IWSC Insider

As Associate Director and Head of Merchanting Buying at Corney & Barrow Ltd and an experienced IWSC judge, Rebecca Palmer shares why judging is vital for career development in the wine industry.

"As buyers, we taste wines in the marketplace, but of course not as regularly as the wines we import and distribute ourselves, so the judging process can be a valuable chance to taste different examples to compare and contrast specific styles side by side," shares Rebecca.

As Master Blender for Johnnie Walker and member of IWSC's Spirits Judging Committee, Dr. Emma Walker shares how judging enriches whisky expertise and enhances industry understanding.

"Nosing whiskies from across the Scotch and whiskey category gives me a deeper appreciation of the diverse flavours and techniques in whisky making, which enriches my own knowledge and blending work," says Dr Emma.

As co-founder of Æcorn and Board Member of Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, Claire Warner shares insights into the transforming landscape of no and low-alcohol beverages at IWSC.

"The category is becoming easier to define. We're seeing category-defining products emerging year after year, which helps shape and refine it further. This maturation reflects a significant shift in how no and low-alcohol drinks are perceived and produced," explains Claire. 

In the latest Spirits edition of the IWSC Insider, Head Judge for Vodka, Liqueurs & Bitters, and member of the IWSC's Spirits Judging Committee, David T Smith shares the five key characteristics that define excellence in spirits evaluation.

"Any expert in any field needs to keep abreast of current and upcoming trends to stop their knowledge from becoming dusty and out-of-date. This is especially true in the fast-changing world of spirits. A good judge knows what the modern consumer is looking for and how they can get it," shares David.

In the latest edition of the Wine edition of the IWSC Insider, Purchasing Director at Berkmann Wine Cellars and member of IWSC's Wine Judging Committee, Alex Hunt MW explores the complex skill set required for excellence in wine evaluation.

"Judging wine well is a curious and fascinating challenge. At its heart, it involves merging the subjective world of immediate sensation with objective standards of quality – a task that demands concentration, experience and humility," shares Alex.

In this edition of the IWSC Insider Alternative Drinks edition, founder of Club Soda and IWSC judge, Laura Willoughby MBE shares what it takes for a low and no-alcohol drink to achieve gold medal status.

"The modern consumer expects a refined, flavourful, and health-conscious experience, and our judging criteria reflect these demands. Gold medal winners must demonstrate innovation while maintaining the highest standards of taste and functionality," explains Laura

In this latest Spirits edition of the IWSC Insider, Spirits Judging Committee member Olivier Ward explains the critical elements that elevate a gin from good to gold, and shares his insights into the IWSC judging process.

"A well-sequenced gin tells a story through its flavours, giving you different moments of discovery from the first sip to the last. This evolving nature of flavours, from initial botanical brightness to a lingering, satisfying finish, distinguishes a good gin from an exceptional one," says Olivier.

In this Wine edition of the IWSC Insider, member of the our Judging Committee member, John Hoskins MW explores what it truly takes to earn one of the wine world's most coveted accolades.

"To get an IWSC Gold really is tough; it's the Michelin Star, the Olympic final, the Oscar nomination. Judges are considering every wine both against its peers in its class, but also within the context of their deep experience of comparable styles on the international level," shares John.

In this Wine edition of the IWSC Insider, our Judging Committee member Dirceu Vianna Junior MW, shares how the IWSC contributes to industry standards and reveals how medals are awarded. 

“As well as demonstrating experience and confidence, our judges are unbiased and have a positive attitude. One of the roles of the Wine Judging Committee is to ensure fairness, consistency and encourage healthy discussions. It is precisely these high-level discussions that are always carried out unhurried and with a focus to reach the correct decision for every single wine that help to reinforce the knowledge of our judges," says Junior.

In this Spirits edition of IWSC Insider, Richard Paterson OBE, one of Scotch Whisky's most respected figures, talks about Whisky trends, how to win an IWSC gold, and how the IWSC judging standards drive quality across the global spirits industry. 

"We're looking for harmony and tranquillity in gold medal winners. What I mean by that, everything has to be working together. The spirit has to have the body, the character, and it has to show not just the individual nuances and flavours, it has to be working in harmony. This standard pushes producers to ensure every element of their spirit works in perfect concert," shares Richard.

In this Alternative Drinks edition of the IWSC Insider, Millie Gooch, writer, Low & No advocate and IWSC judge, talks about how the IWSC helps shape the emerging Low & No category.

"The Low & No category is still relatively new and evolving, which means it's full of potential but also needs clear direction to grow in the right way. By having trained judges rigorously tasting and evaluating these drinks, the IWSC helps set a bar for quality in a space where standards are still being defined," says Millie.