2017 San Diego Spirits Festival Competition Results

The 2017 San Diego International Spirits Competition had the toughest field of great entries from both the United States and Internationally, and all spirits were judged on their individual merits and attributes.

The 2017 bottle judging competition was well supported with 162 entries in various categories, from vodka and gin, to whiskeys, rum, agave spirits and liqueurs, and packaged cocktails. George Manska, inventor of the Neat Glass was the Advisory Council.

Spirits were presented to judges in coded NEAT glasses in a blind tasting format. No spirits bottles were visible to judges at any time until the competition was finalized.

Of the 162 entries entered, only 81 Medals were awarded across all categories, 6 Double Gold; 17 Gold; 27 Silver; 29 Bronze.

Judges: Philip Dobard, David Rippentrop, Brian Christensen, John Fluke, Rich Manning, Billy Nordmeier, Greg Nagel, Jeremiah White, Jeff Apodaca and Paula Dezzutti Hewlette, tasted all entries in the NEAT glass, designed to dissipate alcohol and magnify aromas. Spirits were judged on appearance, aroma, taste, and finish.

Every medal awarded was won against a field of competitors, and no automatic medals were awarded. 2017 saw Six Double Gold medals (Highest Recommendation) awarded to Adictivo Anejo Tequila, Panther City Distillery Hell’s Half Acre Vodka, Queensborough Gin, Ron Valiero Reserva Especial Extra Aged Rum, Laphroaig Single Malt Scotch Whisky Select and Nardini Pescacello Peach Liqueur.

Seventeen Gold medals (Highly Recommended), 27 Silver medals, and 29 Bronze medals were awarded. The judges at the competition awarded these distinguished medals to the best of the best.

Here are the full results:

HIGHEST HONOR DOUBLE GOLD

• Panther City Distillery Hell’s Half Acre Vodka
• Adictivo Anejo Tequila
• Queensborough Gin
• Ron Valiero Reserva Especial Extra Aged Rum
• Laphroaig Single Malt Scotch Whisky Select
• Nardini Pescacello Peach Liqueur

WHISKEY

• Double Gold: Laphroaig Single Malt Scotch Whisky Select
• Gold: Dry Fly Straight Triticale Whiskey Port Barrel Finish
• Gold: Kamiki Japanese Whiskey
• Silver: Cadee Distillery Deciptivus Bourbon Whiskey
• Silver: Two James Spirits Catchers Rye Whiskey
• Silver: Laphroaig LORE Single Malt Scotch Whisky
• Bronze: Southern Champion Crooked Fox Bourbon Whiskey
• Bronze: Early Times Bottled in Bond Whiskey
• Bronze: Cadee Distillery Cascadia Rye Whiskey
• Bronze: Catskill Provisions New York Honey Whiskey
• Bronze: Laphroaig Single Malt Scotch Whisky 10 year old
• Bronze: Micil Irish Poitin

VODKA

• Double Gold: Panther City Distillery Hell’s Half Acre Vodka
• Gold: Drake’s Organic Vodka
• Gold: Aermoor Vodka
• Gold: Gorgeous Vodka Original
• Silver: Southern Champion XIII Kings Vodka
• Silver: Texas Wildflower Craft Vodka
• Silver: Northwest Natural Spirits Wild Root Pear Vodka
• Silver: Failte Vodka
• Silver: BLK EYE Vodka
• Bronze: Native Spirits Vektor Vodka
• Bronze: Purity Vodka
• Bronze: Benazet Blanc Vodka
• Bronze: Dry Town Vodka

GIN

• Double Gold: Central City Brewers Queensborough Gin
• Gold: Dry Town Gin
• Gold: Gin 13
• Silver: Faber Gin
• Silver: Baltimore Shot Tower Gin
• Bronze: Gordon Castle Gin
• Bronze: Southern Champion Andrew John’s Gin
• Bronze: Braunstein Distillery Danica Gin

AGAVE SPIRITS

• Double Gold: Adictivo Anejo Tequila
• Gold: Suave Spirits Blanco Tequila
• Gold: Oro Imperial Reposado Tequila
• Gold: Savage and Cooke Ayate Tequila Reposado
• Gold: Adictivo Extra Anejo Tequila
• Silver: Siempre Tequila Plata
• Silver: Suave Lunar Rested Tequila
• Silver: 60 Tequila Reposado
• Silver: Suave Tequila Reposado
• Silver: Adictivo Tequila Extra Anejo Cristallino
• Silver: Meil de Tiera Espadin Mezcal
• Bronze: 60 Tequila Blanco
• Bronze: El Rey Tequila Blanco
• Bronze: Adictivo Tequila Reposado
• Bronze: Vikera Tequila Anejo
• Bronze: Vikera Tequila Extra Anejo
• Bronze: Mezcal Veras Reposado
• Bronze: Mezcal Veras Joven
• Bronze: El Rey Hibiscus Tequila
• Bronze: El Rey Pineapple Coconut Tequila

RUM

• Double Gold: Ron Valiero Reserva Especial Extra Aged Rum
• Gold: Yolo Rum Gold
• Gold: Mountain Peak Espresso Rum
• Gold: Ron Veleiro Anejo Rum
• Silver: William Hinton Rum Agricole
• Silver: Yolo Rum Clear
• Silver: Drake’s Organic White Rum
• Silver: Redlock Spiced Rum
• Bronze: Southern Champion Pelican Harbor Light Rum
• Bronze: Tanduay Asian Rum Silver

LIQUEURS AND OTHER

• Double Gold: Nardini Pescacello Peach Liqueur
• Gold: Nardini Ameretto Liqueur
• Gold: Richardo’s Decaf Coffee Liqueur
• Silver: Marquinhas Ginja D’Obidas Cherry Liqueur
• Silver: Nardini Limoncello
• Silver: Nardini Sambuca
• Silver: Cafe Agave Salted Caramel Liqueur
• Silver: Café Agave Mocha Liqueur
• Bronze: Cafe Agave Toasted Coconut Liqueur
• Bronze: Café Agave French Vanilla Liqueur
• Bronze: Nardini Applecello
• Bronze: Zamaca Liqueur
• Bronze: Buzz Box Coconut Cocktail

MOONSHINE

• Gold: Jose Miguel Puro Midnight Moonshine
• Silver: Dark Corner World’s Best Moonshine
• Silver: 300 Days of Shine Centennial Wheat Moonshine

DESIGN AWARDS

• Double Gold: Adictvio Tequila
• Double Gold: Ayate Tequila
• Gold: Suave Tequila Lunar Rested
• Gold: William Hinton Madeira Rum
• Gold: Sharish Gin
• Gold: Gem & Bolt Mezcal
• Gold: Rabbit & Grass Tequila
• Gold: Saville Rumtini
• Gold: Fáilte Vodka
• Bronze: Glass Vodka
• Bronze: Gorgeous Vodka
• Bronze: Virus Vodka

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