The International Wine & Spirit Competition is an annual wine and spirit competition founded in 1969 by the German/British oenologist Anton Massel. [1] Each year the competition receives entries from over 90 countries worldwide. The awards given by the competition are considered as high honours in the industry. [2] [3] [4] The judging occurs annually, in London. Only brands that pay the entry fee are judged, and two or four bottles of each entry must be supplied, depending on the category entered. [5]
Depending on the points out of 100 awarded, submitted drinks can receive gold outstanding (for spirits only), gold, silver, or bronze awards, and there are no limitations on how many of each which can be awarded. [6] There is also an extensive range of trophies each year. [7]
The judging process consists of blind tasting and panel discussion. [8] Entries are judged by panels drawn from 250 specialists from around the world.
In 2019, IWSC wine judging moved to London for the first time. [9]
The competition makes use of over 250 specialist judges from all over the world. Many are Masters of Wine, Master Sommelier, some are winemakers or distillers, others are trade specialists, each judging in their special field.
The competition culminates in London in Autumn with the annual awards presentation and dinner, at the Roundhouse (previously the annual banquet was held at the City of London Guildhall). [10]
A President/Industry Champion is selected annually from influential individuals in the wines and spirits industry. After their term, they serve on the competition’s Advisory Board.
Master of Wine (MW) is a qualification issued by The Institute of Masters of Wine in the United Kingdom. The MW qualification is generally regarded in the wine industry as one of the highest standards of professional knowledge.
Pulteney distillery is a malt whisky production and aging facility in the Pulteneytown area of Wick, Caithness, in the Highland area of Scotland. The distillery produces the Old Pulteney single malt whisky at a number of ages and has a visitor centre in Huddart Street.
Vana Tallinn is an Estonian brand of liqueur manufactured continuously by Liviko since 1960. The recipe contains Jamaican rum and a variety of herbs and spices.
Speyburn distillery is a Speyside Scottish whisky distillery, in Rothes, Moray, Scotland.
A wine competition is an organized event in which trained judges or consumers competitively rate different vintages, categories, and/or brands of wine. Wine competitions generally use blind tasting of wine to prevent bias by the judges.
James Halliday is an Australian wine writer and critic, winemaker, and senior wine competition judge.
Reyka is a brand of vodka distilled and bottled in Iceland.
Vikingfjord Vodka is a brand of vodka, distilled from potatoes and bottled by the Norwegian company Arcus. It is distilled through a five-column process, using only glacial water from the Jostedalsbreen glacier in South-Western Norway.
Whitley Neill Gin is a London Dry gin.
Debra Meiburg MW is an multi-media wine journalist, wine educator, wine judge and a first recipient of the Master of Wine title in Asia. She is also founding director, along with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, of the Cathay Hong Kong International Wine & Spirit Competition. Now in its 14th year, it is the largest pan-Asian wine competition. Having passed the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exams, Meiburg was formerly an accountant at Price Waterhouse Coopers Hong Kong. Meiburg’s career change into wine saw her focus on wine education and journalism, but she has worked in vineyards and wineries in Chile, Bordeaux, South Africa and New York. Born in Sonoma County, she is a long-time and permanent resident of Hong Kong.
Bong Spirit Vodka is a vodka brand, sold in a bottle shaped like a bong. It is made from European grain, distilled six times and filtered through four processes, using reverse osmosis and charcoal filtering. It is distributed in the United States by Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits, and Republic National.
Gilpin's Westmorland Extra Dry Gin is a London Dry Gin distilled in London in small batches using the traditional pot still method with spring water from Cartmel in the English Lake District. Botanicals include juniper, sage, borage, lime (fruit) and bitter orange. Bottled at 47% ABV.
Laura Catena is a fourth generation Argentine vintner, physician and author.
With a growing number of offerings, such as those produced by an increasing number of microdistilleries, various mechanisms have arisen to provide reviews and opinions of individual varieties of spirits. These events generally use expert panels and blind tastings within specific categories to provide opinions and ratings.
Julian Brind MW was a British Master of Wine and director of buying wines, beers, spirits and soft drinks for the Waitrose supermarket chain. Brind was a key figure in the transformation of the British wine trade from the 1970s onwards.
Monterebro is a Spanish wine producer. and range of Spanish wines produced in D.O.P. Jumilla, which is located in the Mediterranean wine-producing region of Murcia, in South East of Spain.
Kyrö Distillery Company is a Finnish rye distillery founded in a sauna in 2012. Kyrö uses 100 per cent Finnish rye to produce rye gin and rye whisky. In 2015, Kyrö Napue Gin, formerly known as Napue, won the Best Gin for Gin & Tonic category in the International Wine and Spirit competition. In August 2020 Kyrö launched its rye whisky, Kyrö Malt. To support health care workers during COVID-19, Kyrö started producing hand sanitizer. Through the sales of hand sanitizer, the company managed to avoid layoffs, and they have continued in production.
Excellia is a tequila range made from agave Tequilana Weber Blue. Its specific ageing process is conducted using Sauternes wine casks and Cognac barrels.
Richard Paterson, OBE is a Scottish author and whisky expert. He is a master blender with over five decades of experience in the whisky industry. In the industry, he is nicknamed "The Nose" and is seen as one of the most respected blenders in the Scottish malt whisky industry.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)