2020 Spirits Trophies announced

The top IWSC spirits of the year have been announced today, as the winners of our 16 coveted spirits trophies are revealed.

The best of the best have been unveiled in categories including London Dry and contemporary gin, rum, vodka, scotch, bourbon and worldwide whiskies, Cognac, shochu and baijiu, with winners hailing from countries as diverse as Germany, China, Japan, Barbados and Mexico.

See below for details of all the trophies, and click here to read a full report on our consumer title, Club Oenologique.

Agave Trophy: Mezcal Colores Tobala

Mezcolatra, Mexico

Rich and intense with balanced aromas of smoke, wood and clay. Focused flavours of rustic fruit and wild mint offer a superlatively bright prolonged finish. Elegantly textured and, in short, absolutely awesome.

Baijiu Trophy: Quantu Jingxuan Soft Style Baijiu

Quantujiang Jiu Studio, China

Slight colour; explosive, opulent nose with higher ester aromas such as dried pineapple, mango, walnut and liquorice; strong soy aroma. Rich and savoury palate, saline and intense with soy sauce, bok choy and ending with a lovely cereal finish – long and focussed.

Bourbon Trophy: 1820 Single Barrel Whiskey

Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, Tennessee, USA

Bold with abundant dark, dried fruits on the nose, underpinned by appealing vanilla and sweet nut clusters. Complex and rounded with luxurious dark chocolate and rich praline. Highlights of red fruit and lifted oak culminate in an alluringly long finish.

Cognac Trophy: 1960 Grande Champagne Cognac

Hermitage Cognacs, France

Exceedingly complex and broad in its depth of aromas and flavours. Prominent notes of refreshing and zingy sherbet are united with red berries and smooth hints of fine leather for a seamlessly crafted and decadently enjoyable palate.

Contemporary Gin Trophy: Boulder Spirits Ginskey Gin

Vapor Distillery, Colorado, USA

A seductive nose displaying big bourbon characteristics with an abundance of rich woody sweetness, vanilla oak and dark cherry notes. Exceptionally balanced spirit with bold, spicy fruit, culminating in a heady perfume of floral notes and a juniper-rich finish.

Fruit Spirits Trophy: Framboise Sauvage VRP Eau-de-Vie

Distillerie Massenez, France

Fresh natural raspberries with a slightly crisper, greener note on a hint of sweet, ripe, fruitiness. An array of raspberry in a clean and well-made form, covering all the natural aromas and flavours the fruit can deliver.

Grape Brandy Trophy: Pure Folle Blanche 15 YO Bas-Armagnac

Chateau du Tariquet, France

Very elegant with intriguing rancio nose, but has retained its freshness. Very luxurious, with the alcohol working the aromatics perfectly – clotted cream, raspberry jam and chocolate truffles on the finish.

Liqueur Trophy: Nigori Umeshu

Yamamoto Shuzo, Japan

Very expressive and bold with a big sweetness, balanced by zesty green plums. There is a nice smooth rice note with plenty of ripe and green plums.

London Dry Gin Trophy: Monterey Gin

Helford River Distillery, England

Full, dry, resinous and aromatic, this magnificent elixir entices you to linger over fragrant coriander, zippy lemon and sweetly scented herbs. Boldly enriched by a rounded, warm, dry palate, culminating in a deep, cooling finish.

Rum Trophy: Foursquare 2008

RL Seale, Barbados

Focused and elegant with notes of mandarin peel, nutmeg and allspice. Oaky and rich, there is a gentle heat which accentuates the core sweet-spiced character. Mouth-wateringly moreish.

Shochu Trophy: Inugami Shochu

BrewDog Distilling, Scotland

Gingerbread baked with spices and coated in rum caramel sauce creates an enticing aroma which leads to a palate of rose petal confectionary. Aroma and flavour are well combined and comforting in their smoothness. Ginger and spice continues through to the finish. Layered, complex, enjoyably intriguing complexity.

Vodka Trophy: Naud French Vodka

Famille Naud, France

Superbly luxurious, expressive vodka – smoky citrus notes meet vanilla and coconut, ripe stone and tropical fruit. There is a deliciously sweet, warming quality, almost rum-like, and a candied chocolate creaminess to boot.

Worldwide Whiskey Trophy: The Westfalian Peated 6 YO Single Malt Whisky

Unique Liquids, Germany

Incredible aromas of toasty malted milk and vanilla flowers; there is outstanding depth to the palate: warm flapjacks and sweet honeycomb balanced by aged leather and dried tea leaves, and a building crescendo of intense, savoury peat smoke.

Blended Scotch Whisky Trophy: Glory Leading 1972 45 YO Blended Scotch Whisky

The Glory Leading Whisky Company, Scotland

Demerara sugar on the nose with hints of melted wax and honey. Some lovely freshness on the palate considering it is a mature whisky. Pure class.

The Single Malt Scotch Whisky 25 Years and Under Trophy: Bunnahabhain 25 YO Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Distell Limited, Islay, Scotland

Well-balanced with finesse and elegance. Soft vanilla sponge, orange liquer and grapefruit zest on the nose. Spice and oak are integrated well, with fresh fruit and dried apricot on the palate.

The Single Malt Scotch Whisky 26 Years and Over Trophy: Glenfiddich 40 YO Single Malt Scotch Whisky

William Grant & Sons, Speyside, Scotland

Distinguished and decadent. Deep, dark wood aromas with hints of leather and old books. Complex, but well-balanced palate of apples and dried pears with a great sweet/spice balance.


To read the full report, click here. Search the full results listing here.