Best Of Luxury, Cigars & Spirits, Gourmet

2014’s Top Gin, Vodka, Whiskey, Scotch, Tequila and More

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2014 ULTIMATE SPIRITS CHALLENGE – CHAIRMAN’S TROPHY WINNERS

The Ultimate Spirits Challenge, the world’s premier spirits competition, celebrated its fifth anniversary. For 2014, the competition announced 37 Chairman Trophy winners, the highest award, along with 218 Finalists, 171 Tried & True Awards(SM) and 89 Great Values.

For the second consecutive year, a perfect 100 point score was given by multiple panels to a whiskey. This year’s 100-point recipient is Redbreast 21 Years Old Pure Pot Still Irish Whiskey.

This year, USC introduces the Tried & True Award (SM) to recognize brands that can be relied on to provide unfailing quality and superb taste to consumers year after year. To be eligible, brands that entered USC 2014 must have scored 85 points or higher in this year’s Challenge as well as in at least two previous Challenges.

All products entered are rated on the 100-point scale by the spirits industry’s most renowned judges that include award-winning authors, spirits buyers, journalists, educators, bar owners and consultants. This year’s judges were: USC Founder and Judging Chairman F. Paul Pacult, Judging Co-Chairman Sean Ludford, Jacques Bezuidenhout, Tad Carducci, James Conley, Dale DeGroff, Jim Meehan, Dan Nicolaescu, Steve Olson, Andy Seymour, Jennifer Simonetti-Bryan, MW and David Wondrich.

 

  • BEST  TEQUILA 100% AGAVE

Blanco: Siete Leguas (Tried & True Award);
Reposado: Blue Nectar;
Anejo: Siete Leguas (Tried & True Award);
Extra Anejo: Herradura Seleccion Suprema (Tried & True Award);

  • BEST MEZCAL

Del Maguey Iberico;

  • BEST WHISKEY – USA

American: Wild Turkey Forgiven;
Kentucky Straight Bourbon: George T. Stagg;
Rye: Bulleit 95 Small Batch;

  • BEST  WHISKEY – IRELAND

Blended: Tullamore D.E.W. Special Reserve 12 Years Old (Tried & True Award);
Irish Pot Still: Redbreast 21 Years Old;
Single Malt: Bushmills 16 Years Old (Tried & True Award);

  • BEST WHISKY – SCOTLAND

Blended Malt: Big Peat;
Blended: Ballantine’s 17 Years Old;
Single Malt: Glenmorangie Quarter Century 25 Years Old;

  • BEST WHISKY – CANADA

Alberta Premium Dark Horse;

  • BEST WHISKY – JAPAN

Nikka Coffey Grain;

  • BEST BRANDY in 2014

Armagnac: Chateau de Laubade 1959 Bas-Armagnac;
Calvados: Pere Magloire 20 Years Old
Cognac: Delamain Pale & Dry
Grappa: Bocchino Riserva Carlo Bocchino;
Pisco: KAPPA (Tried & True Award);
Spanish Brandy: Cardenal Mendoza Carta Real Brandy de Jerez;
American Brandy: Osocalis Heritage;
Pineau des Charentes: Jean Fillioux Vieux;

  • BEST APERITIF

Luxardo Aperitivo

  • BEST VODKA in 2014

Unflavored: Absolut;
Flavored: Belvedere Lemon Tea;

  • AQUAVIT

Linie Aquavit (Tried & True Award)

  • BEST GIN in 2014

Tanqueray No.Ten (Tried & True Award);

  • BEST RUM

Rum: Don Q Gran Anejo (Tried & True Award);
Rhum Agricole: Clement Canne Bleue;
Flavored Rum: Selvarey Cacao Flavored;
Spiced Rum: Lemon Hart Navy Spiced;

  • BEST CACHACA

Sagatiba Velha;

  • BEST LIQUEUR

Cointreau (Tried & True Award);

  • BEST VERMOUTH

Maurin Dry;

  • BEST SHOCHU

iichiko Frasco.

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