Ultimate Spirits Challenge Announces Winners

The results of the 2012 Ultimate Spirits Challenge are in. The annual Ultimate Spirits Challenge was held last week at the Astor Center in New York City. More than 650 spirits were entered from more than 70 companies and 30 countries around the world. Judges included some of the industry’s foremost spirits authorities – like F. Paul Pacult, Sean Ludford, Dale DeGroff and David Wondrich – to name a few.

The purpose of the Ultimate Spirits Challenge is to identify, recognize and reward products that stand out in their respective categories. Multiple panels of expert judges blind-tasted each entry in appropriately grouped flights within each major spirits category, scoring each on a 100-point scale. Products that scored 90 points or higher were then evaluated blind once again in newly-created groupings by a different panel of judges. Top scoring products were then reviewed a third time to determine a select group of finalists, with the category’s highest scorer being awarded a Chairman’s Trophy accolade. Some noteworthy winners and highlights follow:

2012 Ultimate Spirits Challenge Chairman’s Trophy Winners

GIN
Plymouth

GENEVER
Bols Barrel Aged

TEQUILA – 100% AGAVE
Blanco: Milagro Select Barrel Reserve Silver
Reposado: Ambhar
Anejo: Siete Leguas
Extra Anejo: Jose Cuervo Reserva de la Familia

MEZCAL
Del Maguey Vida Single Village

RUM
Appleton Estate Reserve

WHISK(E)Y – NORTH AMERICA
American Whiskey: Balcones “1” Texas Single Malt
Bourbon: Blanton’s Single Barrel
Rye: Masterson’s
Ttennessee Whiskey: George Dickel Barrel Select

WHISKEY – IRELAND
Blended: Midleton Barry Crockett
Irish Pot Still Whiskey: Redbreast Cask Strength 12 Years Old
Single Malt: Bushmills 16 Years Old

WHISKY – SCOTLAND
Blended Malt: Johnnie Walker Green Label
Blended: Buchanan’s Special Reserve 18 Years Old
Single Malt: Caol Ila 12 Years Old

WHISKY – CANADA
Caribou Crossing Single Barrel

WHISKY – WORLD
Japan: Yamazaki Single Malt 18 Years Old

VODKA – UNFLAVORED
Fuzzy’s Ultra Premium

VODKA – FLAVORED
BAK’s Bison Grass Zubrowka

RHUM AGRICOLE
Rhum J.M. White

CACHACA
INOX Original

BRANDY
Armagnac: Delord 1978
Calvados: Calvados Drouin 25 Years Old
Cognac: Frapin Château Fontpinot XO
Grappa: Jacopo Poli Sarpa Barrique
Pisco: Pisco Porton

LIQUEUR
Green Chartreuse

APERITIF
Lise Baccara Troussepinete Red

For a complete list of results, visit www.ultimate-beverage.com/usc2012results/.