Hooten Young Earns Double Gold at the 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition for its Rye Whiskey
Award honors a whiskey born from sacrifice — distilled in memory of the 19 Americans lost in the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu of Operation Gothic Serpent.
[Jacksonville, FL] — June 2026. Hooten Young, America’s favorite pairing: Whiskey & Cigars, has been awarded a Double Gold medal in the Rye Whiskey category at the 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, hosted by the Tasting Alliance — one of the most respected spirits competitions in the world. The honor goes to Operation Gothic Serpent Rye Whiskey, a release that carries a weight no medal can fully capture.
Operation Gothic Serpent was the U.S. military mission carried out in Mogadishu, Somalia on October 3–4, 1993 — a battle that claimed the lives of 19 American soldiers and was later brought to the world’s attention through Ridley Scott’s film Black Hawk Down. For most Americans, the film is where the story begins. For Hooten Young founder and retired U.S. Army Master Sergeant Norm Hooten, it is not a story. He was there. He lived it. And the men who did not come home are the reason this whiskey exists.
Operation Gothic Serpent Rye Whiskey and its cigar pairing were created as an act of remembrance — not as a commercial product first, but as a tribute to the 19 fallen, to their families, and to the service that defined a generation of American soldiers. The Double Gold recognition from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition affirms that a whiskey made with this kind of intention produces something exceptional — something judges and enthusiasts alike can taste.
“This one isn’t for me. It’s for the 19 men who didn’t come home, and for the families they left behind. If this award brings any attention to their story, that’s the only win that matters.”
— Norm Hooten, Founder, Hooten Young
The San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC), hosted by the Tasting Alliance, is one of the most credible and rigorous spirits competitions in the United States. A Double Gold is among the highest honors the competition bestows — awarded only when every single judge on the blind-tasting panel unanimously rates a spirit Gold. It is not a majority vote. It is not a consensus. It is unanimity — and it is one of the rarest distinctions in the industry. Proof that this whiskey was crafted with the same discipline and resolve that defined the mission it honors.
Operation Gothic Serpent Rye Whiskey is available through Hooten Young’s official website and select retailers. For more information, visit hootenyoung.com.
Operation Gothic Serpent Rye Whiskey — Specifications & Award Details
• Award: Double Gold — Rye Whiskey Category, 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition
• Age: 7 Years
• Proof: 93 (46.5% ABV)
• Mash Bill: 95% Rye / 5% Barley
• Tasting Notes: Candied apricot and caramelized pear
• Bottle Size: 750ml
• MSRP: $60.99
• Hosted By: The Tasting Alliance
• Pairs With: Hooten Young Operation Gothic Serpent Cigar
• Availability: HOOTENYOUNG.COM and select retailers
About Hooten Young
Hooten Young is America’s Favorite Pairing — gold-medal whiskey and cigars, born from a lifetime of service and made for those building their American Dream. Learn more at hootenyoung.com.
