From grape to glass: Pisco demonstrates quality at this year's IWSC

The 2025 IWSC has seen a strong performance from Pisco, with producers from Chile and Peru submitting a diverse range of expressions that impressed judges with both precision and clarity. From youthful and expressive aromatic profiles to more structured and mature styles, the category demonstrated growing depth, quality, and intent.

Strong Scores Across the Board

This year’s highest-scoring Pisco came from Miguel Torres Chile, whose El Gobernador Reservado Pisco was awarded Gold Outstanding with a score of 98 points. It stood out not only for its finesse and balance but also for its clarity of expression and respect for the grape’s character. This is a notable recognition for a Chilean producer that has consistently sought to elevate the category through investment in quality and careful production.

Also receiving Gold medals were Alto Del Carmen Reservado Transparente Pisco, produced by Cooperativa Agrícola Pisquera Elqui, and Tres Erres 35° Pisco from Compañía Pisquera de Chile. Both were awarded 95 points and exemplify the maturity and consistency seen among Chilean producers this year.

Judging Reflections: Balance and Identity

According to Joel Harrison, IWSC Spirits Judging Committee Member, the judging panel was particularly focused on balance in this year’s Pisco entries. “In Pisco, we're looking for the grape juice to come through and the spirit to play a harmonisation role in that,” he said. “If it's too grapey and not enough spirit, then what's the point? If there's too much spirit, not enough grape, then you're into vodka territory. Actually, it's about finding that balance.”

This view was echoed in the scoring, with the highest-rated entries showing a clear integration of fruit character and well-managed alcohol. Rather than being overtly spirituous or overly delicate, the top entries found a middle ground where grape aromatics were allowed to shine, supported by structure and clarity in the distillation.

Chilean Leadership and Peruvian Specialisation

Chilean Piscos dominated this year’s entries and awards. Producers such as Compañía Pisquera de Chile submitted a broad portfolio across the Reserve, Special, and Gran categories, with multiple Silver and Bronze medals across the range. Cooperativa Agrícola Pisquera Elqui also showed well, reaffirming the strength and consistency of large-scale Chilean production.

Meanwhile, Peruvian producer Bodega Santa Maria Magdalena achieved a series of Silver medals with entries in the Mosto Verde and Aromatic categories. Their submissions stood out for their varietal clarity, higher ABV expressions, and unaged presentation. These results reaffirm Peru’s status as a source of distinctive, small-batch Piscos that highlight specific grape varieties and fermentation styles.

Final Reflections

Pisco has historically occupied a relatively niche space within the international spirits market, but this year’s results at the IWSC point to a category that is expanding in both ambition and quality. Whether through purity and varietal focus, or through more structured and matured spirits, producers are refining their expressions and positioning them more confidently for global markets.

As Joel Harrison summarised, “Pisco has come through really strongly... bringing together great quality and maturation in distillation has been really exciting.” The best entries did exactly that and showed that when producers prioritise grape integrity, controlled distillation, and stylistic precision, the results are more than competitive on the international stage.

A full list of this year’s Pisco medal winners follows below. The full list of IWSC results can be explored on our website.