Head Distiller David Dickson, left, and Assistant Distiller Ian Bickle showcase three of Niagara College Teaching Distillery’s Spirits 101 creations, which earned medals at the 2025 U.S. Open Spirits Championship.
The distillery claimed two gold medals — one for its Absinthe in the Specialty Spirits category and another for its Spiced Old Fashioned in the Bottled Cocktails category.
Its Canadian Rum also received recognition, earning bronze in the Spiced/Flavoured Rum category. Its Absinthe and Canadian Rum were actually student-made capstone projects, according to an April 11 Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce daily update.
The medals represent “the outstanding applied education that continues to set Niagara College apart,” wrote Marc Nantel, PhD, vice-president, Research, Innovation and Strategic Enterprises, in the update.
