3rd ANNUAL ULTIMATE SPIRITS CHALLENGE 2O12

This year’s Ultimate Spirits Challenge (USC) was held at Astor Center in New York City on March 5 to 9. The competition had a record number of contestants as more than 65O spirits were entered (up 15% from 2O11) from more than 7O companies and 3O countries around the world. Judging were Chairman F. Paul Pacult and Co-Chairman Sean Ludford joined by Jacques Bezuidenhout, Tad Carducci, James Conley, Dale DeGroff, Doug Frost, MS, MW, Jim Meehan, Steve Olson, Julie Reiner, Jack Robertiello, Andy Seymour, Marcos Tello, and David Wondrich.

---

VODKA
unflavored Fuzzy’s Ultra Premium, US
flavored Bak’s Bison Grass Zubrowka, Poland

GIN
Plymouth, UK

GENEVER
Bols Barrel Aged, Netherlands

TEQUILA-1OO% AGAVE
BLANCO
Milagro Select Barrel Reserve Silver, Mexico

REPOSADO
Ambhar, Mexico

ANEJO
Siete Leguas, Mexico

EXTRA ANEJO
Jose Cuervo Reserva de la Familia, Mexico

MEZCAL
Del Maguey Vida Single Village, Mexico

RUM
Appleton Estate Reserve, Jamaica

RHUM AGRICOLE
Rhum JM White, Martinique

CACHAÇA
Inox Original Silver, Brazil

WHISK(E)Y-NORTH AMERICA
AMERICAN WHISKEY
Balcones “1” Texas Single Malt

BOURBON
Blanton’s Single Barrel

RYE
Masterson’s

TENNESSEE WHISKEY
George Dickel Barrel Select

WHISKEY-IRELAND
BLENDED
Midleton Barry Crockett

IRISH POT STILL WHISKEY
Redbreast Cask Strength 12 Year Old

SINGLE MALT
Bushmills 16 Year Old

WHISKY-SCOTLAND
BLENDED MALT
Johnnie Walker Green Label

BLENDED
Buchanan’s Special Reserve 18 Year Old

SINGLE MALT
Caol Ila 12 Year Old

WHISKY-CANADA
Caribou Crossing Single Barrel

WHISKY-WORLD
Yamazaki Single Malt 18 Year Old, Japan

BRANDY
ARMAGNAC
Delord 1978, France

CALVADOS
Calvados Drouin 25 Year Old, France

COGNAC
Frapin Château Fontpinot XO, France

GRAPPA
Jacopo Poli Sarpa Barrique, Italy

PISCO
Pisco Porton, Peru

LIQUEUR
Green Chartreuse, France

APERITIF
Lise Baccara Troussepinete Red, France