Page 6 - IWSCReport2017

iwsc year
IWSC SPIRITS TASTING
Held at the Worshipful Company of Distillers in London, this year’s IWSC Spirit Tasting featured more than 200 of the competition’s award-winning examples.
Not only did this year’s competition confirm a number of key consumer trends, it also heralded the arrival of a multitude of lesser-known, but bold newcomers to the spirits premier league.
Highlighting the competition’s global reach, this year’s tasting saw Asia’s
spirits explode onto the world stage,
with baijiu and shochu standing proud among dozens of gins, whiskies, rums
and liqueurs. Mezcal was also given greater standing alongside Tequila, with a Mezcal Trophy up for grabs for the first time, while gin continued its upward trajectory, with entries growing by 600% in the past two years.
JUDGING PROCESS
Judging takes place for seven months of the year, involving more than 300 judges. The IWSC team takes each product received into its dedicated cellars, giving each one the due care and attention needed when preparing flights for judges. To ensure complete objectivity, the IWSC uses a unique double- blind judging method, meaning the judges never see a bottle, and are served samples in pre-numbered glasses only. A secondary chemical and technical evaluation is undertaken by Campden BRI after the judges’ scores have been recorded.
INDUSTRY RESPECT
With 48 years’ experience, the IWSC is widely recognised as the original, the
most prestigious and the most respected wine and spirits competition in the world. Global consumers trust and seek the IWSC medal when making purchasing decisions.
RAISE YOUR PROFILE
Competition winners receive a free marketing toolkit to assist in the PR and marketing of awards. Dedicated social media campaigns ensure winners are promoted year round with consumer- friendly campaigns.
INCREASE YOUR SALES
Winners are published in a supplement produced by the drinks business, distributed to more than 10,000 international subscribers, showcasing winning products to buyers worldwide. Medal-winning wines and spirits available in the UK are highlighted on Amazon.co.uk and the price-comparison website Winesdirect.co.uk. Official IWSC medal stickers ensure differentiation on a crowded retail shelf.
TRADE SHOW PROMOTION
Competition representatives promote winners at trade shows all over the world, including Vinitaly, ProWein, Millésime Bio, The London Wine Fair and the Hong Kong International Wine and Spirit Fair. db
Supporter: Asprey
Ever since the fashion house was founded in 1781, Asprey has continuously defined British luxury on the basis of its core values of quality, refinement and innovation. CONTACT: asprey.com
Supporter: Bacardi
Family-owned Bacardi was founded 154 years ago in Santiago de Cuba, on February 4, 1862, and sells in 160 countries globally. The Company operates 29 production facilities located around the world.
CONTACT: bacardilimited.com
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The IWSC’s spirits tasting at Vintner’s Hall
Emerging talent
IWSC Associate Judge of
the Year:
CHERRY CONSTABLE
This year, the IWSC chose freelance drinks writer Cherry Constable as its Associate Judge of the Year, praising
her tasting ability and breadth of knowledge.
Specialising in
spirits, specifically gin, Cherry judged for the IWSC on wines, fortified wines and spirits over the course of 2017, with judges particularly impressed by her nose for whisky.
“Her ability to judge whiskies was particularly appreciated by chair judges, with good consistent scoring similar to the other experienced judges on the panels,” the IWSC judges said. Cherry was also praised by the panel for demonstrating excellent timing, her contribution to discussions and her analytical approach.
A worthy winner of this award, Cherry established her career in the drinks industry after completing a BTEC National Diploma in Hospitality and Catering, with a module of alcoholic beverages proving particularly inspiring. She later enrolled on a course at Plumpton College to study Wine Business, and has also achieved her Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET) Diploma.