Canned cocktail producer Curatif has brought home the RTD Producer Trophy from the International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC) for the second year running, having taken out the inaugural title for RTD producers last year.
Several Australian producers were recognised in the RTD category receiving silver and bronze medals, with Curatif’s Archie Rose Espresso Martini being the only Australian drink to receive a gold medal.
The Espresso Martini was praised by IWSC judges as “gorgeously fragrant on the nose with big notes of roasted coffee beans, chocolate and vanilla. Sumptuously indulgent on the palate with rich flavours of smooth cacao and toasted tonka beans. An elegantly creamy mouthfeel with an equally sweet, luxurious finish.”
Curatif follows the footsteps of other Australian brands who have also been recognised at the 2023 IWSC after Four Pillars scored the Gin Producer Trophy for a record-breaking third time, and Grainshaker won the Vodka Producer Trophy. Curatif’s Managing Director Matt Sanger spoke about the achievement.
“If the IWSC is our industry’s version of the Oscars, then Curatif, Four Pillars and Grainshaker are Australia’s own Hemsworth, Kidman and Jackman hamming it up on the red carpet right about now. I’ll leave it up to you to decide who is who!
“Who knows, perhaps there should be a world’s best Four Pillars x Grainshaker x Curatif canned Vesper in our collective futures?”
“The Producer Trophies are the most prestigious accolades in the IWSC, which is the world’s largest and most influential spirits awards with more than 4,000 entries from distilleries across the globe in 2023,” added Paul McLeay, CEO for Australian Distillers Association.
“Our spirits manufacturers have once again proven that their products can compete with the very best and triumph on the world stage.”