Three local distilleries have been recognized as the best in two national categories in an online readers’ choice award program, the USA Today “10Best.” Rhode Island Spirits in Pawtucket and The Industrious Spirit Company in Providence were each recognized for Best New Craft Distillery and Sons of Liberty Spirits Co. in South Kingstown for Best Craft Whiskey Distillery. Rhode Island Spirits Distillery & Tasting Room was nominated for Best New Craft Distillery in the 10Best Readers’ Choice Travel Awards in August. The Pawtucket-based distillery was among 20 distilleries across the country that were selected for the award category by a panel of American spirits experts. “Our company is only about a year old, and we make spirits that are available only in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. To have come to the attention of the national panel who chose the finalists is amazing,” said Rhode Island Spirits Co-owner Kara Larson. Opened in 2019 by Larson and Cathy Plourde, Rhode Island Spirits’ Rhodium brand gins, vodkas and liqueurs are crafted on-site using locally grown and organic ingredients. The Industrious Spirit Company in Providence is also among the 20 nominees in the Best New Craft Distillery category, now offering its Structural Vodka among its sustainably sourced offerings made at Providence’s first distillery since Prohibition. The distillery recently opened to the public. Award-winning Sons of Liberty Spirits Co. is nominated in the Best Craft Whiskey Distillery category against 19 others. The category winner is chosen by popular online vote, with winners named on September 25.