Dread River Distillery 1 edited Birmingham's Dread River Distilling Co. earns national honor for unique agave spirit — Dread River Distilling Company based in Birmingham produces spirits, wine + beer. (Jon Eastwood / Bham Now)

A Birmingham-made spirit is getting national recognition.

Local favorite Dread River Distilling Co. has taken home a Silver Medal at the 2026 American Craft Spirits Competition for its Double Barrel Aged Agave “Mistaken” Batch 2, earning a spot among some of the country’s top craft spirits.

“Mistaken” by Birmingham’s Dread River gets national attention

The annual competition, hosted by the American Craft Spirits Association, recognizes standout American-made craft spirits through a blind tasting process judged by retailers, mixologists, distributors, educators, journalists and distillers. Entries are scored on qualities like aroma, flavor, finish and overall balance.

What makes Dread River’s award-winning spirit unique? “Mistaken” begins as an agave spirit that’s first aged in bourbon barrels before spending additional time in sherry barrels. The result is a rich, complex spirit with notes of vanilla, caramel and oak that can easily be mistaken for a whiskey or bourbon—hence the name.

While similar to tequila, “Mistaken” is made in the U.S. rather than Mexico, making it an American agave spirit.

“What was once an experiment in 2020 has now blossomed into one of our most sought-after creations. What was once a happy accident is now a delightful adventure that is a testament to the beauty of experimentation.”
Suzanne Cisneros, Dread River Distilling Co.

Birmingham is well known for its beer scene, but spirits are becoming another point of pride for the Magic City. Earlier this year, Birmingham-founded Campesino Rum took home “Double Gold” at the 2026 Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America competition in Las Vegas.

Try “Mistaken” at Dread River Distilling Co.

Founded in 2019, Dread River has become a staple of Birmingham’s craft beverage scene, earning multiple national awards over the years. Want to try the award-winning spirit for yourself? “Mistaken” Batch 2 is available for purchase at Dread River’s Birmingham distillery.