Ultimate Spirits Challenge Announces 2015 Award Winners

Ultimate Spirits Challenge, a global standard for spirits competitions, announced today the winners and full results for the 2015 Challenge.

aaNow in its sixth year, Ultimate Spirits Challenge celebrates 33 Chairman Trophy winners, the highest award, along with 162 Finalists as well as Tried & True Awards and Great Values.

The Challenge, which grew by 14% from 2014, was held in its specially designed evaluation center in Hawthorne, NY.

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All products are rated on the 100-point scale by spirits industry judges, including award-winning authors, buyers, journalists, educators and bar owners.

The judges for USC 2015: Founder/Judging Chairman F. Paul PacultJames Conley, Tad Carducci, Dale DeGroff, Gregg Glaser, Geoffrey Kleinman, Douglass Miller, Dan Nicolaescu, Steve Olson, Will Shine, Francis Schott, Andy Seymour and Jennifer Simonetti-Bryan, MW. 

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Full results.

USC 2015 – Chairman Trophy Winners

Tried & True Award (T&TA): Spirit brands are eligible for the Tried & True Award if they have scored 85 points or above in at least two Ultimate Spirits Challenges since 2010. 

Great Values (GV): is awarded to products with a favorable relationship between their price and final USC score. They are the finest spirits within their respective price points.

VODKA

Unflavored: Russian Standard Original (GV)

Flavored: Van Gogh Dutch Caramel (GV)

 

GIN

Cold River (GV, T&TA)

 

RUM

Opthimus Finished in Port Casks 25 Years Old

 

TEQUILA 100% AGAVEb3

Blanco: El Tesoro Platinum (T&TA)

Reposado: Blue Nectar (GV)

Añejo: Siete Leguas (GV, T&TA)

Extra Añejo: Malinalli (T&TA)

 

MEZCAL

Amaras (GV)

 

WHISKEY – USA

American: Lone Elm Texas Wheat

Kentucky Straight Bourbon: Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve 20 Years Old (T&TA)

Rye: Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Straight 6 Years Old (T&TA)

Tennessee: George Dickel No. 12 (GV, T&TA)

 

WHISKEY – IRELAND

Blended: Jameson 18 Years Old (T&TA)

Irish Pot Still: Redbreast 15 Years Old (T&TA)

Single Malt: Bushmills 16 Years Old (T&TA)

 

WHISKY – SCOTLAND

Blended Malt: Sheep Dip (T&TA)

Blended: Dewar’s 18 Years Old (T&TA)

Single Malt: Aberlour A’bunadh Single Malt (GV, T&TA)

 

WHISKY – CANADA

Tap Rye Sherry Finished 8 Years Old (GV)

 

WHISKY – FRANCE

Armorik Single Malt Sherry Finish (T&TA)

 

WHISKY – WALES

Penderyn Single Malt (T&TA)

 

BRANDY

Armagnac: Chateau de Laubade Cask Strength 1989 25 Years Old Bas-Armagnac

Calvados: Boulard XO Auguste

Cognac: ABK6 XO Family Reserve (GV)

Grappa: Candolini Bianca (GV)

Pisco: Pisco Porton Mosto Verde Italia

Spanish Brandy: Cardenal Mendoza Solera Gran Reserva (T&TA)

Grape Brandy: Asbach Gothe Vintage Reserve 1952 Cask No. 1777

 

LIQUEUR

Grand Marnier Cuvee du Centenaire

 

dbVERMOUTH

Noilly Prat Rouge (GV)

 

SHOCHU

iichiko BLŪ

 

BITTERS/AMARO

Foro Amaro (GV)

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