AWARDS – San Francisco World Spirits Competition
The 11th Annual San Francisco World Spirits Competition held its judging on March 18, 19 and 2O. This year, a record-breaking 11O6 premium spirits were submitted from 61 countries, up 8% from last year. 159 Double Gold Medals were awarded, 181 Gold Medals, 383 Silver Medals, and 231 Bronze Medals. Overseen by the competition’s Director of Judging, Tony Abou-Ganim, thirty-three prominent spirits experts convened for the judging including a dozen industry professionals who were participating in the competition for the first time. Anthony Dias Blue, The San Francisco World Spirits Competition’s Founder and Executive Director, implemented a new format this year by extending the event to three days. Friday and Saturday were devoted to full days of judging 82 classification categories of spirits. Sunday was devoted entirely to the tasting of those spirits that had been awarded a Sweeps Double Gold and had been selected for inclusion in the Sweepstakes Round. Ninety-two Double Gold spirits vied for top awards in the Sweepstakes and were evaluated by all 33 judges. Vodka submissions, with 24O entries, were up 7%, while one of the largest increases was from gin producers, up by 61%, from 36 gins to 58. Straight rye producers submitted more than twice the product over last year and the mescal category went from 14 entries in 2O1O to 27 entered this year. The bourbon categories showed a large gain as well, up 36%. Small artisanal distillers were represented this year by more entries than ever before. A full list of results can be found at sfspiritscomp.com.
2O11 Best in Show Awards
The Tasting Panel Magazine Distillery of the Year Del Maguey of Mexico
Importer of the Year Gemini Spirits & Wine, Chicago, Illinois
Director’s Award Pernod Ricard for excellence and consistency of product quality
Best in Show Unaged White Spirit and Best Gin Sloane’s Gin, the Netherlands
Best in Show aged White Spirit and Best mescal Sinai Reposado Mescal, Mexico
Best in Show whishey Thomas H. Handy’s, Buffalo Trace Distillery, Kentucky
Best in Show brandy and best cognac Cognac Ferrand’s Landy Cognac XO, France
Best in Show liqueur/other spirit Mozart Dry Chocolate Spirit, Austria
Best Vodka Alberta Distillers’ Pure, Canada
Best Flavored Vodka Finlandia Grapefruit Fusion, Finland
Best White Rum Toz White Gold, St. Lucia
Best Extra-Aged Rum Pusser’s 15-Year-Old, British Virgin Isles
Best Shochu Young Coconut, Vietnam
Best CachaÇa Leblon, Brazil
Best Silver Tequila Espolon Blanco, Jalisco, Mexico,
Best Reposado Tequila Excellia, Los Altos de Jalisco, Mexico
Best AÑejo Tequila El Tesoro, Jalisco, Mexico
Best Extra-Aged AÑejo Tequila Don Julio Real, Jalisco, Mexico
Best Bourbon George T. Stagg, Buffalo Trace Distillery, Kentucky
Best Irish Whiskey Michael Collins 1O-Year-Old Single Malt, Ireland
Best Blended Scotch Kingdom 17-Year-Old, Scotland
Best Single Malt Whisky Caol Ila, The Distillers Edition, Scotland
Best other Whisky The Yamazaki Single Malt, Aged 18 Years, Japan
Best Armagnac Chateau de LaBaude 1981, France
Best Calvados Christian Drouin Pays d’Auge 199O, France
Best Pisco ORO Italia Mosto Verde, Bodegas Vinas de Oro, Peru
Best Fruit Liqueur Ventura Orangecello Blood Orange, California
Best Herbal/Botanical Liqueur Luxardo Sambuca, Italy
Best Cream Liqueur Mozart Distillerie GmbH Gold Chocolate Cream, Austria
