America's Number One Spirits Competition Evaluates the Most Entries Ever

Absinthe Makes Its Debut and Cachaca Takes Best White Spirit

SAN FRANCISCO, March 21 /PRNewswire/ -- The most influential spirits industry professionals in the United States gathered at San Francisco's Mandarin Oriental Hotel March 15th and 16th to swirl, sniff, sip, spit and rank the world's best spirits at the 8th annual San Francisco World Spirits Competition, the only competition of its kind in the United States.

The San Francisco World Spirits Competition Executive Director, Anthony Dias Blue of Patterson's the Tasting Panel Magazine, along with Director of Judging, F. Paul Pacult, Writer/Journalist of The Spirit Journal, have established an unparalleled reputation for the competition and its principles since its inception eight years ago. This year 847 spirits were submitted and evaluated, up from 715 in 2007, and six out of the seven continents (only Antarctica was missing) were represented, making this a globally influential spirits competition.

"The San Francisco World Spirits Competition receives entries from the best spirits companies worldwide every year, and we have to match that caliber with top-quality judges showing consistent and objective evaluation," Blue noted. "These factors create a highly successful environment to host one of the world's largest spirits competitions."

This year, 25 judges tasted through spirits of 439 different brand classifications, presenting a large number of medals. Among the most prestigious awards, "Distiller of the Year" went to Buffalo Trace Distillery USA and "Importer of the Year" went to Moet Hennessy USA, New York, NY. "Best in Show-White," was claimed by Weber Haus, Silver Cachaca, Brazil, and Highland Park, 12-year-old Single Malt Scotch, Orkney Islands, Scotland, was named "Best in Show-Whisk(e)y." Loujan, 1979 Armagnac, Bas Armagnac, France, received "Best in Show-Brandy," and Domaine de Canton, Ginger Liqueur, France, was named "Best in Show-Liqueur."

Absinthe, just approved for import and sale in the United States in late 2007, was a new category in the 2008 San Francisco World Spirits Competition this year. Ten Absinthes were submitted from all over the world for this judging, three won gold medals and Vieux Pontarlier Absinthe won a double gold medal, making it the "Top Absinthe."

In addition to the premium awards, the best ranking spirit in each category was awarded a "Top" title. In the White Spirits category winners include: Snow Queen Vodka as "Top Vodka," "Top Gin" went to Plymouth Gin, and Matusalem Rum took "Best Rum." "Top Tequila" went to AsomBroso Silver Tequila and El Tesoro took "Top Reposado Tequila." Siete Leguas was "Top Anejo Tequila" and "Top Extra-Aged Anejo Tequila" went to Don Julio.

Winners in the whisk(e)y category include: Jameson, Rare Vintage Irish Whiskey as "Top Irish Whiskey," and Rittenhouse Rye Whiskey as "Top North American Whisk(e)y." Chivas Regal, 25 Year Old Scotch was "Top Blended Scotch," and Pappy Van Winkle, Kentucky Straight Bourbon took "Top Bourbon."

In the brandy and liqueur categories, Hennessy Cognac Paradis Extra won "Top Cognac," and Cointreau Orange Liqueur received "Top Fruit Liqueur."

Spirits received Bronze, Silver, Gold or a Double Gold Medal. Double Gold occurs when all judges on a panel agree that the spirit is Gold, which immediately upgrades the selection to Double Gold status.

In all, 25 judges tasted 847 spirits from 63 countries, and awarded 103 Double Gold Medals-159 Gold Medals, 308 Silver Medals and 179 Bronze Medals.

"Entries have been increasing every year," said Director of Judging F. Paul Pacult. There were 18% more entries in 2008 than in 2007. "As a result we added an entire panel of judges and made some creative changes in the way our panels of judges see and evaluate spirits in the same category. For instance, we broke down the unflavored vodka category even further by tasting them together according to their unique base ingredients whether it be wheat, rye, grape, neutral grain, potato, sugar cane or fruit."

Additional results can be found on the San Francisco World Spirits Competition website, http://www.sfspiritscomp.com/. Pictures of the competition are available online at:
2008 Judges included: Anthony Dias Blue -- Blue Lifestyle, Editor-in-Chief Patterson's The Tasting Panel Magazine, Los Angeles; F. Paul Pacult -- Writer, Journalist, Educator, The Spirit Journal, Beverage Alcohol Resource, New York; Brian Baker -- Managing Partner, Coltivar Marketing, Sonoma; Stephen Beal -- Master of Scotch, Consultant & Educator, San Francisco; Jacques Bezuidenhout -- Chief Mixologist, Tres Agaves, San Francisco; Mark Bowery -- Wine & Spirits Consultant, Mark Bowery Consulting, California; Katie Ballou Calhoun -- President, Calhoun & Company Communications, San Francisco; Jerry Cooper -- Retailer / Wine & Spirits Buyer, Swirl on Castro, San Francisco; Janet Dyer -- President, Wine Excel, San Francisco; Ziggy Eschliman -- The Wine Gal, Wine Country Radio, California; Michael Feil -- General Manager, Wine & Spirits Buyer, Westchester County Club, New York; Doug Frost, MS & MW -- Wine & Spirits Writer, Kansas City Star, Kansas City; Richard Carleton Hacker -- Spirits Journalist, Robb Report, Los Angeles; Mendel Kohn -- Wine & Spirits Buyer, Vinos and Gourmet, California; Ann Littlefield -- Direct Wine Marketing Specialist, New Vine Logistics, Napa; Sean Ludford -- Journalist, Beverage Experts, Chicago; Jordan Mackay -- Wine & Spirits Editor, 7x7 Magazine, San Francisco; David Mahoney -- Editor, Drinks Magazine, Minneapolis; Meridith May -- Publisher / Executive Editor, The Tasting Panel Magazine, California; Tim McDonald -- President, Wine Spoken Here, California; Robert Plotkin -- Author, Trade Writer, Beverage Consultant, BarMedia, Arizona; Jack Robertiello -- Wine & Spirits Writer, Journalist & Consultant, New York; Audrey Saunders -- Co-Owner & Mixologist, Le Pegu Club, New York; Kevin M. Vogt, MS -- Wine & Spirits Director, Emeril's Restaurants, Las Vegas and David Wondrich -- Spirits Writer, Esquire Magazine, New York.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: San Francisco World Spirits Competition

CONTACT: Kylie Garrett of San Francisco World Spirits Competition,
+1-415-346-2929, Kylie@calhounwine.com

Web site: http://www.sfspiritscomp.com/

2008-03-21 12:55:09 0317852 PRNEWSWIRE