Whiskies and Gin Soar in a Record Year for IWSC Spirit Entries
We are pleased to announce the 2016 Spirit results and trophies, revealing a record year for entries into the Competition, with a 17% increase in entries, lead by the Scotch, Worldwide Whiskey and Gin categories.
The top 200 winners of the Spirits Competition will be showcased at the annual Spirits Tasting event, which is co-hosted by the IWSC and the Worshipful Company of Distillers at London’s Vintners Hall and follows months of rigorous evaluation by their esteemed panel of expert judges.
Truly international in its reach, the Competition welcomes Spirits entrants from 30 different countries across the world. This year once again, Scotland swept the board, winning five trophies and 427 medals, as well as taking home 73 of the Gold and Gold Outstanding accolades. Gold medal winners included Waitrose’s 16-Year-Old Highlands Scotch Whisky, Hankey Bannister’s Heritage Blend, The Blended Whisky Company’s The Golden Age Blend as well The Balvenie Thirty. As the category continues to innovate with travel retail exclusives and cask finishes, the Competition saw an entry increase of 10% from 2015 with an 88% entry increase over the past three years.
Whisk(e)y and gin emerge as this year’s category leaders, with 200% more entries into the gin category since 2013 and a 35% uplift year on year for the worldwide whiskey category. This year’s competition featured entries from Myanmar, India and Taiwan; who’s Kavalan Distillery was awarded three Gold medals as well as a Gold Outstanding for its Kavalan Solist Port Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky. In the Gin tasting, Cumbria’s Bedrock Gin produced by Spirits of the Lakes achieved a coveted Gold medal. Other significant growth areas in the competition since 2013 were Shochu, with a 300% growth, Rum with 83% growth and 44% growth for the liqueur category.
Launched in 2015, this year saw the return of the Gin & Tonic and Bloody Mary categories, and the
addition of the Vodka & Tonic category in partnership with Fever Tree. Vodrock, last year’s Bloody Mary Trophy winners, picked up the inaugural Vodka & Tonic trophy with Herno Export Strength Gin securing the Gin & Tonic trophy and Swiss Vodka Inc’s Elation Hemp Flavoured Vodka awarded the Bloody Mary Trophy.
Ewan Lacey, IWSC Managing Director, commented on today’s results; “The significant growth of new
entries over the last few years are testament to the continuing advancement and innovation of our entrants. An increase of 200% in Gin entries since 2013 reflects the boom in the category worldwide and we are delighted that producers continue to choose the IWSC to benchmark and promote their products.”
Search all Results
View the Trophy Winners
The top 200 winners of the Spirits Competition will be showcased at the annual Spirits Tasting event, which is co-hosted by the IWSC and the Worshipful Company of Distillers at London’s Vintners Hall and follows months of rigorous evaluation by their esteemed panel of expert judges.
Truly international in its reach, the Competition welcomes Spirits entrants from 30 different countries across the world. This year once again, Scotland swept the board, winning five trophies and 427 medals, as well as taking home 73 of the Gold and Gold Outstanding accolades. Gold medal winners included Waitrose’s 16-Year-Old Highlands Scotch Whisky, Hankey Bannister’s Heritage Blend, The Blended Whisky Company’s The Golden Age Blend as well The Balvenie Thirty. As the category continues to innovate with travel retail exclusives and cask finishes, the Competition saw an entry increase of 10% from 2015 with an 88% entry increase over the past three years.
Whisk(e)y and gin emerge as this year’s category leaders, with 200% more entries into the gin category since 2013 and a 35% uplift year on year for the worldwide whiskey category. This year’s competition featured entries from Myanmar, India and Taiwan; who’s Kavalan Distillery was awarded three Gold medals as well as a Gold Outstanding for its Kavalan Solist Port Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky. In the Gin tasting, Cumbria’s Bedrock Gin produced by Spirits of the Lakes achieved a coveted Gold medal. Other significant growth areas in the competition since 2013 were Shochu, with a 300% growth, Rum with 83% growth and 44% growth for the liqueur category.
Launched in 2015, this year saw the return of the Gin & Tonic and Bloody Mary categories, and the
addition of the Vodka & Tonic category in partnership with Fever Tree. Vodrock, last year’s Bloody Mary Trophy winners, picked up the inaugural Vodka & Tonic trophy with Herno Export Strength Gin securing the Gin & Tonic trophy and Swiss Vodka Inc’s Elation Hemp Flavoured Vodka awarded the Bloody Mary Trophy.
Ewan Lacey, IWSC Managing Director, commented on today’s results; “The significant growth of new
entries over the last few years are testament to the continuing advancement and innovation of our entrants. An increase of 200% in Gin entries since 2013 reflects the boom in the category worldwide and we are delighted that producers continue to choose the IWSC to benchmark and promote their products.”
Search all Results
View the Trophy Winners
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