ULTIMATE SPIRITS CHALLENGE® Announces 2017 Results for Top Gin, Rum, Tequila, Whiskey, Vodka and more

by ·

Ultimate Spirits Challenge®, the world’s trailblazing spirits competition, announces the winners and full results for the 2017 Challenge. Ultimate Spirits Challenge (USC), now in its seventh year, celebrates 43 Chairman’s Trophy winners, USC’s highest award of excellence, and 213 Finalists. Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2017 was held at the Ultimate Beverage Challenge Evaluation Center in Hawthorne, NY.

Says USC judging chairman F. Paul Pacult, “One of the many advantages of having our own year-round facility is that instead of having to judge hundreds of spirits entries over a couple of days like other spirits competitions, we can take the time to break each category down into small flights. This means that USC judging panels focus on each flight with greater in-depth attention, resulting in more accurate assessments. We don’t take shortcuts which is perhaps why USC experienced a 20% increase in entries this year.”

USC also provides an additional component of cocktail evaluations. The judges taste and assess a spirit’s “mixability factor” in classic cocktail recipes (for suitable spirits categories). This innovation, employed by no other competition, allows deeper evaluation of spirits.

Recommendations for cocktails, along with the complete results, can be found on www.ultimate-beverage.com.

USC 2017 – CHAIRMAN’S TROPHY WINNERS

APERITIF
Alessio Vino Chinato

BAIJIU
Yushan Cellaring 6 Years Old Kaoliang

BRANDY
American: Bartlett Spirits of Maine Pear Eau-de-Vie
Armagnac: Dartigalongue Grande Eau-de-Vie 25 Years Old Bas Armagnac
Calvados: Roger Groult XO Pays d’Auge
Cognac: Pierre Ferrand Reserve Double Cask
French Brandy: Monteru Double Wood Triple Toast Finish
Grappa: Poli Sarpa di Poli
Pisco: Porton Acholado
Spanish Brandy: Cardenal Mendoza Solera Gran Reserva Brandy de Jerez

CACHAÇA
Novo Fogo Tanager

GIN
London Dry: Tanqueray
World: Ferdinand’s Saar Dry Gin

LIQUEUR
Grand Marnier Cuvée du Centenaire

MEZCAL
Rey Campero Tepextate Joven

RUM
Rum: Appleton Estate 21 Years Old
Rhum Agricole: Clément VSOP
Spiced Rum: Don Q Oak Barrel

TEQUILA, 100% AGAVE
Blanco: Tequila Cabeza
Reposado: Partida
Añejo: Blue Nectar Founder’s Blend
Extra Añejo: El Tesoro Paradiso

WHISKY – CANADA
Lot 40 Canadian Rye

WHISKEY – IRELAND
Blended: Jameson 18 Years Old
Single Pot Still: Yellow Spot 12 Years Old
Single Malt: The Irishman Small Batch

WHISKY – JAPAN
Nikka Miyagikyo Single Malt

WHISKY – SCOTLAND
Blended: Buchanan’s Master
Blended Malt: Usquaebach An Ard Ri Cask Strength 2016
Single Malt-Highland: Glengoyne 15 Years Old
Single Malt-Island: Highland Park Valkyrie
Single Malt-Islay: Laphroaig 10 Years Old
Single Malt-Speyside: BenRiach 20 Years Old

WHISKEY – USA
American: Wild Turkey Forgiven
Kentucky Straight Bourbon: Col. E.H. Taylor Small Batch
Rye: Hudson Manhattan Rye
Single Malt: McCarthy’s Oregon 3 Years Old

WHISKEY – WORLD
Paul John Peated Select Cask Indian Single Malt

WHISKEY – WORLD – FLAVORED
Catskill Provisions New York Honey

SHOCHU
iichiko BLŪ

VERMOUTH
Alessio Vermouth Chinato

VODKA
Flavored: Van Gogh Dutch Caramel
Unflavored: Purity

All products are rated on the 100-point scale by the spirits industry’s most renowned judges including buyers, journalists, educators and bar owners. Judges included: Founder/Judging Chairman F. Paul Pacult, Jacques Bezuidenhout, Tad Carducci, Doug Frost, Jason Hedges, Tyler Hudgens, Paul Maloney, Don Lee, Jennifer Simonetti-Bryan, Joaquin Simo, Tim Cooper, Paul Tanguay and Jillian Vose.

All spirits rated 80 points and higher receive an individual results page (accessed by clicking on “more…” next to the product name) which provides all downloadable marketing artwork. Spirits rated 85 points and higher receive a tasting note. If a spirit is recommended for its category’s assigned cocktail, it is indicated on this page.

USC results are promoted globally. In addition, high scoring products are featured in the Ultimate Beverage Challenge Guide published each year in the October issue of Beverage Media reaching more than 75,000 on- and off-premise spirits buyers.

ULTIMATE SPIRITS CHALLENGE…No shortcuts. Just honest, impartial judging.

ABOUT ULTIMATE BEVERAGE CHALLENGE
Ultimate Beverage Challenge (UBC) provides expert evaluation of wines and spirits for producers, importers and marketers through its two innovative annual competitions: Ultimate Spirits Challenge and Ultimate Wine Challenge. UBC partners are F. Paul Pacult, Sue Woodley and David Talbot.

More Lifestyle News:

  1. Heilmann Approves 2017 Release of 10 Year Bourbon Shortly after the induction of Michter’s Master Distiller Emeritus Willie Pratt into Whisky Magazine’s Hall of Fame, Michter’s Master Distiller Pamela Heilmann is celebrating with the release of Michter’s 10 Year Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon. In a ceremony held...
  2. Cedar Ridge Distillery (Swisher, Iowa) Named “Distillery of the Year” by the American Distilling Institute The 14th annual American Distilling Institute (ADI) Conference and Expo, named Cedar Ridge Distillery the 2017 “Distillery of the Year.” Bill Owens, President of the ADI, presented the award. “ADI works to bring craft spirits to the public, as well...
  3. Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Rye The Jack Daniel Distillery has used its 150-year whiskey-making expertise to create a rye whiskey Jack’s way – spicy in flavor but sippin’ smooth in character. Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Rye launches nationally in October. Every drop of Jack Daniel’s is...
  4. Purity® Vodka Is Top Rated And Named Best Unflavored Vodka At The 2017 Ultimate Spirits Challenge The hand-crafted ultra-premium vodka, Purity Vodka, has received the top award – The Chairman’s Trophy “2017 Best Unflavored Vodka” – and a 97 point rating as the highest rated of all vodkas in the 2017 Ultimate Spirits Challenge. “Everyone at...
  5. Johnnie Walker® Introduces Blenders’ Batch Experimental Whisky Program To The United States Scotch Whisky blenders live in the past, present and future, always balancing the role of tradition and modern innovation. At Johnnie Walker, the world’s number one best-selling Scotch whisky, our blending team has a passionate obsession with quality blending and...
  6. The House of Angostura Named World Class Distillery 2017, Awarded Six Gold Medals by World Spirits Awards In a stellar performance, The House of Angostura has been awarded the coveted title of World Class Distillery 2017 at this year’s World Spirits Awards (WSA), as well as Gold Medals for five of its rums and for its newest...
  7. Stillhouse Whiskey Redefines “Travel Size” with Release of New 375 mL “Roadie” Stillhouse Spirits Co. today introduced a new 375 mL version of the brand’s award-winning Stillhouse whiskey. Filled with America’s Finest clear corn whiskey, this flask-sized version of Stillhouse’s unbreakable, daring red, 100% stainless steel can is an industry first. Stillhouse...
  8. Texan Entrepreneurs Announce New, Small-Batch Whiskey Devils River Devils River Whiskey, the newest small-batch bourbon to become available in Texas, will be in stores in early April. The Texas whiskey captures the spirit of the water it draws its name from, with bold flavors in each sip. Devils...
  9. Ketel One Vodka Launchs of “Arnold Palmer Collector’s Edition” Bottle Anyone who crossed Arnold Palmer’s path was fortunate to meet him – and the Nolet family, creators of Ketel One Vodka, felt very fortunate indeed. Rooted in Mr. Palmer’s winning tradition and honoring his unparalleled legacy, the Nolet family has...
  10. Humboldt Distillery Celebrates 420 With New Cannabis-Infused Vodka Cocktail Recipe Humboldt Distillery, producer of award-winning organic vodka and rums, recently introduced Humboldt’s Finest, a cannabis-infused vodka. The spirit is now available throughout California and at select retailers in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Texas and Wisconsin – just in time...