The IWSC Announce Spirits Results

THE IWSC ANNOUNCE SPIRITS RESULTS

Today, (23rd July 2014) the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC), announced the winners of its 2014 spirits competition. The IWSC now in its 45th year promotes the quality and excellence of the world’s best wines, spirits and liqueurs. All spirits entered from around the world, endure a rigorous blind tasting and are judged by some of the world’s leading drinks experts. Medals featured on winning bottles assure consumers that they are purchasing a quality product.

 

Supermarket Lidl impressed judges and was awarded fourteen medals including a Gold Outstanding medal for its own brand scotch. The £11.99 Queen Margot 8 Year Blended Scotch Whisky was praised by judges for its ‘striking nose packed with vanilla, coconut and citrus notes’. Waitrose was also awarded a Gold Outstanding medal for its £18.00 Scotch Whisky Blended 8 YO. 

 

UK brand Adnams, originally a brewery and known for its beers, intrigued judges with its Longshore Vodka and was awarded the prestigious Vodka Trophy. This is the first time an artisan English brand has won the Vodka Trophy, beating vodka producing countries such as Poland, France and Russia.  

 

The global gin phenomenon shows no sign of slowing down, with twenty countries from around the world being awarded a medal or trophy for its gin including Slovenia, USA, Australia and Wales. Highlights include German brand Steinhauser, being awarded the coveted London Dry Gin Trophy with its See-Gin Bodensee Dry Gin and Egyptian brand Al Ahram picking up a Silver medal with its Butler’s Gin. As well as the London Dry Gin Trophy, this year also saw the introduction of the Contemporary Gin Trophy, won by Bourbon Barreled Big Gin from Captive Spirits Distilling. 

 

IWSC General Manager, Ewan Lacey said, “This year’s spirits results have highlighted some interesting findings. The craft distillery movement is on the rise, with a surge of new producers winning awards. We also had an interesting vodka entry from the USA, Red Eye Louie's Vodquila - a hybrid spirit of vodka and tequila. It was awarded a Silver medal proving it’s no gimmick, definitely a trend to watch out for”.  

 

For the full list of spirits winners, go to www.iwsc.net 

 

Notes to editors:

For more information please contact Holly Axelrad at Green Row, Holly@greenrow.co.uk

•The International Wine and Spirit Competition was founded in 1969 and is the premier competition of its kind in the world. Its aim is to promote the quality and excellence of the world's best wines, spirits and liqueurs. All entries are blind tasted in groups divided by variety, region and vintage as necessary.

•IWSC has appointed Laura Catena as the 2014 president.  

•The 2014 Annual Awards Banquet will be held on Wednesday 12th November, at The Guild Hall, City of London.