Award Recognition Highlights Growing Tumblin' Dice Portfolio

Proof & Wood has earned Platinum honors at the 2026 ASCOT Awards for Tumblin' Dice Rye Finished in Apple Brandy Barrels in the "Special Barrel – Finished Rye" category.

The recognition marks the second major international competition win for the Bardstown, Kentucky-based brand in 2026. Earlier this year, Tumblin' Dice 11 Year Single Barrel Rye was named Best American Single Cask Single Rye at the World Whiskies Awards.

At this year's ASCOT Awards, Tumblin' Dice also earned Gold in the "American Single Barrel Rye Whiskey" category for its Single Barrel Rye expression.

Apple Brandy Finish Expands Specialty Lineup

Originally released as a limited edition, Tumblin' Dice Rye Finished in Apple Brandy Barrels was finished in sought-after Laird's Apple Brandy barrels. According to the company, the whiskey layers orchard fruit, baking spice, caramelized sugar, and toasted oak onto the underlying rye structure without overwhelming the base spirit.

Due to "overwhelming response and demand," Proof & Wood plans to release additional batches later this year alongside an expanded lineup of specialty-finished Tumblin' Dice whiskeys.

"This whiskey turned out exactly the way we hoped it would," said Dave Schmier, founder of Proof & Wood Ventures. "The apple brandy barrels complement the rye instead of covering it up. You still get the spice, the structure, and the proof, but with this incredible layer of baked fruit and richness underneath it. The response to the release has been incredible, and we're excited to continue expanding the finished rye program."

Upcoming specialty finishes are planned for the Tumblin' Dice lineup, building on the success of the Apple Brandy release.

Why It Matters

Finished rye whiskeys remain a growing category within American whiskey, and award recognition at major international competitions can significantly impact distributor and retailer placement. For operators sourcing premium rye or building finished whiskey programs, Tumblin' Dice's back-to-back competition wins and planned expanded releases signal sustained product development and market confidence in the brand.

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Written by FBM Publications Editors