REWARDING QUALITY, CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE
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INTRODUCTION
Rising to the challenge
In the year the International Spirits Challenge celebrates its 21st birthday it can really boast to be wise beyond its age. Regional tastings might be sprouting up at a surprising rate but the ISC has an impressive legacy and an even more exciting future. Judging days have had to be extended to accommodate the sheer volume of existing and new spirits, the owners of which want to test their liquid on some of the best palates in the world. This year, 1,358 products from 50 countries entered the ISC. To break it down further, that’s an incredible 1, 261 tasting entries and 97 design & marketing. To put that into context, that’s 11,500 samples poured for the various judging panels over 15 days. That’s a record number – special mention to gin, rum, scotch, American whiskey and the soju and shochu categories. Entering this competition does not mean an immediate medal. Some will be disappointed not to have walked away with a bronze, silver, gold or trophy. Our judges blind-tasted and awarded on merit. The process is rigorous and the medals are well deserved. From the thousands of samples tasted, our judges awarded just 172 medals which were gold or trophies. That just goes to show how hard it is to reach the upper echelons of these awards. The ISC continues to be supported by the world’s leading drinks producers who believe in the credibility of the Challenge. When you turn the pages there might be some surprise winners, but anyone who made the cut deserves to shout it from the rooftops. Some of the best distillers, drinks producers, consultants and specialists take part to make the ISC what it is, rewarding quality and celebrating excellence. Holly Motion Supplement Editor
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CONTENTS
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR 4 TOP TASTING AWARDS
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RECOGNITION AWARDS 7 SCOTCH 8 WORLD WHISKIES
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GIN 16 VODKA 18 WHITE SPIRITS
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RUM 22 BRANDY 24 COGNAC 26 LIQUEURS 28 DESIGN & PACKAGING
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MARKETING 33 JUDGES 34
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Producer of the Year Awards These awards use a weighted points system to determine the producers of the best performing brands in each category BRANDY PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
GIN PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
KWV
ESSENTIAL DRINKS
KWV wins this title for a second consecutive year. ISC Brandy chairman Neil Mathieson said the South Africans continue to show they have mastered the art of blending by producing 10 to 20-year-old brandies of “great stature and finesse, all showing the hallmarks of the grape base and a clever use of clean oak”. KWV picked up a trophy, three golds and two silvers in the brandy category this year. Distell might feel hard done by after winning 13 silvers, but a trophy and gold win swung the title this year.
Essential Drinks is holding on to its Gin Producer of the Year with a vice-like grip. To retain this title for a second year is commendable but to do it in a category such as gin – that has, arguably, garnered more column inches than any other – is all the more impressive. What’s more, the offshoot of Quintessential Brands has only been in existence for two years. Essential Drinks secured more than double the amount of medals of its closest competition.
WINNER
WINNER
LIQUEUR PRODUCER OF THE YEAR WINNER
WILLIAM GRANT & SONS
VODKA PRODUCER OF THE YEAR WINNER
LVMH BELVEDERE LVMH-owned Belvedere has once again been named the Vodka Producer of the Year. From 129 entries, Belvedere took home six of the 96 medals awarded at the two-day judging. Chairman Ian Wisniewski said there is a lot of retasting and talking in the vodka category.
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“We have a lot to taste and then we have a lot to discuss and there is always re-tasting of the shortlist. “The great thing about this is that you can feel really confident in the outcome, safe in the knowledge that every medal that has been awarded has been rigorously assessed.”
Drambuie has gone from strength to strength in the ISC under William Grant & Sons. The family-owned producer’s medal cabinet was already fit to burst and its acquisition of the liqueur in 2014 has only added to its winning ways. Drambuie can now add a trophy to its gold and silver wins. Its 15 Year Old variant also received a silver in a category with 144 entries, 28 medals and five producers.
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TEQUILA PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
SCOTCH WHISKY PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
CONSTELLATION BRANDS
WILLIAM GRANT & SONS
WINNER
Constellation Brands can now add trophy, gold, silver and bronze medals to its already burgeoning awards portfolio. Its purchase of Casa Noble – its only tequila brand to date – from Carlos Santana two years ago has catapulted it into the super-premium spirits sphere. Only time will tell if its multi-million dollar relaunch will translate into sales but for now, in the blind tasting stakes, Constellation is the tequila producer to topple.
WINNER
William Grant & Sons is a force to be reckoned with. The Scotch whisky producer received two trophies and a mammoth 54 medals this year. Of those, almost half were awarded to Glenfiddich. But William Grant is far from a one-brand wonder. Its Grant’s, Balvenie, Kininvie, Girvan and House of Hazelwood scotch brands all picked up two or more gongs. In a year that saw more entries than ever, it’s hard to see another producer take the top Scotch honour in this competition.
WORLD WHISKIES PRODUCER OF THE YEAR WINNER
IRISH DISTILLERS This award recognises all the world whiskies outside scotch. Irish Distillers picked up more gold medals than any of the 144 entries across the competition. Jameson and Redbreast are formidable brands to boast in your arsenal and smaller brands such as Yellow Spot and
Green Spot and Powers John’s Lane Release all received silver medals or above. Irish Distillers might have sold Paddy Irish whiskey to Sazerac in the past year but its portfolio is strong and the company is a worthy winner of the World Whiskies Producer of the Year.
RUM PRODUCER OF THE YEAR WINNER
RL SEALE & COMPANY RL Seale & Company is a lesser-known Producer of the Year. The fourthgeneration family-owned Bajan producer entered products under its Foursquare and Doorly’s brands and all scored silver or above. Rum is a growing category and medalling is harder than ever. Chairman
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Carsten Vlierboom said: “The ISC is a reputable completion where medals still count. A product is judged by a truly non-paid and independent panel, blind. We have no idea what we have in front of us and judge the liquid against other liquids.”
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Top Tasting Awards
These awards recognise and celebrate the outstanding performances of the Challenge
SUPERMARKET OWN -BRANDED SPIRITS RANGE OF THE YEAR WINNER
LIDL
For the second year running, Lidl has been awarded the Supermarket Own-Branded Spirit Range of the Year for having the best performing own-label brands across the category. The German discount supermarket picked up medals in the liqueurs, vodka, American whiskey, brandy and cognac categories. It also won big in gin and scotch.
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DISTILLER OF THE YEAR WINNER
WILLIAM GRANT & SONS
What can you say about William Grant & Sons that hasn’t already been said? Its results are a tour de force. It’s a truly worthy winner of the Distiller of the Year title and can add this accolade to Scotch Whisky Producer and Liqueur Producer of the Year awards, along with a plethora of medals. To be considered for this award is a challenge in itself. The award is scored on a weighted points system based on the performance of all brands entered by a company. Scotch is its mainstay but William Grant’s performance in tequila, brandy, liqueurs and rum is something to behold.
SUPREME CHAMPION OF THE YEAR WINNER
ARCUS NORWAY AALBORG JULE AKVAVIT 2015
For the first time in four years a spirit other than a liqueur has been named Supreme Champion. To even be considered for the honour, a brand has to have won a trophy, which is the highest award possible in an individual category and was only achieved by 27 of the 1,300-plus spirits entered. It’s then up to the seven category chairmen to blind taste, or for some re-taste, the trophy samples. After they have given their top five samples a score from one to five, those scores are combined and the trophy winner with the highest score is named Supreme Champion. This year, the honour went to an akvavit: Aalborg Jule (Christmas) Akvavit 2015, a 47.4% abv distillate of caraway, dill and coriander.
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Recognition Awards
Our Recognition Awards are determined by a panel of industry experts, including journalists, authors and spirits consultants LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT OF THE YEAR
MASTER BLENDER/ DISTILLER OF THE YEAR
DESMOND PAYNE (BEEFEATER)
SANDY HYSLOP (CHIVAS BROTHERS)
Drinks International editor Christian Davis said of this year’s Lifetime Achievement award winner: “Desmond can best be described as the most elegant gatekeeper of the gin category. I first met him down in Plymouth when he was running that still. He is a consummate professional and one of life’s true gentlemen. Always kind and discreet, he nevertheless has a wicked sense of humour and the ability to convey something, usually naughty or mischievous, without uttering a single word. A gift. I suspect “Mum’s the word” is his byword and modus operandi. A worthy recipient.”
This award recognises the craftsmanship, skill and talent of a master blender or distiller’s work from the past 12 months. Sandy Hyslop has been involved in Scotch whisky making for 33 years and counting. He is only the fifth master blender in Ballantine’s 180-year history and reckons to nose about 250 samples a day and taste about five a week. On the art of blending, Hyslop told DI: “It is about 75% ability and 25% passion and dedication. I’m not just saying that – you have to focus on getting it right. A lot of people have a great sense of smell but the name of the game is being able to describe it.”
WINNER
WINNER
RISING STAR OF THE YEAR WINNER
HELEN CHESSHIRE (BRIGHTON GIN) In the words of DI editor Christian Davis: “Helen is a very well known figure in UK wine circles. Always dressed flamboyantly as if she’s about to go to a 1950s-themed boogie party, she cuts a distinctive figure at many a tasting. “Ebullient about everything she does, the Chesshire cat turned her hand to gin-making down in glitzy Brighton. And – surprise, surprise – not only have they made a success of it, but everyone knows about it. “Helen and the rest of the Brighton Gin team – Kathy Caton, Ian Barry, Jonathan Ray and Nigel Lambe – have moved to larger premises and in doing so will treble production to around 250,000 bottles a year. They have started to export, using the strategy of Brightons Abroad – Apparently there is a Brighton in Melbourne, one in Sydney and 19 in the US. Chesshire knows.”
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
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Scotch whisky Over the course of four days, every whisky lover’s dream team sat down to taste a staggering 500-plus whiskies from around the world. From that number, 102 were deemed worthy of a gold and nine were awarded a trophy. “Although the same standard of high quality was delivered from America, Canada, Ireland and Japan, it was Scotch whisky which blazed the trail of success,” chairman Richard Paterson said. “Scotch is a force that is always being recognised and the quality is quite exceptional. People are taking real care to make sure the quality is still there.” The number of entries in the Single Malt No Age Statement category almost doubled this year, from 43 to
73. “There was more interest in the non-aged section this year,” Paterson added. “That kind of business is definitely here to stay.” Of the Scotch golds, six can call themselves trophy winners but Paterson is keen to emphasise that any brand that walks away with a prize deserves a pat on the back. “Sometimes it was just a fraction of a point difference between being named a trophy winner or not and that reiterates how high the quality really was. People think gold medals are given out willy-nilly but that is not the case. People must realise these liquids have been judged by their peers - some of the best master distillers and blenders from around the world.”
GOLD Aberfeldy 12 Year Old John Dewar & Sons Aberlour A’Bunadh Chivas Brothers AnCnoc 12 Year Old International Beverage Ardbeg Dark Cove The Glenmorangie Company Auchentoshan Three Wood Beam Suntory Balblair Vintage 1990 International Beverage Ballantine’s 30 Year Old Chivas Brothers Black Bottle Distell Blended Malt #2 – Batch 2 (That Boutique-y Whisky Company) Atom Brands Blended Whisky #1 – Batch 2 (That Boutique-y Whisky Company) Atom Brands Bowmore 15 Year Old Darkest Beam Suntory Bowmore 18 Year Old Beam Suntory Bunnahabhain 18 Year Old Distell Bunnahabhain 25 Year Old Distell Cardhu Gold Reserve Diageo Chivas Regal 25 Year Old Chivas Brothers Co-operative 5 Year Old Blended Whyte & Mackay Craigellachie 13 Year Old John Dewar & Sons Deanston 12 Year Old Distell Deanston 18 Year Bourbon Finish Distell Dewar’s 12 Year Old – The Ancestor John Dewar & Sons Dewar’s 18 Year Old – The Vintage John Dewar & Sons Dewar’s 30 Year Old – Ne Plus Ultra John Dewar & Sons Dewar’s White Label Scratched Cask John Dewar & Sons Glen Moray Elgin Classic La Martiniquaise/Bardinet Glen Orchy 5 Year Blended Malt Lidl UK Glenalba 22 Year Sherry Cask Finish Blended Lidl UK Glenfiddich 12 Year Old William Grant & Sons Glenfiddich 18 Year Old William Grant & Sons Glenfiddich 21 Year Old William Grant & Sons Glenfiddich 30 Year Old William Grant & Sons Glenfiddich 40 Year Old William Grant & Sons Glenfiddich Age of Discovery Madeira Cask Finish William Grant & Sons Glenfiddich Rare Oak 25 Year Old William Grant & Sons Glenfiddich Ultimate William Grant & Sons Glengoyne Cask Strength Highland Single Malt Ian Macleod Distillers
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Glenmorangie 18 Year Old The Glenmorangie Company Glenmorangie 25 Year Old The Glenmorangie Company Glenmorangie Milsean The Glenmorangie Company Grangestone 18 Year Old Quality Spirits International Hankey Bannister 40 Year Old International Beverage Highland Park Svein Edrington House of Hazelwood 18 Year Old William Grant & Sons House of Hazelwood 21 Year Old William Grant & Sons House of Hazelwood 25 Year Old William Grant & Sons Islay Mist Deluxe MacDuff International Johnnie Walker Platinum Label Diageo Kininvie 17 Year Old William Grant & Sons Label 5 Extra Rare 18 Year Old La Martiniquaise Label 5 Gold Heritage La Martiniquaise Laphroaig 10 Year Old Beam Suntory Macqueens Of Scotland 12 Year Old Quality Spirits International Macqueens Of Scotland 26 Year Old Quality Spirits International Master of Malt 50 Year Old Speyside (4th Edition) Master of Malt Monkey Shoulder William Grant & Sons Mortlach Special Strength Diageo Old Pulteney 21 Year Old International Beverage Rare Vintage Strathisla 1967 Gordon & MacPhail Reference Series III.1 Atom Brands Scottish Leader 12 Year Old Distell Sir Edward’s Bardinet Speyburn Arranta Casks International Beverage The Ardmore Legacy Beam Suntory The Balvenie Doublewood 12 Year Old William Grant & Sons The Balvenie Doublewood 17 Year Old William Grant & Sons The Balvenie 40 Year Old William Grant & Sons The Balvenie Portwood Aged 21 Years William Grant & Sons The Balvenie Single Barrel Sherry Cask Aged 15 Years William Grant & Sons The Balvenie 30 Year Old William Grant & Sons The Dalmore 25 Year Old Whyte & Mackay The Glenlivet Master Distiller’s Reserve Chivas Brothers The Glenrothes Berry Bros & Rudd The Lost Distilleries Blend – Batch 7 Atom Brands Waitrose Blended Malt Whyte & Mackay
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Glenfiddich Malt Master William Grant & Sons
Johnnie Walker Select Casks – Rye Cask Finish Diageo
Master of Malt 40 Year Old Speyside (3rd Edition) Master of Malt
Spice Tree Marks & Spencer
The Balvenie Single Barrel First Fill Aged 12 Years William Grant & Sons
The Golden Age Blend Atom Brands
SILVER Aberfeldy 18 Year Old John Dewar & Sons Aberfeldy 21 Year Old John Dewar & Sons Aberlour 12 Year Old Double Cask Matured Chivas Brothers Aberlour 16 Year Old Double Cask Matured Chivas Brothers Abrachan Triple Wood Blended Malt Lidl UK Ailsa Bay William Grant & Sons AnCnoc 18 Year Old International Beverage AnCnoc 24 Year Old International Beverage AnCnoc Barrow Travel Retail Exclusive International Beverage AnCnoc Black Hill Reserve Travel Retail Exclusive International Beverage AnCnoc Rascan International Beverage Ardbeg 10 Year Old The Glenmorangie Company Ardbeg Corryvreckan The Glenmorangie Company Ardbeg Kildalton The Glenmorangie Company Ardbeg Supernova 2015 The Glenmorangie Company Ardbeg Uigeadail The Glenmorangie Company Auchentoshan 12 Year Old Beam Suntory Auchentoshan 18 Year Old Beam Suntory Auchentoshan 21 Year Old Beam Suntory Auchentoshan American Oak Beam Suntory Auchentoshan Blood Oak Beam Suntory Auchentoshan Heartwood Beam Suntory Auchentoshan Noble Oak 24 Year Old Beam Suntory Aultmore 12 Year Old John Dewar & Sons Aultmore 18 Year Old John Dewar & Sons Balblair Vintage 1983 International Beverage Balblair Vintage 1999 International Beverage Balblair Vintage 1999 Travel Retail Exclusive International Beverage Balblair Vintage 2004 Bourbon Matured Travel Retail Exclusive International Beverage Balblair Vintage 2004 Sherry Matured Travel Retail Exclusive International Beverage Balblair Vintage 2005 International Beverage Ballantine’s 12 Year Old Chivas Brothers Ballantine’s 17 Year Old Chivas Brothers Ballantine’s 21 Year Old Chivas Brothers Ballantine’s Finest Chivas Brothers Ballantine’s Hard Fired Chivas Brothers
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Ballantine’s Limited Chivas Brothers Ben Bracken 12 Year Blended Malt Lidl UK Ben Bracken 8 Year Speyside Single Malt Lidl UK Ben Nevis 12 Year Old Ben Nevis Distillery Ben Nevis 15 Year Old Ben Nevis Distillery Benromach Speyside Single Malt 35 Year Old Gordon & MacPhail Black & White Diageo Blairmhor 8 Year Old Blended Malt International Beverage Blended Malt Scotch Whisky Glen Clyde Glen Clyde Whisky Bowmore 12 Year Old Beam Suntory Bowmore 25 Year Old Beam Suntory Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old Distell Bunnahabhain Ceobanach Distell Bunnahabhain Eirigh Na Greine Distell Bunnahabhain Toiteach Distell Cambus – Batch 1 (That Boutique-y Whisky Company) Atom Brands Chivas 12 Year Old Chivas Brothers Chivas 18 Year Old Chivas Brothers Chivas Regal Extra Chivas Brothers Clan Gold Finest Blended Brilliant Star International Clan MacGregor William Grant & Sons Co-operative 12 Year Old Single Highland Malt Whyte & Mackay Co-operative Finest Blended Whyte & Mackay Craigellachie 17 Year Old John Dewar & Sons Craigellachie 23 Year Old John Dewar & Sons Darkness! Ardbeg 23 Year Old Oloroso Cask Finish Atom Brands Darkness! Highland Park 24 Year Old Pedro Ximénez Cask Finish Atom Brands Deanston Virgin Oak Distell Dewar’s 15 Year Old The Monarch John Dewar & Sons Dewar’s Signature John Dewar & Sons Dewar’s White Label John Dewar & Sons Distillery Label Glentauchers 1996 Gordon & MacPhail Finlaggan Old Reserve The Vintage Malt Whisky Company Firean Burlington Drinks Glen Broch Metro Group Glen Crinan Aged 15 Years Blended Row & Co Glen Crinan Blended Malt Row & Co Glen Crinan Blended Row & Co Glen Dhu Spar UK
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Scotch whisky SILVER... CONTINUED Glen Garioch 15 Year Old Renaissance Chapter 1 Beam Suntory Glen Marnoch Highland Single Malt Aldi UK Glen Marnoch Islay Single Malt Aldi UK Glen Moray 12 Year Old La Martiniquaise/Bardinet Glen Moray 16 Year Old La Martiniquaise/Bardinet Glen Moray 25 Year Old Port Cask Finish La Martiniquaise/Bardinet Glen Moray Classic Port Cask Finish La Martiniquaise/Bardinet Glen Moray Peated Classic La Martiniquaise/Bardinet Glen Scotia Double Cask Loch Lomond Group Glen Scotia Victoriana Loch Lomond Group Glen Talloch Rare & Old Boomsma Distillery Glencadam Highland Single Malt Origin 1825 The Glencadam Distillery Company Glencadam Highland Single Malt Aged 17 Years Triple Cask Portwood Finish The Glencadam Distillery Company Glenfarclas 2003 10 Year Old Marks & Spencer Glenfiddich 15 Year Old William Grant & Sons Glenfiddich Age of Discovery Bourbon Cask William Grant & Sons Glenfiddich Age of Discovery Red Wine Cask Finish William Grant & Sons Glenfiddich Bourbon Barrel Reserve 14 Year Old William Grant & Sons Glenfiddich Cask Collection Reserve Cask William Grant & Sons Glenfiddich Cask Collection Select Cask William Grant & Sons Glenfiddich Cask Collection Vintage Cask William Grant & Sons Glenfiddich Distillery Edition William Grant & Sons Glenfiddich Excellence 26 Year Old William Grant & Sons Glenfiddich Rich Oak William Grant & Sons Glengannon Metro Group Glengoyne 10 Year Old Highland Single Malt Ian Macleod Distillers Glengoyne 12 Year Old Highland Single Malt Ian Macleod Distillers Glengoyne 15 Year Old Highland Single Malt Ian Macleod Distillers Glengoyne Single Malt Marks & Spencer Glenmorangie A Midwinter Night’s DramThe Glenmorangie Company Glenmorangie Duthac The Glenmorangie Company Glenmorangie Lasanta The Glenmorangie Company Glenmorangie Nectar D’Or The Glenmorangie Company Glenmorangie Original The Glenmorangie Company Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban The Glenmorangie Company Glenmorangie Signet The Glenmorangie Company Glenmorangie Tarlogan The Glenmorangie Company Glenmorangie Tayne The Glenmorangie Company Glenroger’s Blended Blended Malt 8 Year Old Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits France Glory Leading 32 Year Old Blended Glory Leading International Grand Macnish 6 Cask Edition MacDuff International Grangestone Quality Spirits International Grangestone 30 Year Old Quality Spirits International Grangestone 25 Year Old Quality Spirits International Grant’s 25 Year Old William Grant & Sons Grant’s Aged 8 Year Old William Grant & Sons Grant’s Ale Cask Reserve William Grant & Sons Grant’s Elementary Carbon 6 Year Old William Grant & Sons Grant’s Elementary Oxygen 8 Year Old William Grant & Sons Grant’s Family Reserve William Grant & Sons Grant’s Rare 18 Year Old William Grant & Sons Grant’s Select Reserve William Grant & Sons Grant’s Sherry Cask Reserve William Grant & Sons Grant’s Signature William Grant & Sons Grant’s Voyager William Grant & Sons Hankey Bannister Heritage Blend International Beverage Highland Black 8 Year Old Aldi UK
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Highland Earl Aldi Stores (Australia) Highland Earl Aldi UK Highland Park 10 Year Old Edrington Highland Park 12 Year Old Edrington Highland Park 18 Year Old Edrington Highland Park Einar Edrington Jacobite Booker Johnnie Walker Black Label Diageo Johnnie Walker Blue Label Diageo Johnnie Walker Double Black Diageo Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve Diageo Johnnie Walker Green Label Diageo Johnnie Walker Red Label Diageo Jura 21 Year Old Whyte & Mackay Jura 30 Year Old Whyte & Mackay Jura Duriachs Own 16 Year Old Whyte & Mackay Jura Elixir 12 Year Old Whyte & Mackay Jura Origin 10 Year Old Whyte & Mackay Jura Prophecy Whyte & Mackay Jura Superstition Whyte & Mackay Jura Turas Mara Whyte & Mackay Kenmore Marks & Spencer King Robert II Blended Ian Macleod Distillers Kininvie 23 Year Old Batch 3 William Grant & Sons Kininvie 25 Year Old Special Release #1 The First Drops William Grant & Sons Kirkland Blended 12 Year Old Alexander Murray Kirkland Blended 24 Year Old Alexander Murray Kirkland Highland 16 Single Malt Alexander Murray Label 5 Classic Black La Martiniquaise Laphroaig Lore Beam Suntory Laphroaig PX Beam Suntory Laphroaig Quarter Cask Beam Suntory Laphroaig Select Beam Suntory Laphroaig Triple Wood Beam Suntory Ledaig 10 Year Old Distell Ledaig 18 Year Old Distell Loch Lomond Original Loch Lomond Group Loch Lomond Signature Loch Lomond Group Lochlan Blended Whyte & Mackay Longmorn The Distiller’s Choice Chivas Brothers Lord Elcho Wemyss Malts MacDonald’s Ben Nevis 10 Year Old Ben Nevis Distillery Macqueens Of Scotland 15 Year Old Quality Spirits International Macqueens Of Scotland 3 Year Old Quality Spirits International Macqueens Of Scotland 8 Year Old Quality Spirits International Marks & Spencer Speyside Single Malt 12 Year Old Marks & Spencer McClelland’s Islay Beam Suntory McClelland’s Lowland Beam Suntory McKendrick’s Asda Morrison’s 5 Year Old Distillers Choice Blended Malt Morrison’s Old Parr Tribute Diageo Old Particular Grain Invergordon 28 Year Old Douglas Laing & Co Old Particular Inchgower 20 Year Old Douglas Laing & Co Old Pulteney 12 Year Old International Beverage Old Pulteney 17 Year Old International Beverage Old Pulteney 35 Year Old International Beverage Old Pulteney Duncansby Head Travel Retail Exclusive International Beverage
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Scotch whisky SILVER... CONTINUED Old Pulteney Dunnet Head Travel Retail Exclusive International Beverage Port Charlotte Scottish Barley Bruichladdich Distillery Prometheus Speyside Single Malt 26 Year Old Glasgow Distillery Company Pure Scot Bladnoch Distillery Queen Margot 3 Year Blended Lidl UK Queen Margot 5 Year Blended Lidl UK Queen Margot 8 Year Blended Lidl UK Reference Series III.2 Atom Brands Rock Oyster Douglas Laing & Co Royal Brackla 12 Year Old John Dewar & Sons Royal Brackla 16 Year Old John Dewar & Sons Royal Brackla 21 Year Old John Dewar & Sons Royal Warrior Hiroshima Chuo Shuhan Co Scapa Skiren Chivas Brothers Scottish Leader Original Distell Scottish Leader Signature Distell Scottish Leader Supreme Distell Smokehead 18 Year Old Extra Black Islay Single Malt Ian Macleod Distillers Smokehead Islay Single Malt Ian Macleod Distillers Smoky Goat Diageo Spey River Speyside Single Malt Quality Spirits International Speyburn 10 Year Old International Beverage Speyburn Braden Orach International Beverage Teacher’s Highland Cream Beam Suntory Teacher’s Origin Beam Suntory Tesco Finest 12 Year Old Single Highland Malt Whyte & Mackay Tesco Finest 12 Year Old Single Speyside Malt Whyte & Mackay The Ardmore 12 Year Old Port Wood Finish Beam Suntory The Balvenie Carribean Cask William Grant & Sons The Balvenie Single Barrel Traditional Oak Aged 25 Years William Grant & Sons The Class Hitejinro The Dalmore 12 Year Old Whyte & Mackay The Dalmore Cigar Malt Whyte & Mackay The Dalmore King Alexander III Whyte & Mackay The Famous Grouse Mellow Gold Edrington The Famous Grouse Smoky Black Edrington The Girvan Grain Patent Still 28 Year Old William Grant & Sons The Girvan Patent Still 25 Year Old William Grant & Sons The Girvan Patent Still 30 Year Old William Grant & Sons The Girvan Patent Still No. 4 apps William Grant & Sons The Girvan Patent Still Proof Strength William Grant & Sons The Glen Silver’s Beveland Distillers The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve Chivas Brothers The Glenlivet Master Distiller’s Reserve Small Batch Chivas Brothers The Glenlivet Master Distiller’s Reserve Solera Vatted Chivas Brothers The Glenlivet Nadurra First Fill Chivas Brothers The Glenlivet Nadurra Oloroso Chivas Brothers The Glenlivet Nadurra Peated Chivas Brothers The Hive Wemyss Malts The Royal & Ancient Cockburn & Campbell The Singleton Dufftown 12 Year Old Single Malt Diageo The Singleton of Dufftown Tailfire Diageo The Six Isles Blended Malt Scotch Ian Macleod Distillers Tullibardine 225 Sauternes Finish Michel Picard Tullibardine 228 Burgundy Finish Michel Picard Tullibardine 500 Sherry Finish Michel Picard
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Tullibardine Sovereign Single Malt Michel Picard Vat 69 Diageo Whyte & Mackay 13 Year Old Whyte & Mackay Whyte & Mackay 30 Year Old Whyte & Mackay Whyte & Mackay Triple Matured Whyte & Mackay William Lawson’s 13 Year Old John Dewar & Sons William Lawson’s Finest Blended John Dewar & Sons William Peel Blended Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits France Windsor 17 Year Old Diageo Windsor 21 Year Old Diageo Xtra Old Particular Caol Ila 25 Douglas Laing & Co Scotch chairman Richard Paterson updates his tasting notes
BRONZE Auchentoshan Springwood Beam Suntory Forgotten Bottlings Ben Nevis 10 Year Old Ben Nevis Distillery Glen Garioch 12 Year Old Beam Suntory Glen Garioch Founder’s Reserve Beam Suntory Glen Moray Classic Chardonnay Cask Finish La Martiniquaise/Bardinet Glenfarclas 105 Cask Strength J&G Grant Glenfiddich The Original William Grant & Sons Grangestone 21 Year Old Quality Spirits International Hankey Bannister 21 Year Old International Beverage Highland Park Harald Edrington Kirkland Blended 27 Year Old Alexander Murray Kirkland Blended 3 Year Old Alexander Murray Macqueens Of Scotland 32 Year Old Quality Spirits International Marks & Spencer Marks & Spencer McClelland’s Highland Beam Suntory McClelland’s Speyside Beam Suntory Old Pulteney Navigator International Beverage Old Pulteney Vintage 1989 International Beverage Raasay While We Wait R&B Distillers Tesco Special Reserve Whyte & Mackay The Dalmore 15 Year Old Whyte & Mackay The Dalmore 18 Year Old Whyte & Mackay Waitrose 8 Year Old Waitrose
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World whiskies A total of seven golds were awarded in the World Whiskies category. Getting a gold medal is no easy feat. Having already been judged against their contemporaries ( Japanese v Japanese, Irish v Irish, etc) all the world whiskies – essentially, anything that isn’t scotch – battle it out for a trophy. South Africa and Taiwan came out on top: Distell’s Bain’s Cape Mountain and Kavalan Solist ex-Bourbon Single Cask Strength Single Malt take home the highest honours. A mammoth 29 silver and 11 bronze medals were also dished out by the panel. Chairman Richard Paterson said of the medals: “If you are receiving a silver or gold, that is one of the highest accolades possible.” A bronze medal also should not be sneered at. The amount of bronze medals across the whiskies category was particularly low and Paterson says this is testament to just how rigorous the judging is and how high the quality of liquid in the competition was. Bain’s Cape Mountain Distell
Kavalan Solist ex-Bourbon Single Cask Strength Single Malt Kavalan Distillery
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SILVER Amrut Indian Single Malt Amrut Distilleries Amrut Raji Gala Indian Single Malt Amrut Distilleries Amrut Spectrum Indian Single Malt Amrut Distilleries Bluegrass Aldi Stores (Australia) DSP Black Deluxe United Spirits Grand Royal Special Reserve Grand Royal Group Hudson Baby Bourbon William Grant & Sons Hudson Four Grain Bourbon William Grant & Sons Hudson Manhattan Rye William Grant & Sons Hurricane 5 Caldera Distilling Imperial Specially Crafted Smooth Golden Spirit Co Kavalan Classic Single Malt Kavalan Distillery Kavalan Concertmaster Single Malt Kavalan Distillery Kavalan Distillery Reserve Single Malt Kavalan Distillery Kavalan Solist Amontillado Sherry Single Cask Strength Single Malt Kavalan Distillery Kavalan Solist Fino Sherry Single Cask Strength Single Malt Kavalan Distillery Kavalan Solist Manzanilla Sherry Single Cask Strength Single Malt Kavalan Distillery Kavalan Solist Port Single Cask Strength Single Malt Kavalan Distillery Kavalan Solist PX Sherry Single Cask Strength Single Malt Kavalan Distillery Kavalan Solist Sherry Single Cask Strength Single Malt Kavalan Distillery Kavalan Solist Vinho Barrique Single Cask Strength Single Malt Kavalan Distillery King Car Conductor Single Malt Kavalan Distillery Paul John - Batch 1 (That Boutique-y Whisky Company) Atom Brands Royal Challenge Finest Premium United Spirits Royal Circle Royal Distillery Spirit of Hven Seven Stars No.4 Megrez Backafallsbyn AB TTL Omar Single Malt Whisky Cask Strength Lychee Cask Taiwan Tobacco & Liquor Corporation TTL Omar Single Malt Cask Strength Plum Cask Taiwan Tobacco & Liquor Corporation TTL Omar Single Malt Sherry Type Taiwan Tobacco & Liquor Corporation
BRONZE GOLD Kavalan ex-Bourbon Oak Single Malt Kavalan Distillery Kavalan Podium Single Malt Kavalan Distillery Kavalan Solist Brandy Single Cask Strength Single Malt Kavalan Distillery Kavalan Solist Moscatel Sherry Single Cask Strength Single Malt Kavalan Distillery Mackmyra Blomstertid Swedish Single Malt Mackmyra Three Ships Bourbon Cask Finish Distell Three Ships Premium Select Distell
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Bagpiper Deluxe United Spirits Grand Royal Double Gold Grand Royal Group Grand Royal Smooth Grand Royal Group Grand Royal Grand Royal Group Kavalan Sherry Oak Single Malt Kavalan Distillery Marks & Spencer Fine Single Malt English Marks & Spencer Old Tavern United Spirits Puni Nova Puni Distilleria Savoy SIS Industries Three Ships Select Distell TTL Omar Single Malt Bourbon Type Taiwan Tobacco & Liquor Corporation
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American whiskey The number of American whiskies was up this year and, unsurprisingly, Beam Suntory is the big winner with two of the four golds awarded and three of the 11 silvers. No trophies were awarded. Chairman Richard Paterson said: “It is one of the only times you will see so many master distillers and blenders in the same room. If you get gold – or any medal – you must be immensely proud and it is a reflection of the team effort and work that goes on behind the scenes.”
SILVER Alberta Premium Beam Suntory Alberta Premium Dark Horse Beam Suntory American Oak American Single Malt Westland Distillery Canadian Club Chairman’s Select 100% Rye Beam Suntory Canadian Club Classic Small Batch 12 Years Old Beam Suntory Clarke’s Bourbon Aldi UK Hogs Bourbon Quality Spirits International Nor’Easter – A Blend of Bourbon Whiskies Triple Eight Distillery Peated American Single Malt Westland Distillery The Notch Nantucket Island Single Malt 8 Years Old Triple Eight Distillery Western Gold 6 Year Old Bourbon Lidl UK
GOLD Canadian Club Premium 1858 Beam Suntory Heaven Hill – Batch 1 (That Boutique-y Whisky Company) Atom Brands Knob Creek Straight Rye Beam Suntory The Notch Nantucket Island Single Malt 12 Years Old Triple Eight Distillery
Japanese whisky
BRONZE Firstwatch Sherry Wood American Single Malt Western Gold Bourbon
Edward Snell & Co Westland Distillery Lidl UK
Suntory Whisky Hibiki 21 Year Old Suntory Spirits
Once again it’s the Suntory and Nikka show in the Japanese whisky category. Suntory Spirits dominated, bagging the only trophy and a whopping four golds. It’s a testament of its dominance that a company with three golds and five silvers can only call itself second-best.
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Irish whiskey Judge Gordon Motion
SILVER An Fear Ciuin The Quiet Man 8 Year Old Single Malt
GOLD Jameson 18 Year Old Irish Distillers Jameson Bold Irish Distillers Jameson Round Irish Distillers Jameson Select Reserve Black Barrel Irish Distillers Powers John’s Lane Release Irish Distillers Redbreast 12 Irish Distillers The Irishman 12 Year Old Single Malt Walsh Whiskey Distillery Tullamore Dew 14 Year Old Single Malt William Grant & Sons Yellow Spot Irish Distillers
An Fear Ciuin The Quiet Man Traditional Connemara Peated Single Malt Dundalgan 10 Year Old Single Malt Dundalgan Dundalgan Special Reserve Charred Cask Green Spot Jameson Caskmates Jameson Crested Ten Jameson Lively Jameson Original Jameson Signature Reserve Kilbeggan Traditional Redbreast 12 Cask Strength Redbreast 15 Redbreast 21 Teeling Single Malt Teeling Small Batch Teeling 24 Year Old Single Malt Teeling The Revival The Dublin Liberties Oak Devil The Dubliner Tullamore Dew Tullamore Dew Trilogy Writer’s Tears
Niche Drinks Co Niche Drinks Co Beam Suntory Lidl Ireland Lidl Ireland Lidl Ireland Irish Distillers Irish Distillers Irish Distillers Irish Distillers Irish Distillers Irish Distillers Beam Suntory Irish Distillers Irish Distillers Irish Distillers Teeling Whiskey Company Teeling Whiskey Company Teeling Whiskey Company Teeling Whiskey Company Quintessential Brands Quintessential Brands William Grant & Sons William Grant & Sons Marks & Spencer
SILVER
GOLD Nikka Coffey Grain The Nikka Whisky Distilling Company Nikka From The Barrel The Nikka Whisky Distilling Company Suntory Hibiki 17 Year Old Suntory Spirits Suntory Hibiki Mellow Harmony Suntory Spirits Taketsuru Pure Malt The Nikka Whisky Distilling Company The Hakushu Single Malt 18 Year Old Suntory Spirits The Hakushu Single Malt 25 Year Old Suntory Spirits
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Nikka Blended The Nikka Whisky Distilling Company Nikka Pure Malt Black The Nikka Whisky Distilling Company Nikka Pure Malt Red The Nikka Whisky Distilling Company Suntory Single Grain Chita Distillery Suntory Spirits Suntory Chita Suntory Spirits Suntory Hibiki Japanese Harmony Suntory Spirits Suntory Hibiki Japanese Harmony Master’s Select Suntory Spirits Super Nikka The Nikka Whisky Distilling Company The Hakushu Single Malt Suntory Spirits The Hakushu Single Malt 12 Year Old Suntory Spirits The Hakushu Single Malt Heavily Peated 2013 Suntory Spirits The Hakushu Single Malt Sherry Cask 2014 Suntory Spirits The Nikka 12 Years Old The Nikka Whisky Distilling Company The Yamazaki Single Malt Suntory Spirits The Yamazaki Single Malt 12 Year Old Suntory Spirits The Yamazaki Single Malt 18 Year Old Suntory Spirits The Yamazaki Single Malt Limited Edition 2015 Suntory Spirits The Yamazaki Single Malt Mizunara 2014 Suntory Spirits The Yamazaki Single Malt Sherry Cask 2016 Suntory Spirits
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Gin
Berkeley Square London Dry Quintessential Brands Bimber Distillery London Dry Bimber Distillery
The gin renaissance has well and truly reached the International Spirits Challenge. For the first time, to deal with the sheer volume of entries gin tastings took place over two days. Seven judges took on the task of tasting 149 gins – a 31% increase on last year – led by Beefeater master distiller Desmond Payne. There was a significant increase in entries into the Old Tom, Barrel-Aged and Flavoured Gin categories. So, to the medals. Golds were surprisingly few and far between - only four of the 149 took home the gong. Two gins were stand-out and as such were promoted from gold to trophy. This year, Berkeley Square and Bimber Distillery can boast such an honour. The top honours might not have been in ready supply but the burgeoning gin category was not without recognition. In total 30 silvers and 71 bronzes were awarded – that’s a pretty good return on the everexpanding category.
GOLD Bathtub – Cask-Aged Castelgy London Dry
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SILVER Atom Brands Lidl UK
6 O’clock Bramley & Gage Beefeater 24 Chivas Brothers Beefeater London Dry 47% Chivas Brothers Colombo London Dry Rockland Distilleries Filliers Dry Gin 28 Classic Filliers Distillery Gin Des Terres Rouges Vedrenne Golden Cock Old Tom Arcus Grosvenor London Dry Booker Hernö Export Strength Hernö Gin Distillery Hernö Old Tom Hernö Gin Distillery Hortus London Dry Lidl UK Koskue Kyrö Distillery Company / Rye Rye Marks & Spencer Spirit of London Dry Marks & Spencer Martin Miller’s Westbourne Strength Reformed Spirits Company Morrisons Quadruple Distilled London Dry Morrisons Oliver Cromwell Aldi Oliver Cromwell London Dry Aldi Pink 47 Old St Andrews Plymouth Navy Strength Chivas Brothers Rokeby’s Half Crown Burlington Drinks Rutte Celery Rutte & Son Rutte Dry Rutte & Son Silent Pool Silent Pool Distillers Star London Dry Arcus Strane London Dry Merchant Strength 47.4% Smögen Whisky AB Tanqueray London Dry Diageo Brands Tesco Finest London Dry Tesco Tiger The Shropshire Gin Company Waitrose Premium London Dry Waitrose Windspiel Eifelion
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Nosing gins during the judging are Thames Distillers’ Charles Maxwell (left) and Will Lowe, of Cambridge Distillery (above)
BRONZE 1897 Quinine Atom Brands Akori Destilerias Campeny Asda London Dry Asda Bathtub Atom Brands Bathtub – Old Tom Atom Brands Beefeater Burrough’s Reserve Edition No. 2 Chivas Brothers Beefeater London Dry 40% Chivas Brothers Bleu D’Argent Les Grands Chais De France Bloom Premium London Dry Quintessential Brands Bolskan Iberian Spirits Caorunn International Beverage Castelgy London Dry Lidl Ireland Chilgrove Dry Chilgrove Spirits Co-operative Special Dry London Co-operative Cotswolds Dry The Cotswold Distilling Company Cruxland KWV Daffy’s Daffy’s Gin Darley’s Aldi Stores Australia East London Liquor Company Barrel-Aged East London Liquor Company East London Liquor Company Batch No. 1 Premium East London Liquor Company Elephant London Dry Elephant Gin Filliers Dry Gin 28 Pine Blossom Filliers Fords The 86 Company Fortnum’s London Dry Dodd’s Gin Gin GM Ultra Premium Grap’sud – La Grappe De Montpellier Gin Lane 1951 Bloomsbury Club UK Gin Thuya Distillerie Fils du Roy Gordon Castle Scotland Distilled Gordon Castle Scotland Gordon’s Original London Dry Diageo Brands Gordon’s Special Dry London Diageo Brands Greenall’s the Original London Dry Quintessential Brands Hampstead London Dry Lidl UK Harahorn Norwegian Small Batch Det Norske Brenneri Hernö Hernö Gin Distillery
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Hernö Juniper Cask Hernö Gin Distillery Hernö Navy Strength Hernö Gin Distillery Kew Organic Dodd’s Gin KWV KWV Makar Glasgow Distillery Company Marks & Spencer London Dry Marks & Spencer Marks & Spencer Spiced Clementine Marks & Spencer Masons Dry Yorkshire Masons Yorkshire Gin Masons Dry Yorkshire – Tea Edition Masons Yorkshire Gin Napue Kyrö Distillery Company NB NB Distillery NB Navy Strength NB Distillery No.3 London Dry Berry Bros. & Rudd Northern Dry Poetic License Independent Small Batch Distillery Only Destilerías Campeny Opihr Oriental Spiced Quintessential Brands Pink Royal Old St. Andrews Plymouth Chivas Brothers Portland Asda Portobello Road No.171 Good Harbour Trading Richmond Essential Drinks Rutte Old Simon Rutte & Son Saffron Gabriel Boudier Spar London Spar Spirit of Hven Navy Strength Organic Backafallsbyn AB Stonecutter Spirits Single Barrel Stonecutter Spirits Stretton’s Double Cut London Dry Edward Snell & Co Stretton’s London Dry Edward Snell & Co Tann’s Destilerias Campeny Tanqueray No.10 Diageo Tesco Aromatic Tesco Tesco London Dry Tesco The Botanical’s Premium London Dry Central Hisumer Thomas Dakin Quintessential Brands Turicum No.3 Better Taste Ungava Canadian Premium Domaine Pinnacle
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Vodka
Claire Smith-Warner of LVMH was among the judges on the Vodka panel
Ian Wisniewski and his panel judged 130 vodkas over the course of two days. “We are always judging like for like. Every brand is competing against its rival. The flights are very focused. That is unique. So I really like that and so do the other judges.” For vodka tasting, the flights are always specific. Each ingredient is divided up into price point. “It is an incredible opportunity to taste an extensive range,” Wisniewski added. Five trophies were awarded in the vodka category. Wisniewski said the category needs to stay at the same level or get better. “Vodka is such a competitive category. Unless you are offering a brand that is of great quality you won’t do well. I think it is self-regulating. It is so difficult to make an impact and succeed unless you have quality. “I was struck by the range of individuality. There was still a range of different characters in the flight. That made the decision more complicated – you could have a very elegant vodka against a more full-bodied one and have to judge them against each other. They can be equally great. Sometimes you had to question whether one deserves a gold or whether they both do. Which is better? “If you have two elegant vodkas then it is easier. It was a point of debate and an interesting challenge.” Hello Shabo Premium Shabo
Belvedere Intense Belvedere Vodka
Koskenkorva Altia Oyj Bimber Distillery Oak-Aged Bimber Distillery
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Sash & Fritz Sash & Fritz
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GOLD Keglevich Legend of Kremlin Marks & Spencer Ostoya Prairie Organic Cucumber Prime Selekt Tovaritch!
Stock Spirits Soyuzprodexport Marks & Spencer Wyborowa Pernod Ricard Phillips Distilling LLC Distillery Prime Essential Drinks Tovaritch Spirits International
Pööriöö Altia Eesti Prairie Organic Phillips Distilling PUR Vodka PUR Vodka Pure Green Organic Integrity Spirits Putinoff Premium Lidl UK Ramsbury Ramsbury Brewing & Distilling Co. Red Griffin Burlington Drinks Reyka William Grant & Sons Russian Bear Edward Snell & Co Sash & Fritz Sash & Fritz Saska Czysta Stock Spirits Sobieski Estate Marie Brizard Wines & Spirits Sobieski Premium Marie Brizard Wines & Spirits Spring YoungCheers Spring Vodka Special Edition YoungCheers Stalinskaya Blue Prodal 94 Stalinskaya Silver Prodal 94 Stalinskaya Prodal 94 Tamova Aldi Tesco Finest French Grain Distilleries De Matha Tundra Tatspirtprom Vikingfjord Arcus Waitrose Rye Waitrose
SILVER 1825 Innovacion de Bebidas Amundsen Arctic Arcus Aylesbury Duck The 86 Company Belvedere Pink Grapefruit Belvedere Vodka Belvedere Unfiltered Belvedere Vodka Belvedere Belvedere Vodka Belvedere Wild Berry Belvedere Vodka Bimber Distillery Blackcurrant Infused Bimber Distillery Crystal Head Aurora Globefill Incorporated Crystal Head Globefill Incorporated East Coast Barley Adnams Elit by Stoli Stoli Group Emory Emory Vodka Esbjærg Copper Edition Boomsma Distillery Finlandia Vodka of Finland Brown-Forman Freimut Organic Freimut Spirituosen Freimut Freimut Spirituosen Grande Bagosse Distillerie Fils du Roy Hello Vodka Shabo Extra Shabo Khortytsa Global Spirits Lux Ultra Premium Lux Copper House M2 Verve Magic Moments Green Apple Premium Flavoured Radico Khaitan M2 Verve Magic Moments Super-Premium Radico Khaitan Magic Moments Remix Chocolate Flavoured Radico Khaitan Marks & Spencer Raspberry Marks & Spencer Marks & Spencer Toffee Marks & Spencer Morosha Dzherelna Global Spirits Morrisons Five Times Distilled Morrisons Moskova Essential Drinks New Amsterdam E&J Gallo Winery Orkisz Stock Spirits
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BRONZE 1906 Stock Spirits Alberta Pure Beam Canada Inc Amundsen Expedition Stock Spirits Asda Asda Belvedere Lemon Tea Belvedere Vodka Biala Dama Marie Brizard Wines & Spirits Bifrost Ultra Premium Manx Kella Distillers Limited Chekov Booker Chilgrove Chilgrove Spirits Co-operative Imperial Co-operative Cruz Vintage Black Cruz Vodka Company Dry Fly Dry Fly Distilling Ignis Black Forest Lidl UK Karavan Premium Les Grands Chais De France Ketel One Ketel One Worldwide Magic Moments Radico Khaitan Marks & Spencer Hot Chocolate Chilli Marks & Spencer Quartz Domaine Pinnacle Rachmaninoff Lidl UK Russian Bear Spiced Vanilla & Coffee Bean Edward Snell & Co Savoy SIS Industries Snow Leopard Edrington Southwold Premium Marks & Spencer Spar Imperial Spar Spirit of Hven Organic Backafallsbyn AB Stock Prestige Stock Spirits Svensk Lake Vättern Svensk Export Vodka Tesco Imperial Tesco Tower Hill Road Tower Hill Road Distillery GM Ultra Premium Grap’sud – La Grappe De Montpellier Volsk D’Aquino Bros Pty
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White spirits There is always a lot of debate at the white spirits judging and aquavits are often the talking point, according to chairman Ian Wisniewski. “There is always a lot to get through. It is always a long couple of days. We have a lot to taste and then we have a lot to discuss and there is always re-tasting of the shortlist. There is a lot of re-tasting and talking.” He is quick to add: “That is how I like it. “You can feel really confident in the outcome – that every medal that has been awarded has been rigorously assessed.” Only two golds, aquavits, were bumped to trophies this year. Wisniewski said: “The aquavits are always impressive and always get a very good response.” In response to the lack of golds, he said: “The way that the awards are structured there is no quota - there can be any number of gold medals. Similarly, there might not be any gold medals. We only give a gold when we are all in agreement. “There is quite a wide range of backgrounds on the judging panel and within that everyone has their own individual palate. We all have different preferences. We all know what we think makes a good spirit and inevitably our perceptions vary. Everybody brings their own personal perspective and we all have very definite views. The challenge is to reach an agreement that everyone is happy with.” Something Wisniewski said is always amicable.
Gammel Opland Aquavit Arcus
SILVER Aalborg Jubilæums Akvavit Arcus Denmark Aalborg Nordguld Akvavit Arcus Denmark Aalborg Taffel Akvavit Arcus Denmark Lysholm Linie Aquavit Arcus Lysholm Linie Double Cask Madeira Arcus Lysholm Linie Double Cask Port Arcus Malteserkreuz Malteser Aquavit Arcus Denmark Wapirits Tumugi Sanwa Shurui Co.
BRONZE Arvesølvet Rakija Šljiva
Det Norske Brenneri Ze Us Obrt
Soju & Shochu GOLD Arawaza Sakurajima
Hombo Shuzo Co
SILVER Iichiko Blu Iichiko Frasco Iichiko Special Imoyarou Tanaka Kizaru Kohaku No Yume Ougaku
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Sanwa Shurui Co Sanwa Shurui Co Sanwa Shurui Co Hombo Shuzo Co Komasa Jyozo Co Satsuma Shuzo Co Hombo Shuzo Co.
BRONZE Akasatsuma Iichiko Choki Jukusei Chozoshu Mellowed Kozuru Excellence Yakushima Daishizenrin
Satsuma Shuzo Co Sanwa Shurui Co Komasa Jyozo Co Hombo Shuzo Co
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Tequila
Tequila entries might have been down but debates raged among the judges. However, they were at least able to put differing opinions aside and award three gold medals, two of which became trophies. One of the trophy winners Borco International’s Sierra Silver might come as a surprise to some but it’s a shining example of the benefits of blind tasting. The liquid is judged, and subsequently rewarded, on merit. Jesse Estes and his contemporaries were as surprised as everyone with the outcome but the brand has earned its trophy and others should tip their sombreros to its success.
Aalborg Jule Akvavit 2015 Arcus
Casa Noble Blanco Constellation Brands
GOLD Casco Viejo Blanco 100% Agave
SUPREME CHAMPION SPIRIT
Mellowed Kozuru Migaki Komasa Jyozo Co
Casa Camarena
SILVER
Kuradashi Koon Decanter Hombo Shuzo Co.
Casa Noble Single Barrel Extra Añejo Constellation Brands Cazadores Extra Añejo Bacardi Milagro Silver William Grant & Sons Olmeca Altos Reposado Pernod Ricard Mexico
Sierra Silver Borco International
BRONZE Agavita Platinum Blanco Les Grands Chais De France Casa Noble Single Barrel Reposado Constellation Brands Casa Noble Añejo Constellation Brands Casco Viejo Reposado 100% Agave Casa Camarena Cazadores Añejo Bacardi Cazadores Blanco Bacardi Cazadores Reposado Bacardi Milagro Añejo William Grant & Sons Milagro Reposado William Grant & Sons Milagro Select Barrel Reserve Añejo William Grant & Sons Milagro Select Barrel Reserve Reposado William Grant & Sons Olmeca Altos Plata Pernod Ricard Mexico
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Rum & Cachaça Pusser’s Rum Gunpowder Proof Pusser’s Rum Company
Foursquare 2004 RL Seale & Company
The rum and cane spirits judging room was a lively one. Carsten E Vlierboom and his three contemporaries tasted more rums than ever before. Of the 130 entries, 102 medalled – 104 if you include the golds that were converted to trophies. Pusser’s Rum Gunpowder Proof and RL Seale & Company’s Foursquare 2004 were named the two trophy winners. The latter also received a gold for its Foursquare Zinfandel Cask Blend.
Rum judges Carsten E Vlierboom, of E&A Scheer (above) and Brokers Gin’s Peter Martin
GOLD Branca J Faria & Filhos Facundo Exquisito Bacardi Foursquare Zinfandel Cask Blend RL Seale & Company Havana Club Añejo 15 Años Havana Club Mezan Panama 2006 Marussia Beverages RH Jefferson Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners Red Heart Original Pernod Ricard South Africa Savanna Rhum Vieux Traditionnel 5 ans Distillerie de Savanna Woods Old Navy Rum William Grant & Sons
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SILVER
BRONZE
1931 by St Lucia Distillers 4th Edition St Lucia Distillers Admiral Rodney St Lucia Distillers Angostura 1824 Angostura Angostura 7 Year Old Angostura Angostura Reserva Angostura Branca Destilação Especial J Faria & Filhos Bundaberg Mutiny Spiced Rum Bundaberg Distilling Co Bundaberg Rum – Master Distillers Collection: Blenders Edition 2015 Bundaberg Distilling Co Chairman’s Reserve Finest St Lucia Rum St Lucia Distillers Chairman’s Reserve Spiced St Lucia Distillers Chairman’s Reserve The Forgotten Casks St Lucia Distillers Charrette Rhum Traditionnel Vieux 5 Ans de la Réunion Charrette Rhum Réunion Charrette Rhum Traditionnel Vieux 7 Ans de la Réunion Charrette Rhum Réunion Charrette Rhum Vieux 3 Ans Traditionnel de la Réunion Charrette Rhum Reunion Copacaiba Cachaça Marie Brizard Wines & Spirits Doorly’s 12 Year Old RL Seale & Company Doorlys XO RL Seale & Company Facundo Eximo Bacardi Facundo Pariso Bacardi Formosa Rum YoungCheers Foursquare 2006 RL Seale & Company Foursquare 2013 RL Seale & Company Foursquare Port Cask RL Seale & Company Gran Reserva Maestro de Ron Bacardi Gran Reserva Ocho Anos Bacardi Gunroom Navy Rum Integrity Spirits Havana Club Añejo 7 Años Havana Club Havana Club Selección de Maestros Havana Club Havana Club Unión Havana Club Liberte White Rum Lidl UK Lido Rum J.Faria & Filhos Marauda Rum Steelpan Marauda Rum Marks & Spencer White Rum Marks & Spencer Mezan Jamaica XO Marussia Beverages Old Captain Caribbean Rum Brown Boomsma Distillery Old Hopking White Rum Aldi UK Penny Blue XO4 Indian Ocean Rum Company Phraya Thai Beverage Ron Cartavio Blanco Cartavio Rum Company Ron Cartavio Selecto Cartavio Rum Company Ron Cartavio Solera Cartavio Rum Company Ron Cartavio XO Cartavio Rum Company Saint James La Martiniquaise Savanna Creol Distillerie de Savanna Savanna Creol Single Cask Rhum Vieux Agricole 12 Ans Distillerie de Savanna Savanna Intense Distillerie de Savanna Savanna Intense Single Cask Rhum Traditionnel Vieux 15 Ans Finish Porto Distillerie de Savanna The Duppy Share Westbourne Drinks Company
Aguardente 970 Reserva J Faria & Filhos Anejo Bacardi BemBom Aged Cachaça Armadillo Spirits Brigham Rum Distillery 36 Bundaberg Rum Master Distillers’ Collection: Black Barrel 2005 Bundaberg Distilling Co Bundaberg Rum Master Distillers’ Collection: Small Batch Bundaberg Distilling Co Bundaberg Rum Master Distillers’ Collection: Small Batch Vintage Barrel Bundaberg Distilling Co Bundaberg Tropics Mango & Passionfruit Bundaberg Distilling Co Cachaça Gogo Ema Gogo Da Ema Caña Brava Rum 3 Year Old Carta Blanca The 86 Company Caña Brava Rum 7 Year Old Reserva Aneja The 86 Company Cane Trader Dark Rum Booker Cane Trader White Rum Booker Cap Maison Solera Cask Rum Cap Maison Capucana Handcrafted Cachaça Vantguard Carta Negra Bacardi Carta Oro Bacardi Charrette Rhum Blanc Traditionnel de la Réunion Charrette Rhum Réunion Charrette Rhum Blanc Traditionnel de la Réunion Spécial Long Drink Charrette Rhum Réunion Chic Choc Spiced Rum Domaine Pinnacle Facundo Neo Bacardi Ferrand Bajan Plantation XO Rum Marks & Spencer James Cook Dark Rum Lidl UK Negrita Premium Caribbean Bardinet OVD Rum William Grant & Sons Old Captain Caribbean Rum White Boomsma Distillery Old Hopking Dark Rum Aldi UK Penny Blue Single Cask Indian Ocean Rum Company Pink Pigeon Indian Ocean Rum Company Pusser’s Rum Spiced Pusser’s Rum Company Ron Cartavio Black Cartavio Rum Company Ron Cartavio Superior Cartavio Rum Company Ron Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva Destilerías Unidas Rumbullion! Atom Brands Rumbullion! Navy Strength Atom Brands Savanna Intense Single Cask Rhum Traditionnel Vieux 8 Ans Finish Xeres Distillerie de Savanna Solera Bacardi Twezo Barbados Aged 8 Years FTD
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Brandy
KWV’s Pieter de Bod was one of the judges in the Brandy category
KWV has an impressive haul in the brandy stakes three golds, two silvers and one trophy. It’s little wonder the South African producer nabbed Brandy Producer of the Year (see page 4). Torres and Distell claim the other golds and nine of the 17 silver medals awarded in this category. In total, chairman Neil Mathieson and his panel of four named 22 brandies worthy of bronze medals. LVMH’s Olivier Paultes, KWV’s Pieter de Bod, Mare-Loe Prinsloo of Distell and independent spirits consultant Simon Palmer blind-tasted their way through 125 brandies over the one-and-a-half day judging in May. Mathieson said of the Brandy and Cognac (see page 26) categories: “The finest pot brandies and VS and VSOP cognacs shone this year. The South Africans continue to show they have mastered the fine art of blending by producing 10 to 20-year-old brandies of great stature and finesse, all showing the hallmarks of the grape base and a clever use of clean oak.”
KWV 15 KWV
GOLD Imoya KWV 20 Laborie Alambic Richelieu International Torres 15
KWV KWV KWV Distell Miguel Torres
SILVER Jaime I Miguel Torres Klipdrift Gold Distell KWV 10 KWV KWV 12 KWV Lustau Solera Gran Reserva Emilio Lustau Lustau Solera Reserva Emilio Lustau Milenario Solera Gran Reserva Luis Caballero Oude Meester Demant Distell Oude Meester Reserve 12 Year Old Distell Oude Meester Souverein 18 Year Old Distell Richelieu 10 Distell Sofija Vilijamovka Sofija sp Mladen Bastinac Three Barrells XO 15 Year Old William Grant & Sons Torres 20 Miguel Torres Van Ryn’s Distiller’s Reserve 12 Year Old Distell Van Ryn’s Fine Cask Reserve 15 Year Old Distell
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BRONZE Bardinet French VSOP Bardinet French XO Beehive Premium Reserve VSOP Carlos I Christian Dupre Double Cask Peer Amerikaans/Frans eiken E&J VS Janus 100% Premium Grape Majestat Majestat XO Marks & Spencer 3 Year Old Marks & Spencer Metaxa 12 Stars Milenario Brandy Solera Reserva Napoleon Somerset Royal Cider St-Rémy Réserve Privée St-Rémy XO Tesco Napoleon French Three Barrels Honey Three Barrels VSOP Van Ryn’s Collector’s Reserve 20 Year Old
Bardinet Bardinet Bardinet Osborne Booker Stokerij Sculte E&J Gallo Winery Artisan Spirits Lidl UK Lidl UK Marks & Spencer Marks & Spencer Metaxa Luis Caballero Aldi UK Marks & Spencer CLS Rémy Cointreau CLS Rémy Cointreau Distilleries De Matha William Grant & Sons William Grant & Sons Distell
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Cognac
XO Vermeil Famille Françoise Michel Drouet
Supermarkets did well in the Cognac category. Tesco’s VS took gold and its VSOP silver. Aldi’s Chevalier Cognac VS was awarded a silver, as was Waitrose’s VSOP. Rounding off the supermarket Cognacs was Marks & Spencer, which took home silver for its Monnet XO Prestige and bronze for its standard Monnet. There was only one trophy winner this year. Famille Françoise Michel Drouet’s XO Vermeil was the only gold of four to gain promotion to the top honours. Further down the medal table, 32 silvers were dished out – special mention to Distell, Frapin, Beam Suntory and Gautier for picking up more than one. Bronze medals weren’t in short supply either, Neil Mathieson and his panel of expert judges awarded no fewer than 12 medals.
GOLD Grands Domaines XO Maxime Trijol Monnet Tesco VS
SILVER Domaines Francis Abecassis FTD Thomas Hine & Co Tesco Olivier Paultes during the Brandy/ Cognac judging
BRONZE Bisquit VSOP Distell Braastad VSOP Reserve Arcus Comte Joseph VSOP Les Grands Chais de France Comte Joseph XO Les Grands Chais de France Courvoisier VSOP Beam Suntory Couvoisier Extravagance Beam Suntory Deau VSOP Distillerie Des Moisans KWV Heritage KWV SA Merlet Brothers Blend Distillerie Merlet & Fils Monnet Marks & Spencer Reviseur VSOP Domaines Francis Abecassis Roullet XO Gold Grande Champagne SAS Vignobles Reunis-Roullet
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ABK6 Extra ABK6 XO Renaissance Bisquit Interlude Bisquit Legende Bisquit Prestige Bisquit VS Bisquit XO Bisquit XO Gold Braastad XO Superior Cheavlier VS Cognac Frapin Extra Cognac Frapin VIP XO Cognac Frapin VSOP Courvoisier Gala Club Courvoisier VS Courvoisier XO Deau XO Gautier Extra 1755 Gautier VS Gautier VSOP Gautier XO Grands Domaines VSOP Honor VS Martell Cordon Bleu Martell XO Merlet Selection Saint-Sauvant Millesime 1991 20 ans d’age Monnet Monnet XO Prestige Tesco VSOP Vieux Garcon VS Waitrose VSOP
Domaines Francis Abecassis Domaines Francis Abecassis Distell Distell Distell Distell Distell Distell Arcus Aldi UK Cognac Frapin Cognac Frapin Cognac Frapin Beam Suntory Beam Suntory Beam Suntory Distillerie Des Moisans Cognac Gautier Cognac Gautier Cognac Gautier Cognac Gautier Domaines Francis Abecassis Cruz Vodka Company Martell & Co Martell & Co Distillerie Merlet & Fils Cognac Frapin Thomas Hine & Co Marks & Spencer Tesco Lidl UK Waitrose
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Armagnac, Calvados, Grappa and Pisco Château du Tariquet dominated Armagnac this year, bagging one gold and six silvers. Eleven armagnacs received silver awards and two received bronze medals. Only four medals were handed out in the Calvados category. Pisco had a pretty good year – Miguel Torres took gold for its Pisco El Gobernador and Agroproductos Bauzá nabbed three silvers for its brands. Viña Tacama rounded off the medals with a bronze for its Demonio de los Andes Albilla. In terms of Grappa, no golds were awarded but Distilleria Sibona took home three silvers and two bronzes and Distillati Levi’s Grappa di Fumin received a silver. Chairman Neil Mathieson said: “The Pisco and Calvados entries showed good fruit purity and those from the Armagnac region much of their distinctive ‘gout de terroir’.”
GOLD ARMAGNAC
GOLD CALVADOS
GOLD PISCO
Château du Tariquet BasArmagnac XO Château du Tariquet
Boulard VSOP Calvados Boulard
El Gobernador Miguel Torres Chile
SILVER ARMAGNAC
SILVER GRAPPA
Le Marque XO Armagnac Le Marque Chabot Chabot Armagnac Château du Tariquet Bas-Armagnac 1995 Château du Tariquet Château du Tariquet Bas-Armagnac Légendaire Château du Tariquet Château du Tariquet Bas-Armagnac VSOP Château du Tariquet Château du Tariquet Folle Blanche 12 Years Château du Tariquet Château du Tariquet Folle Blanche 15 Years Château du Tariquet Châteu du Tariquet Folle Blanche 8 Years Château du Tariquet Clos Martin VSOP Marussia Beverages Clos Martin XO Marussia Beverages Janneau XO Royal Armagnac Janneau
Grappa di Fumin Grappa Riserva Botti Da Madeira Grappa Riserva Botti Da Porto Uvedilanga
BRONZE ARMAGNAC Sainsbury’s Tesco
SILVER CALVADOS
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BRONZE GRAPPA Grappa Di Barolo Grappa XO
Distilleria Sibona Distilleria Sibona
SILVER PISCO
Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference 12 Year Old Tesco VSOP
Pere Magloire Memoire XO Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference XO Tesco VSOP
Distillati Levi Distilleria Sibona Distilleria Sibona Distilleria Sibona
Calvados Pere Magloire Sainsbury’s Tesco
Pisco Bauzá Aniversario Doble Destilado Extra Añejado Reservado 40º Agroproductos Bauzá Pisco Bauzá Crystal Doble Destilado Reservado 40º Agroproductos Bauzá Pisco Bauzá Doble Destilado Añejado Reservado 40º Agroproductos Bauzá
BRONZE PISCO Demonio de los Andes Albilla
Viña Tacama
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Liqueurs Categories don’t come much more diverse than this one – two words: beer liqueur. It may be diverse, but it’s also booming as a 5% rise on last year took the number of entrants to 144. Liqueurs welcomed a new chairman in Gérard Chaussée, along with a new panel this year: De Kuyper’s Myriam Hendrickx, Victor Lanson of William Grant & Sons, Axel Herrmann of Salers, Grand Marnier’s Adeline Loizeau and Dawn Davies of Speciality Drinks. William Grant & Sons’ Drambuie was the only trophy winner this year. A gold medal winner last year, Drambuie impressed the judges so much they bumped it up to a trophy. The company also takes home the enviable title of Liqueur Producer of the Year (see page 4). Seven other liqueurs were awarded golds, 18 were given silvers and 23 received bronze.
Drambuie William Grant & Sons
GOLD Boomsma Claerkampster Cloosterbitter Boomsma Distillery Gabriel Boudier Crème de Cassis de Dijon Gabriel Boudier Martini Riserva Speciale Rubino Martini & Rossi Old Pulteney Stroma Malt Whisky Liqueur International Beverage Specially Selected Crème de Cassis Aldi Supercassis Vedrenne The Choya Aged 3 Years Choya Umeshu Co
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Chairman of the Liqueurs judging panel Gérard Chaussée
SILVER
BRONZE
6 O’clock Sloe Gin Bramley & Gage Advocaat Aldi Choya Excellent Choya Umeshu Co Choya Extra Years Choya Umeshu Co De Kuyper Triple Sec De Kuyper Royal Distillers Double Crème de Cassis J Cartron Joseph Cartron Drambuie 15 William Grant & Sons Dundalgan Irish Country Cream Liqueur Lidl UK Licor Cervesa Ctretze Licors Portet/ Cervesa Ctretze Marks & Spencer Brandy and Orange Liqueur Marks & Spencer Marks & Spencer Vermouth Marks & Spencer Martini Riserva Speciale Ambrato Martini & Rossi Merlet Lune D’Abricot Merlet & Fils Merlet Soeurs Cerises Merlet & Fils Sierra Grand Cafe Borco International Suze Saveur d’Autrefois Pernod Ricard Tesco Dutch Advocaat Tesco Thé Noir Fumé Joseph Cartron
Antica Sambuca Classic Antiche Distillerie Riunite – Rossi D’Asiago Bundaberg Royal Liqueur – Banana & Toffee Bundaberg Distilling Company Bundaberg Royal Liqueur – Coffee & Chocolate Bundaberg Distilling Company Cacao Blanc Joseph Cartron Crème De Mirabelle Joseph Cartron Cristinalda Gurus dos Licores Elderflower Liqueur Vedrenne Gammel Dansk Chili & Lakrids Shot Arcus Denmark Limoncello Rossi D’Asiago Antiche Distillerie Riunite - Rossi D’Asiago Maraschino Maraska Marks & Spencer Black Forest Gâteau Liqueur Marks & Spencer Martini Rosso Martini & Rossi Mastiha Kentos Mediterra Merlet Crème De Mure Merlet & Fils O’Donnells Aldi Stores Australia Pernod Absinthe Pernod Ricard Serenade Cherry Liqueur Lidl UK Serenade Peach Schnapps Lidl UK Sisserou Sisserou Sureau Joseph Cartron Tesco Finest Apricot Brandy Tesco Stores Tiburtina Sambuca Glen Turner Co Torres Orange Liqueur Miguel Torres
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Design & Packaging “In D&P there can be widely differing views,” chairman Paul Foulkes-Arellano said. This year there were more differing views than ever as the judging panel increased to eight and the number of entries grew to more than 100. “There were two absolutely outstanding candidates and the standard was incredibly high,” Foulkes-Arellano added. “Last year I thought the entries had plateaued. Everything was really good but it wasn’t very exciting. This year we got excited.” And it’s all thanks to the craft movement. “The emergence of craft means big spirits are having to work harder.” And the hard work has paid off for some. Three trophies, three golds, 10 silvers and 23 bronzes were awarded. Design demi-god Stranger & Stranger was named Supreme Champion for its Harris Gin in the New Individual Product category. The chairman said: “It captures its geography. It is a key thing about the brand – we believe it 100%. I would like to drink it. “Everybody was saying it was such an incredibly intelligent piece of work.”
NEW PRODUCT RANGE TROPHY
The Balvenie DCS Compendium: Chapter 1 William Grant & Sons, Here Design
NEW INDIVIDUAL PRODUCT TROPHY SUPREME CHAMPION Harris Gin Isle of Harris Distillery, Stranger & Stranger
TRAVEL RETAIL TROPHY Suntory Whisky Hibiki 21 Years Old Design Bottle “Kacho Fugetsu” Suntory Spirits, Suntory Spirits
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GOLD Suntory Whisky Hibiki Japanese Harmony Suntory Spirits Master’s Select Limited Edition Gift Packaging Benham’s Gin Graton Spirits Company Dewar’s 30 Ne Plus Ultra John Dewar & Son’s
Suntory Spirits Stranger & Stranger Stranger & Stranger
Best Design & Packaging for Travel Retail New Individual Product New Individual Product
Angostura range featuring 1824, 1919, 7 Year Angostura Old, 5 Year Old and Reserva Bacardi Ron 8 Anos Bacardi
Good Full Stop
Repackaged Product Range
Here Design
Braastad Tiffon SA Chivas Regal The Icon Chivas Brothers Cotswolds Dry Gin The Cotswolds Distillery Craigellachie 31 Year Old John Dewar & Sons Iron Balls Old Hand Company Silent Pool Gin Silent Pool Distillers The Hakushu Single Malt Whisky 25 Years Old Suntory Spirits Limited Edition The Yamazaki Single Malt Whisky 25 Years Old Suntory Spirits Limited Edition
Here Design Coley Porter Bell Breeze Creative Stranger & Stranger Ashley Sutton Seymour Powell Suntory Spirits
Repackaged Individual Product Repackaged Product Range New Individual Product New Individual Product New Individual Product New Product Range New Individual Product Best Design & Packaging for Travel Retail Best Design & Packaging for Travel Retail
SILVER
Suntory Spirits
BRONZE Aberfeldy 18 Year Old John Dewar & Sons Archie Rose Tailored Spirits Archie Rose Conker Spirit Conker Spirit Craigellachie Hotel Cask Strength John Dewar & Sons Don Ruffin Feingeisterei Facundo Exquisito Bacardi Facundo Neo Bacardi Generations Mortlach 75 Years Old Gordon & MacPhail Ledaig Dusgadh 42 Year Old Distell (Burn Stewart) Legend of Kremlin Soyuzprodexport Puni Nova Puni Distilleria Rock Oyster Douglas Laing Sauvelle Vodka Ossau & Vin Spiritueux Scallywag Douglas Laing Suntory Whisky Hibiki 30 Years Old Design Suntory Spirits Bottle The Bourbon Advent Calendar (2015 Edition) Drinks by the Dram The Hakushu Single Malt Whisky 18 Years Old Suntory Spirits Limited Edition The Newmarket Gin Bedford Lodge Hotel The Rum Advent Calendar (2015 Edition) Drinks by the Dram The Whisky Advent Calendar (2015 Edition) Drinks by the Dram The Yamazaki Single Malt Whisky 18 Years Old Suntory Spirits Limited Edition Tomatin Core Range Tomatin Whittaker’s Gin Harrogate Distillery
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Stranger & Stranger Squad Ink Interabang Stranger & Stranger Frau Z – Heike Zuschke Duffy & Partners Duffy & Partners Contagious Pocket Rocket Creative Soyuzprodexport Zanzotti Pocket Rocket Creative Stranger & Stranger Pocket Rocket Creative Suntory Spirits Drinks by the Dram Suntory Spirits Nude Brand Creation Drinks by the Dram Drinks by the Dram Suntory Spirits Pocket Rocket Creative dare!
New Individual Product New Product Range New Individual Product New Individual Product New Individual Product Established Individual Product Established Individual Product New Individual Product New Individual Product Established Individual Product New Individual Product Established Individual Product New Individual Product Established Individual Product Best Design & Packaging for Travel Retail Established Product Range Best Design & Packaging for Travel Retail New Individual Product Established Product Range Established Product Range Best Design & Packaging for Travel Retail Repackaged Product Range New Individual Product
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Marketing LDR Creative was named Agency of the Year with previous winner Cutlass Communications taking Highly Commended. LDR also took home the top prize for its 24-Hour Bar Build concept in partnership with Bacardi Brown-Forman. The competition, which took place last October, saw teams with six of the best bartenders from Paris, New York and Singapore build a bar in 24 hours – each serving cocktails using their sponsor brand. The top prize in the Digital & Social Media Campaign went to #WhiskySanta by Master of Malt. On Twitter, #WhiskySanta was delivered to more than 9.4m timelines, with more than 13,250 tweets from 2,625 unique contributors. Atom Brands’ Drinks By the Dram was awarded Highly Commended for its #WhiskyAdvent by Drinks by the Dram campaign. And so to the last award – PR Campaign of the Year. Tin Man’s ‘anCnoc - Because Good Whisky Never Goes Out of Fashion’ was named top banana and LDR received a third award for its Beam Suntory Bowmore Mizunara Cask Finish.
DIGITAL & SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN #WhiskySanta by Master of Malt Master of Malt Highly Commended #WhiskyAdvent by Drinks by the Dram, Atom Brands
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AGENCY OF THE YEAR LDR Creative Highly Commended Cutlass Communications
BRAND EXPERIENCE CAMPAIGN 24-Hour Bar Build
Bacardi Brown Forman LDR Creative
PR CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR anCnoc – Because Good Whisky Never Goes Out of Fashion anCnoc (Inverhouse Distillers), Tin Man Highly Commended Bowmore Mizunara Cask Finish, Beam Suntory, LDR Creative
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The Judges
SCOTCH WHISKY AND WORLD WHISKIES
Randy Hudson, Triple Eight Distillery; Shinji Fukuyo, Suntory Spirits; Tadashi Sakuma, The Nikka Whisky Distilling Co; Gordon Motion, Edrington; Angela d’Orazio, Mackmyra Svensk Whisky; Billy Leighton, Irish Distillers/Pernod Ricard; Caroline Martin, Diageo; Bill Lumsden, The Glenmorangie Company; Margaret Nicol, Whyte & Mackay Distillers; David Stewart, William Grant & Sons; Richard Paterson, Whyte & Mackay Distillers
LIQUEURS Axel Herrmann, Salers; Victor Lanson, Grant’s; (seated) Adeline Loizeau, Grand Marnier; Dawn Davies, Speciality Drinks; Myriam Hendrickx, De Kuyper; Gérard Chaussée, Vedrenne Pages
GIN (Standing) Charles Maxwell, Thames Distillers; Will Lowe, Cambridge Distillery; Lesley Gracie, William Grant & Sons; (seated) Bernard Filliers, Filliers Graanstokerij; Anne Jones, Waitrose; Desmond Payne, ChivasBrothers; Joanne Moore, Quintessential Brands
TEQUILA (Standing) Jesse Estes, Ocho Tequila; Davide Segat, London Edition; Mark Jennings, Shaken; Jon Anders Fjeldsrud, Amathus Drinks; Carlos Londono, Cafe Pacifico; (seated) Alex Fitzsimmons; Melanie Symonds, Quiquiriqui Mezcals
VODKA (Standing) Ian Wisniewski, drinks writer; Johan Svensson, Drinks Fusion; Fredrik Olsson, Kosmopol London; Julian de Féral, Gorgeous Group; John McCarthy, Adnams; Markku Raittinen, Finlandia Vodka Worldwide; (seated) Claire SmithWarner, LVMH; Matthew Dakers, Emporia Brands; Cairbry Hill, Strange Hill
DESIGN & PACKAGING
BRANDIES Pieter de Bod, KWV; Simon Palmer, independent spirits consultant; Neil Mathieson, Mossburn Distillers; Mare-Loe Prinsloo, Distell Group; Olivier Paultes, LVMH
(Standing) Rowan Miller, Stranger & Stranger; Neil Vestrini, Cartils; Jon Davies, Butterfly Cannon; (seated) Toby Wilson, Luxury Packaging; Daniela Nunzi, Studio Minerva; Paul Foulkes-Arellano, Precipice Strategic Design; Katie Raath; Kevin Abrook, William Grant & Sons
MARKETING (Not pictured) Nicky Forrest, Phipps PR; Mike Miller, Catalyst Brands; ouis de Rohan, LDR Creative; Justin Smith, Drinks International
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RUMS Ian Smith, Main Rum Company; Peter Martin, Brokers Gin; Carsten E Vlierboom, E&A Scheer BV; Paul McFadyen, Maison Ferrand brand ambassador
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