23rd July saw the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC), announce 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. Over 70 Gold Outstanding medals were awarded this year across the globe.
Supermarket Lidl impressed judges and was awarded 14 medals including a Gold Outstanding medal for its own brand scotch, the £12.99 Queen Margot 8 Year Blended Scotch Whisky. Other supermarket results included Waitrose which was awarded a Gold Outstanding medal for its £18.00 Scotch Whisky Blended 8 YO and Morrisons Five Times Distilled Vodka which was awarded a Gold medal.
Adnams, the Suffolk brewer impressed 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.
Twenty countries from around the world were awarded a medal or trophy for gin entries including Slovenia, USA, Australia and Wales. Highlights include German brand Steinhauser, scooping 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, “At the International Wine and Spirit Competition we are excited by the surge in artisanal products, more than double 2013; this has been capped off by Adnams Longshore Vodka beating off competition from all corners of the globe to win the coveted Vodka Trophy. It is an amazing achievement and a massive salute to their skill and dedication.”
For the full list of spirits winners, go to www.iwsc.net
DRINKS ENTHUSIAST 