A clay sipping cup filled with mezcal from Del Maguey, the Distiller of the Year. | Photo: Lush Life Productions
Last month, thirty-three spirits experts gathered at the Hotel Nikko in downtown San Francisco to evaluate 1,106 premium spirits from 61 countries for the 11th annual San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Competition Founder and Executive Director Anthony Dias Blue implemented a new format this year by extending the event to three days (March 18-20). Friday and Saturday were entirely devoted to judging 82 categories of spirits. On Sunday, ninety-two Double Gold spirits vied for top awards in the Sweepstakes and were evaluated by all 33 judges.
Led by Director of Judging Tony Abou-Ganim (The Modern Mixologist), the judges awarded 159 Double Gold Medals, 181 Gold Medals, 383 Silver Medals and 231 Bronze Medals. Blue credited the judges with identifying “emerging trends in the exciting spirits arena. Mezcal, gin, rye, bourbon and brandy – especially pisco – are exploding in popularity.”
Joseph Brooke, Anthony Dias Blue and Trudy Thomas (L to R). | Photo: The Tasting Panel
Joseph Brooke (The Edison) was one of twelve new judges, joining Los Angeles-based veterans such as Blue and Meridith May (The Tasting Panel Magazine), Aidan Demarest (The Spare Room) and Richard Carleton Hacker.
Taking top honors:
- The Tasting Panel Magazine Distiller of the Year – Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal
- Importer of the Year – Gemini Spirits & Wines (Chicago)
- Director’s Award – Pernod Ricard USA (New York)
- Best in Show Unaged White Spirit & Best Gin – Sloane’s Dry Gin (Netherlands)
- Best in Show Aged White Spirit & Best Mezcal – Sinai Reposado Mezcal (Mexico)
- Best in Show Whisk(e)y & Best Rye – Thomas H. Handy Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey (USA)
- Best in Show Brandy & Best Cognac – Landy Cognac XO (France)
- Best in Show Liqueur & Best Other Spirit – Mozart Dry Chocolate Spirit (Austria)
In addition to the premium awards, top ranking spirits in each category were awarded “Best” titles:
WHITE SPIRITS
- Best Vodka – Alberta Pure Vodka (Canada)
- Best Flavored Vodka – FINLANDIA Grapefruit Fusion Vodka (Finland)
- Best White Rum – Tøz White Gold Rum (St. Lucia)
- Best Extra-Aged Rum – Pusser’s 15 Year Old Rum (British Virgin Isles)
- Best Shochu – Kai Young Coconut Shochu (Vietnam)
- Best Cachaça – Leblon Cachaça (Brazil)
- Best Silver Tequila – Espolón Blanco Tequila (Mexico)
- Best Reposado Tequila – Excellia Reposado Tequila (Mexico)
- Best Añejo Tequila – El Tesoro Añejo Tequila (Mexico)
- Best Extra-Aged Añejo Tequila & Best Tequila – Don Julio Extra-Aged Añejo Tequila Real (Mexico)
WHISK(E)Y
- Best Bourbon – George T. Stagg Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (USA)
- Best Irish Whiskey – Michael Collins 10 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey (Ireland)
- Best Blended Scotch – Kingdom 17 Year Old Scotch (Scotland)
- Best Single Malt Scotch – Caol Ila Single Malt Scotch Distiller’s Edition (Scotland)
- Best Other Whisky – Suntory Yamazaki 18 Year Old Single Malt Whisky (Japan)
BRANDY
- Best Armagnac – Chateau de Laubade Armagnac 1981 (France)
- Best Calvados – Christian Drouin Calvados Pays d’Auge 1990 (France)
- Best Pisco – ORO Pisco Italia Mosto Verde (Peru)
LIQUEURS & OTHER SPIRITS
- Best Fruit Liqueur – Ventura Orangecello Blood Orange (USA)
- Best Herbal / Botanical Liqueur – Luxardo Sambuca (Italy)
- Best Cream / Dairy Liqueur – Mozart Gold Chocolate Cream Liqueur (Austria)
For more information and additional results, visit www.sfspiritscomp.com.
[…] Mezcal. Bei der San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2011 wurde DEL MAGUEY mit der Auszeichnung DISTILLER OF THE YEAR geehrt – gleichzeitig gewannen zahlreiche DEL MAGUEY Mezcals die höchste Auszeichnung […]