2010 San Francisco World Spirits Competition Winners Announced

Celebrating its 10th year, the San Francisco World Spirits Competition gathered 30 judges at the Hotel Nikko in downtown S.F. on March 13 and 14 to evaluate 1024 different spirits from 57 countries. Judging panels were comprised of spirits experts from noted restaurants and hotels, spirits journalists from major national media, spirits buyers for large purveyors, and spirits consultants. Los Angeles-based judges included Anthony Dias Blue and Meridith May (The Tasting Panel Magazine), Aidan Demarest (First and Hope), Richard Carleton Hacker (Robb Report), and Kim Haasarud (Liquid Architecture).

The judges awarded 131 Double Gold Medals, 189 Gold Medals, 347 Silver Medals and 250 Bronze Medals. Double Gold occurs when all judges on a panel agree that the spirit is Gold, which earns it Double Gold status.

Taking top honors:

• Distillery of the Year – The Glenmorangie (Scotland)
• Importer of the Year – Moët Hennessy USA
• Best in Show, White – Trago Silver Tequila (Mexico)
• Best in Show, Whisky – Isle of Jura Single Malt Scotch (Scotland)
• Best in Show, Brandy – Père Magloire 20 Year Old Vintage Calvados (France)
• Best in Show, Liqueur – Grand Marnier 100th Anniversary Liqueur (France)

In addition to the premium awards, top ranking spirits were awarded “Best in Category” titles:

WHITE SPIRITS

• Best Vodka – Chase Vodka (England)
• Best Flavored Vodka – Rain Organics Cucumber Lime Vodka (Kentucky, USA)
• Best Gin – Beefeater 24 (England)
• Best Rum – Vizcaya VXOP Solera Rum (Dominican Republic)
• Best Extra-Aged Rum – Pusser’s 15 Year Old Rum (British Virgin Isles)
• Best Cachaça – Leblon Cachaça (Brazil)
• Best Reposado Tequila – Trago Reposado Tequila (Mexico)
• Best Añejo Tequila (tie) – El Jimador Añejo Tequila (Mexico) and Mujer Bonita Añejo Tequila (Mexico)
• Best Mezcal – El Zacatecano Anejo Mezcal (Mexico)

WHISK(E)Y

• Best Bourbon – Elijah Craig Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon (Kentucky, USA)
• Best Canadian Whisky – Seagram’s VO Canadian Whisky (Canada)
• Best Irish Whiskey – Bushmills 1608 Irish Whiskey (Ireland)
• Best Blended Scotch – The Grand Bark Equinoxe Blended Scotch (Scotland)
• Best Single Malt Scotch – Ardbeg Single Malt Scotch (Scotland)

BRANDY & LIQUEUR

• Best Armagnac – Comte de Lauvia 21 Year Old Armagnac (France)
• Best Pisco – Pisco O Torontel Pisco (Peru)
• Best Cream Liqueur – Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur (Belgium)

The Double Gold winners are scheduled to travel this fall to New York, Washington D.C., Miami, Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City, Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Orange County, Las Vegas, Seattle, and Beaver Creek, Colorado.

For more information and additional results visit: www.sfspiritscomp.com
Pictures of the competition are available at: www.marthabruce.com/sfwsc2010