The 16th annual San Francisco World Spirits Competition, held last month, has awarded Seattle-based 3 Howls Distillery a Double Gold Tasting Award for its Navy Strength Gin. Craig Phalen of North Bend is a co-owner and distiller at 3 Howls.

Double gold winners are “outstanding; earning top marks from all judges.” Since the competition’s inception, only 20 percent of Double Gold Tasting Awards for gin have gone to a distillery from the U.S.

“We are pleased to have done remarkably well in a category that is traditionally dominated by Europe, where gin originated,” said Will Maschmeier, founder and head distiller of 3 Howls Distillery.

The Navy Strength Gin also won third place in its category at the 2015 World Beverage Competition in Geneva, and tied for bronze with Hendrick’s Gin in the 2014 New York International Spirits Competition. It won Best in Category in the American Distilling Institute Competition and Best in the Northwest at the 2014 Ginvitational PNW Awards.

The “Navy Strength” name comes from sailors in the British navy, who used to be paid in rations of liquor. Ever concerned they were being ripped off by their employer, they would test the potency of the liquor by lighting it with gunpowder. If it lit, they knew they were being compensated fairly.

The 39 judges of the 2016 competition are established spirits-industry experts, including Anthony Dias Blue, Tony Abou-Ganim, Charles Joly, David Wondrich, Charlotte Voisey, and Dale DeGroff. Each panel of judges, over a rigorous four day blind tasting, must unanimously find an entry worthy of a gold medal in order for it to be awarded a double gold.

For more information visit www.3howls.com.