By Sacha Delfosse
One of the largest and most recognised awards for Spirits was held in the US from March 18-20, with 1,106 premium spirits from 61 countries entering and competing in 82 different categories.
The San Francisco World Spirits Competition ran over three days this year, to give the 33 experts that convened the judging panel the required time to decide who would receive the 159 Double Gold, 181 Gold, 383 Silver and 231 Bronze medals that were awarded.
“This year’s vibrant and talented judging panel were able to skilfully pinpoint emerging trends in the exciting spirits arena. Mescal, gin, rye, bourbon and brandy, especially pisco, are exploding in popularity,” said the competition founder and executive director, Anthony Dias Blue.
Several Australian spirit producers received accolades at the competition including the Mt. Uncle Distillery, KIS Spirits, The Tradewinds Gin, Wild Swan Distillery, 666 Pure Vodka, Aphrodope Liqueur, St Fiacre Distillery and Tamborine Mountain Distillery.
“It is very humbling when you have such a huge success at such a prestigious world class comp like the San Francisco World Spirits Competition has become,” Tamborine Mountain Distillery owner, Michael Ward, said
“We won four silver medals, so we are ecstatic and over the moon with joy. And to achieve four awards for every single product entered, all of them being uniquely Australian and different, that’s just a huge win.”