards.  These include the following:

• Silver medal in the Sommelier Challenge™ International Wine and Spirits Competition in San Diego, September 2016.
• Silver medal at the San Diego Spirits Festival, August 2016. 
• Silver Medal at the 2016 New York World Wine and Spirits Competition, August 2016.
• BevStar Gold Award in the spirits category from Beverage World magazine, May 2016.
• Silver medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, March 2016.

The Annual New York International Spirits Competition is the first major international spirits competition with trade-only judges consisting of buyers from top retail stores, restaurant and bar owners, distributors and importers.

For more information about Till American Wheat Vodka, visit tillvodka.com and follow Till on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

About Till Vodka
Distilled by the proud men and women of Atchison, Kansas, Till American Wheat Vodka symbolizes the honest values of the heartland from which it comes.  Made from the finest Kansas wheat, grown by Kansas farmers, it is a brand that represents timeless and aspirational values which are tied to the region that embodies them.  Till is a premium, ultra smooth vodka that captures the hard work and passion of the people involved in making it, and reflects the pride they take in doing their best.

About MGP
Founded in 1941, MGP (Nasdaq:MGPI) is a leading supplier of premium distilled spirits and specialty wheat proteins and starches. Distilled spirits include bourbon and rye whiskeys, gins and vodkas, which are carefully crafted through a combination of art and science backed by decades of experience. The company's proteins and starches are created in the same manner and provide a host of functional, nutritional and sensory benefits for a wide range of food products. MGP additionally is a top producer of high quality industrial alcohol for use in both food and non-food applications. The company is headquartered in Atchison, Kansas, where distilled alcohol products and food ingredients are produced. Premium spirits are also distilled and matured at the company’s facility in Lawrenceburg, Indiana.  For more information, visit mgpingredients.com.

Contact: Steve Pickman, 913-367-1480
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