Category Archives: Spirits

The BevTest Best Drinks of 2024

In the aftermath of last week, whether you are popping Champagne corks or crying in your beer, one thing is clear—America could use a good drink.

To that end, the intrepid panelists at Beverage Testing Institute have been hard at work these past eleven months tasting through thousands of wines, spirits, and beers to find the very best tasting, most pleasurable libations in the land.

We invite you to share in our discoveries and bring some hard-earned, potable pleasure to your holidays and beyond.

See our complete list here: https://www.tastings.com/Awards/Best-Of-Year-2024-Spirits.aspx

News: BevTest’s Best Whisky Reviews on Forbes

BevTest is fortunate to have a great working relationship with writers for Forbes and in July they posted not one, not two, but three articles featuring top whiskies from our 2024 World Spirits Championships®—Irish, Scotch and World Whiskies we selected as platinum and gold medal winners for this year.

Congratulations to these fine brands and please seek out the deliciousness they will deliver to you!

Irish Whiskey

Scotch Whisky

World Whiskies

Sherry, Sherry in the Cask. Who is the Fairest You Might Ask?

A tippling tour through the wonderland of Sherry-finished whiskies

For many lovers of fine Whiskies or luxury spirits of any type, there are few things better than a well-aged Scotch matured in Sherry barrels. The intense aromatics, often redolent with dried red fruits and fudge, exude a certain sumptuousness. Though Cognac had long been the spirited drink of sophisticates the world over, and has regained some of that reputation today, when phylloxera ravaged the vineyards of France in the last quarter of the nineteenth century a considerable hole was left in the global spirits market. Tasting these types of drams, the appeal and transition from Cognac to Scotch becomes quite easy to understand as the natural replacement with fingerprints on consumers drinking preference the world over more than one hundred and fifty years later.

Perhaps this bridge in flavor profile is also what has led Sherry cask matured whiskies to be held as some of the most prestigious Scotch Whisky brands in the world. This hypothesis rings particularly true when you see the bottle prices of finely matured Sherry cask examples in Asia’s premier Whisky markets like Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, and Taiwan that have also been the primary market for premium Cognac. Because of this association with luxury, one can see examples of sexagenarian Macallan and vintage Yamazaki Sherry Cask Single Malts achieving incredible prices at auction, and Kavalan’s production out of Taiwan has grown to cover a wide range of wine cask aged expressions attuned to the market demand of these palates.

Now part of what made Sherry cask aging appealing more than a century ago was the ease and availability of these casks. Sherry was shipped in cask rather than bottles to the United Kingdom and empty barrels were purchased and refilled quite quickly as the most common oak vessel available in Scotland during this era. Unfortunately, today not too many folks are sipping a Cream Sherry made from Oloroso, much less a fancy Manzanilla, so the input cost of getting high quality European oak Sherry butts (500-liter cask) is cresting. Casting aside the economics of casks for the time being, however fascinating that might be to the minority of us, the impetus behind the philosophizing of potent potables was the partaking in a plethora of magnificently consistent Kavalan single barrel releases.

To pour a glass of Kavalan one cannot help but immediately notice the aromas and color of the whisky; this is a beverage led by barrel characteristics from start to finish. Whiskies’ flavors derive primarily from either the grains, the malting (with or without smoke and peat), fermentation (yeast type, temperature, and duration), distillation (still design and cuts), and cask maturation. So Kavalan exhibits our primary indicator of a Sherry bomb; aroma, flavor, and finish being primarily driven by the oak maturation process. When sipping these single barrel expressions at cask strength, particularly the Oloroso barrel, there is a collective thought in the room of not just any Sherry bombs, but a variation of a melody harkening the long since discontinued Macallan Cask Strength Ten Year.

Purely in the name of science… we have no choice but to scour our spirits archives. With treasured tipple in hand, we pop the cork on a Macallan Cask Strength Ten Year that has been untouched for about a decade and a half. Wow. Powerful, balanced, waves of flavor, lots of Oloroso Sherry, and more cask strength power. This bottle sparks two thoughts. First this recalls a time much earlier than the 2000s when Scotch had much more Sherry aging than the dominant bourbon barrel aging that we see today, and secondly this just holds the alcohol differently than the Kavalan. Delicious, intense, and loaded with far more tropical fruits, the hotter climate and short aging time in Taiwan is unmistakably different. Not inherently better nor worse, more a variation on a similar theme that while akin in quality does not taste the same in execution.

Using Macallan cask strength as our benchmark from 20 years ago when single malts began a precipitous rise to global market dominance, and Kavalan as our benchmark for a modern market entrant into the category provides a solid global perspective. But of course, we can’t leave a good idea and opportunity for tasting Sherry bombs here. We must push on for science! Covering the range from 80 proof to cask strength, we are looking at the majority of the Kavalan range for comparison: Concertmaster Port, Sherry, and Vinho Barrique, Soloist Oloroso, Fino, Manzanilla, Amontillado, Port, Vinho Barrique, Moscatel, Pedro Jiminez, and Brandy, Triple Sherry, and Distillery Reserve Madeira. For Scotch we grab Aberlour 12 YO, 16 YO, 18 YO, and A’bunadh with Macallan 12 YO, 18 YO, 25 YO, and Exceptional Single Cask to further pair with Glenfarclas 12 YO, 17 YO, 25 YO, and 105 and Glendronach 12 YO, 18 YO, and 21 YO. Then there is single barrel Tamdhu cask strength expression from Signatory, with Dalmore 12 YO, Cigar Blend, and Alexander III, to go with Balvenie 12 YO, and 17 YO Double Casks, Glenmorangie Lasanta, Bowmore 12 YO, 15 YO Darkest, and 18 YO, Glenrothes 18 YO, GlenAllachie 15 YO some Highland Park single barrels aged exclusively in first fill Sherry, and last but not least a bottle of Bruichladdich 1986 Rare Cask. For modern domestic entrants we grab some Stranahan’s, Courage & Conviction, and Westland aged in Sherry. With the crown jewel of the tasting being some Yamazaki 2013 Sherry Cask. (Just kidding, we would love to try this example, but even with all our industry contacts don’t know anyone with an open bottle)[1]

Checking in on some domestic sherry bombs we have the Strahanan’s which comes closest to the Scottish style with Westland and Courage & Conviction making excellent entrants into the category while being less overt with the Sherry cask flavor. Altering the sherry bomb outline slightly, as all of the other whiskies are Single Malt, we check in on the Middle West 6-Year-Old Bourbon in Sherry barrels, sweet and very Bourbon-esque, but led by dominant sherry barrel flavors all the same. Not too dissimilar from Angel’s Envy in concept and well worth a try if you enjoy these types of American Whiskies.

Not particularly known for producing Sherry barreled or Sherry finished whiskies, Bruichladdich, can on occasion offer up a Sherry bomb gem. As the internal product story goes the 1986 Rare Cask was the final seven casks of distillate laid down in first fill sherry butts back in 1986 where it remained untouched until 2012 when Jim McEwan has the whisky recasked into Pedro Ximenez butts from Bodega Fernando de Castilla for an additional four years. What could be more Sherry bomb than double Sherry for 30 years? Pop the cork and start pouring, you immediately know this is a serious whisky as the aromatics are easily detected from a meter or more away. Dried black cherries, figs, dates, cocoa nibs, leather, and maduro tobacco exude from the glass and are matched on the palate with a density and richness of figgy toffee pudding topped with candied walnuts. Baked caramel apple, singed salted caramels, black tea leaves, dark chocolate covered orange peels. This also has that old Bruichladdich fingerprint of a mild smokey peatiness that lingers on the palate like a light puff of a finely crafted cigar.

Big picture take aways

Sampling Kavalan one after another and the initial impression is that these younger barrels, aged in the heat just do not hold the higher ABV as elegantly as their Scottish counterparts aged for a decade or two. However, when trying a cask strength Kavalan paired by cask type in between cask strength Aberlour and Glenfarclas, the flavor of the heat becomes more apparent, and the “burn” is not just the prickle of alcohol but a level of spice that the Scotch representatives do not have, and which builds with more sips of the Taiwanese example. So, while the mild weather of Scotland does produce a more round and integrated perception of alcohol, and the Kavalan is a bit more assertive, the climate of Taiwan also imparts these casks with an added barrel spice found nowhere else on a Single Malt of this caliber anywhere in the world.

Whether you grab a bottle of Macallan that was for sale in 1983, 2003, or today the product is great. Macallan has earned their rarified reputation and positioning on the top shelf with an attention to detail and consistency that extends to Highland Park, as well as Glenrothes, and Tamdhu during their watch. Are the stratospheric auction prices justified? That is for the individual to decide should they have that type of money for rare and exclusive items. Sadly, this relentless climb of secondary market pricing justifies the annual increase to flagship products like the Macallan 12 YO and 18 YO making them too expensive for some of their longtime supporters. Folks can argue both sides of the quality to price ratio here, but Macallan’s seat on the mountain was earned.

With Macallan gaining new fans every day, where have the fans of the brand and style from previous decades gone? Obviously, some have moved to Kavalan, and a good many have stayed with Edrington team sipping Highland Park, if they like smoke, or Glenrothes. Others have been chasing Billy Walker’s cask management and passion projects, particularly stops with Glendronach and GlenAllachie. John Grant and his spectacular Glenfarclas somehow manage to fly under the radar, most likely because they are one of the few distilleries that is still family owned and they refuse to beat their chests and bellow, rather preferring that customers serendipitously discover these gems for themselves. Bowmore, like Highland Park caters to a growing niche that likes smoke and Sherry cask aging. While Aberlour and Balvenie go along being excellent yet playing little brother to their partner distilleries Glenlivet and Glenfiddich; a shame, because both brand portfolios are both rich in history and flavor, built for more serious consideration. Value again is in the eye of the purchaser, but every one of the aforementioned brands has been found guilty of making our wallets lighter and found a home in our personal collections.

Last but not least, if you don’t immediately like your wine cask aged whisky, let it stay in your glass for a few hours, and let your newly opened bottle sit on the shelf for eight to twelve weeks. The issues of sulfur, used as a preservative in for shipment of Sherry and wine casks are lessened from a few years back, but they are still present, and many distilleries keep casks for several decades. Mild, slow aeration will help the off-putting aromas blow off in most cases, as well as often bitter oak tannins. In more extreme cases you can attempt to save a bottle by dropping in an old clean copper penny… there really is some science here. Not every brand nor bottle will be great, but a little patience and information can hopefully improve a few. Slàinte Mhath!

[1] Though using archival samples with historic scores, and spitting alcohol to remain lucid, we are also using samples from our personal collections. This is a comparative tasting to inform curious minds and contextualize the spirits against a historic global market. This does not reflect the annual product reviews and scores conducted in laboratory conditions at the Beverage Testing Institute.

Tasting Rum is More Than Fun

For many of us Rum is a drink first associated with fun; beach vacations with a Pina Colada or Daiquiri, a Hurricane at Mardi Gras, rum and cokes at a college party, or Mai Tais and Painkillers keeping the winter blues away while you dream of beautiful Polynesian islands. Rum more than any other beverage is associated with fun. But don’t let the fun fool you, in the finest examples, such as El Dorado 15 Year or Zacapa Centenario, rum is as fine a sipping spirit as Single Malt Scotch, Cognac, and Bourbon, with connoisseurs taking the spirit just as seriously. What rum lacks in reaching true premium status is the regulatory regiment of a single country enforcing production methods.

Imagine going to the store and having to ascertain if the Rittenhouse, Midleton, Eagle Rare, Yamazaki, or Lao Khao bottle next to the Macallan 12 was or was not the same kind of whisky. Lines of demarcation and order largely exist in the world of Whiskies, because of countries regulating regional categories. Those regulations over time lead to a global marketplace and public awareness that when you pick up a bottle of Weller 12 you don’t think the whiskey will taste like Laphroaig 10 Year. Now head down the Rum aisle and attempt to ascertain the differences between sugar cane column still distillate like Rhum J.M. or molasses-based column distillate from Havana Club. Is 21-year-old Fijian pot still from Holmes Cay or 10-year pot still from Mount Gay basically made the same way or totally differently? What is the difference between Worthy Park and Zaya when the retailer describes both as “rich and heavy” in style?

As rum becomes a more serious sipper with aficionados and collectors there is a temptation to homogenize to a categorical standard along the lines of Single Malt Scotch Whisky. Although these efforts towards truth in age statements, transparency in cask management and distillate source, and removal of flavoring and additives in Rum not marked as flavored or spiced are to be commended, one need only scan a few online message boards to wonder if the current call for “dry” Rum is sucking the fun out of the category. Admittedly some Rums are so heavily back sweetened as to border being a cordial and we are all aware that sugar has long been used to cover up flaws in distillate, as well as bitterness and tannins picked up in oak maturation. Nonetheless, sugar—whether direct from the fields, processed and returned as molasses or used to back-sweeten—is the base ingredient of Rum and some degree of sweetness is an inextricable part of the spirit, character, and fun of Rum.

History shows that Rum has always been sweetened. Sugar hides flaws of lower quality products and obscures complexity, intensity, and nuance in high quality products, but when blended and balanced delicately can add a rounder texture, counteract the perception of acid and alcohol, and accentuate natural fruit flavors. Some of the finest wines in the world like Chateau d’Yquem, Egon Müller’s Riesling, or Tokaji Essesncia rely on sugar. Many Champagne house tête de cuvée also include a dash of sugar to balance the acidity. The ability to include a little sugar should not be seen as bad in and of itself. Sugar used to excess or added with the ability to also mix in vanilla, cinnamon, and other flavors, as is done in various countries without any disclosure, while other producers choose to be transparent or are required to by national law to do so, is the problem and essentially like doping in international sports. The long-term solution, like sports, is regulation such as we see with Martinique AOC Rhum and are beginning to see with efforts from Richard Seale of Four Square distillery, Mount Gay, and Diplomatico in creating Rum Designations of Controlled Origins (DOC), and others testing new categorical constraints.

Island dreams of establishing national regulations from a year-round BevTest lab in Fiji aside, the team at Beverage Testing Institute are well qualified to unravel the testing portion of this Gordian Knot (and blind no less!) Rum cannot be simplified down to pot still, column still, or blended, nor broken down to cane juice, grade A, B, and black strap molasses. The French, Spanish, or English colonial traditions of a place also only paint a partial picture that can often obscure much like the use or exclusion of back sweetening. Is there a funky characteristic arising from the use of natural yeast, dunder pits, or a variety of casks? Each of these aspects, and many more, must be understood and placed in context without the benefit of standardized categories (tasting XO Cognac seems so simple in comparison) to contextualize and analyze a Rum. A complex situation to be sure, but there too is part of the fun of Rum. With or without sugar or cask aging, a rum’s story is told by the quality of distillate, devoid of flaws, and then blended and balanced to please the senses. So let’s get to tasting and let the tropical vacation begin.

The Saga of “Poor Man’s Pappy”

And How We Came to Also Love Other Wheated Bourbons

The hype surrounding Weller Bourbon starts with the air of mystique and luxury surrounding Pappy Van Winkle. For those of you haven’t drank much Bourbon or are new to the genre, maybe that bottle of Weller 12 Year Old Bourbon strategically placed in Yellowstone really caught your attention, you can find the story of Pappy Van Winkle all over the internet and in print. To oversimplify the tale starts with an uncommon mashbill, some well-crafted distillate aged in some choice barrels, and a record setting score and validation from the team here at the Beverage Testing Institute (BevTest). Add in a major production move to the Buffalo Trace Distillery mixed with amazing endorsements from celebrity tastemakers like Anthony Bourdain and BOOM, an already exclusive and pricey luxury good, Pappy Van Winkle, essentially starts the secondary market for Bourbon. Following a story line common amongst premium goods, price conscience consumers begin looking for viable alternatives, which leads us to Weller.

Circa the early 2010’s, whiskey personality and writer Fred Minnick announced a secret that most of us insiders had known about for years; since Buffalo Trace became involved with Pappy, Weller has made with the same mashbill, on the same stills, placed in the same barrels, and aged in the same rickhouses as Pappy. Now anyone with a sibling or a twin can tell you that the same upbringing does not yield the same outcomes. And don’t forget that brand principals Julian and Preston Van Winkle still have a lot to say in making Pappy Van Winkle, more than just another Weller variation. An expert taster can clearly tell Pappy and Weller apart, but they would also acknowledge that strong similarities are there.

In addition to BevTest’s famous score of 99 for the Pappy Van Winkle 20 YO in 1997, the 15 YO scored a 98 in 2004, and the 20 YO took home another 99 in 2008—all platinum medals here at BevTest. Also worth repeating here, for those that don’t know, BevTest’s tastings are blind and conducted by a panel of experts, so a consensus opinion of four expert tasters on such a high score is no easy feat and Pappy Van Winkle rightfully sits amongst the pantheon of world-class spirits. Absolutely no slouch and delicious on its own merits, Weller 12, based on BevTest’s blind panels, was a consistent gold medal (90-95 points) winner in 2002, 2006, and 2015.

Approximately 8 or so years ago if you were one of the many people standing in line for hours or paying a 400+% markup for Pappy at a quasi-legal auction, we confidently agree with Mr. Minnick telling us all that the value play was to go out and buy a case of Weller 12 for the price of one bottle of Van Winkle. For those really looking to dial in the flavor, it was even contended that by mixing in Weller 107 to bring up the proof, you could make a “Poor Man’s Pappy.” Frankly, that would probably convince 95% of consumers in a casual tasting, but that’s why places like BevTest have blind tastings with experts on the panels, right? Fast forward to today and the crux of the issue at hand is that Weller is now what Pappy Van Winkle used to be in terms of pricing and scarcity with bottles from the original Stitzel-Weller distillery jumping into the stratosphere of collectible spirits in a league with Macallan 25 and Louis XIII.

Retasting archival bottles and referencing old scores are a wonderful tool for checking in on consistency, and part of the BevTest experience for brands is an invitation to taste a spirit at least once every three years to verify that consistency. So, what were our most recent findings for Weller? True to form the Antique 107, Single Barrel, and Fuller Proof were all gold medal recipients in 2020. The shock was that Weller 12 dropped down to a silver medal, based on both on the blind tasting panel, as well as an editorial tasting that corroborated the panel’s findings using archive samples of Weller 12 and side by side with the rest of the Weller line. A fluke batch perhaps, but we’ve heard similar conclusions from other professionals and aficionados. Maybe the prolific demand is straining supply to use less mature barrels, or maybe newer line extensions and single barrel programs are exhausting the stocks that used to make the previous generation of Weller 12 a “poor man’s” stand in for Pappy.

Is Weller worth the price of admission? These are excellent whiskies and at their suggested retail prices there should be zero hesitation to own, drink, and add the label’s cachet to your back bar (but please don’t hoard). However, if you have to stand in long lines, overpay because of price gouging, or get into bidding wars at auction, the juice is not worth the squeeze. While prices are going up universally, there are still tremendous values in Bourbon to be found. If having a “wheater” is a must, check out Old Elk, Larceny, Old Fitzgerald, Rebel Yell, and of course Maker’s Mark, especially some of the single barrel options and over-proof options of the 46. Not inexpensive but any means, but far less than secondary market prices for Weller or Pappy and widely available on store shelves. Your dollars and your choice, but we advocate for drinking great whiskey over chasing and staring at unopened liquid trophies.

Best of the Year 2022

Looking back at the year 2022 so far, and we have quite a list of Best of Year selections covering the world of Spirits, Wine, Beer, Ready-to-Drink, Seltzers, and more. We also had the opportunity to discuss some these dazzling stars with author, Global Council of Whiskey Masters Board Member, and Forbes contributor, Joseph V Micallef. So be sure to check out his thoughts on the BevTest Best Whiskies and Best Spirits of the year.

2021 Best of Year Awards Announced

Beverage Testing Institute 2021 Best of Year awards offer some of the most exciting wins the 41-year-old organization has seen. Highlights include a perfect 100-point score, new awards for Isreali wines, a flavored whiskey shake-up, big wins for a New York State Riesling and many more. Big players like Beam-Suntory and Pernod-Ricard won big, but independently owned brands like Novo Fogo and Mezcales de Leyenda held their own.

BevTest is the nation’s alcohol beverage research firm and conducts the oldest international wine, beer and spirits competitions in the United States. Since 1981 their analyses and insights have guided tens of thousands of brands and millions of consumers. This year’s review was conducted over nine months with near daily blind panels of top buyers and experts in BevTest’s own sensory laboratory. BevTest’s Cornell University co-developed methodology ensures the fairest playing field for entrants.

2021 Best Barbera: Sobon Estate 2019 Barbera, Amador

2021 Top 2 Bordeaux Varietal Blend: Alexandria Nicole 2018 Destiny Red Blend, Horse Heaven Hills

2021 Top 2 Bordeaux Varietal Blend: Jarvis 2018 Will Jarvis’ Science Project, Napa Valley

2021 Best White Burgundy: Nicolas Potel 2020 Pouilly-Fuissé

2021 Best Cabernet Franc: Shenandoah Vineyards 2018 Cabernet Franc, Amador County

2021 Best Chilean Carmenere: Mosqueteros 2019 Gran Reserva, Carmenere, Rapel Valley

2021 Best Domestic Carmenere: Yorkville Cellars 2018 Rennie Organic Estate Vineyard, Carmenère, Yorkville Highlands

2021 Best Chardonnay: Jarvis 2019 Finch Hollow, Chardonnay, Napa Valley

2021 Best Port-Style Wine: Mount Pleasant Estates NV Tawny Port Library Volume XX, Augusta, Missouri

2021 Best Flavored Wine: Grove Selections NV Pomegranate, New Mexico

2021 Best Grenache: Jaraman 2020 Grenache, McLaren Vale

2021 Best Ice Wine: Johnson Estate 2019 Estate Grown Ice Wine, Chambourcin, Lake Erie

2021 Best Lemberger: Adirondack Winery 2018 Stargazer, Lemberger, New York State

2021 Best French Sauvignon Blanc: Domaine Beausejour 2020 Les Silex, Sauvignon Blanc, Touraine

2021 Best Malbec: Paradise Ridge 2018 Branham Vineyard, Malbec, Rockpile

2021 Best Cremant: Antech 2018 Emotion Brut Sparkling Rosé, Crémant de Limoux AOC

2021 Best Israeli Red: Galil Mountain 2018 Yiron Red Blend, Galilee

2021 Best Provence Rose: Kirkland Signature 2020 Rosé, Côtes de Provence

2021 Best Spanish Red: Portal del Priorat 2018 Negre de Negres, Priorat

2021 Best Red Wine: Jarvis 2015 Petit Verdot, Napa Valley

2021 Best Petite Syrah: Monte De Oro 2017 Estate Grown Monte De Oro Vineyard, Petite Sirah, Temecula Valley

2021 Best Asti Spumante: Acquesi NV Spumante, Asti DOCG

2021 Best Moscato dAsti: Saracco 2020 Moscato d’Asti, Piemonte DOC

2021 Best Pinot Gris: Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards 2019 Pinot Gris, Finger Lakes

2021 Best Pinot Noir: McIlroy 2019 Vines & Roses Vineyard, Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley

2021 Best Primitivo: Sobon Estate 2019 ReZerve®, Primitivo, Amador County

2021 Best Prosecco: Ruggeri 2020 Giustino B, Prosecco DOCG

2021 Best Beaujolais: Domaine Dubost Jean-Paul 2019 Gamay, Beaujolais-Villages

2021 Best Meritage: Oak Farm Vineyards 2018 Genevieve Estate Grown, Red Meritage, Lodi

2021 Best Value Rioja: Fernandez Gomez 2017 Selección Familia , Rioja DOC

2021 Best Value Chateauneuf-du-Pape: Kirkland Signature 2019 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge

2021 Best US Red Blend: Porterhouse Winery 2018 Black Label Reserve Red Blend, Santa Ynez Valley

2021 Best Tavel Rose: Château de Ségriès 2020 Rosé, Tavel

2021 Top 2 Riesling: Wakefield 2020 Riesling, Clare Valley

2021 Top 2 Riesling: Rooftop Reds 2017 Riesling, New York State

2021 Top Australian Sauvignon Blanc: Zonte’s Footstep 2021 Excalibur, Sauvignon Blanc, Adelaide Hills

2021 Best Israeli White: Yarden 2020 Sauvignon Blanc, Galilee

2021 Best Shiraz: Jaraman 2019 Shiraz, McLaren Vale

2021 Best Sparkling Flavored Wine: Sweet Bitch NV Moscato Peach Bubbly, Italy

2021 Best Syrah: Kershaw 2017 Clonal Selection, Syrah, Elgin

Best White Hybrid: Stone Hill 2019 Vignoles, Hermann

2021 Best Sangria: Mija NV White Sangria, New York State

2021 Best Zinfandel: Monte De Oro 2017 Estate Grown, Zinfandel, Temecula Valley

2021 Best American Single Malt Whiskey: Copperworks Distilling Company American Single Malt Whiskey Release No. 038

2021 Best Anejo Tequila: El Tesoro Añejo Tequila

2021 Best Barrel Aged Gin: Bluecoat Barrel Finished Aged Gin

2021 Best Genever: Herman Jansen Notaris 3 Genever

2021 Best Bitter Liqueur: Cynar 70 Bitter Liqueur

2021 Best Mezcal: Mezcal de Leyendas Verde San Luis Potosi Mezcal

2021 Best Blanco Tequila: El Tesoro Blanco Tequila

2021 Best Canadian Whisky: Collingwood Double Barreled Canadian Whisky

2021 Best Coffee Liqueur: Skip Rock Coffee Liqueur

2021 Best Cream Liqueur: Dooley’s Toffee Cream Liqueur

2021 Best Cristalino Tequila: Maestro Dobel 50 Cristalino Tequila Extra Añejo

2021 Best Tequila: El Tesoro Paradiso Tequila Extra Añejo

2021 Best Flavored Vodka: Stolichnaya Cucumber Flavored Vodka

2021 Best Flavored Whiskey: Ole Smoky Peanut Butter Flavored Whiskey

2021 Best Liqueur: Joseph Cartron Sureau Elderflower Liqueur

2021 Best Fruit Liqueur: Merlet Crème De Poire Williams Pear Liqueur

2021 Best Gin: Martin Miller’s Westbourne Strength Gin

2021 Best Gold Rum: Tanduay Gold Asian Rum

2021 Best Irish Blended Whiskey: Jameson Bow Street 18 Year Old Cask Strength Irish Whiskey

2021 Best Irish Single Malt Whiskey: Limavady Single Barrel Irish Single Malt Whiskey

2021 Best Whiskey: Redbreast 27 Year Old Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey

2021 Best Non Alcoholic Spirit: Ritual Zero Proof Tequila Alternative Non Alcoholic Spirit

2021 Best Reposado Tequila: Gran Centenario Reposado Tequila

2021 Best Aged Rum Aged 3 years or less: Mount Gay Eclipse Heritage Blend Rum

2021 Best Rum: APPLETON ESTATE 21 Year Old Rum

2021 Best Single Malt Whisky: Kavalan Solist Oloroso Sherry Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky

2021 Best Single Malt Scotch Whisky: Aberlour A’Bunadh Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky

2021 Bourbon Whiskey: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Straight Bourbon Whiskey

2021 Best Rye Whiskey: Town Branch Small Batch Straight Rye Whiskey

2021 Best Tennessee Whiskey: Uncle Nearest Master Blend Edition Premium Whiskey Blend No. 002

2021 Best Unaged Cachaca: Novo Fogo Bar Strength Silver Cachaca

2021 Best Vodka: elit Vodka

2021 Best White Rum: Jd Shore White Rum

2021 Best Wood Aged Cachaca: Novo Fogo Chameleon Cachaça

2021 Best Cognac: Courvoisier XO Cognac

2021 Best Sake: Naginata Junmai Daiginjo Sake

2021 Best Ready-To-Drink Cocktail: On The Rocks The Jalapeño Pineapple Margarita RTD

2021 Best Mead: Stolen Harvest 2020 Ginger Peach Mead

2021 Best Value Mead: Chaucer’s Sparkling Mead

2021 Best Hard Seltzer: Quirk Spiked & Sparkling Strawberry Lemon & Basil Fruit-Flavored Hard Seltzer

2021 Best FMB: KYLA Sunbreak Series Lavender Lemonade Hard Kombucha

2021 Best Cider: Kystin Secret Ice Cider

2021 Best Ale: Wayne Gretzky Hazy IPA

2021 Best Lager: Damm Brewery Voll-Damm Doble Malta Märzen Doppelbock

For more information visit bevtest.com Consumers and the trade can see all winners at tastings.com

BevTest’s official statement on claims that mezcal is the purest distilled alcohol.

It has come to our attention that numerous online sources have circulated a claim attributed to the Beverage Testing Institute that mezcal is the “purest distilled alcohol”. As mezcal researchers, tasters, and critics, we have the utmost respect for the diversity, flavor, and artistry of the mezcal category; have been authoritatively reviewing mezcals for over 25 years, and in coordination with the state of Oaxaca, conducted the largest professional tasting and review of mezcals in the United States in 2003.

In all our years of tasting, reviewing, and writing about mezcal, BevTest has never made a claim that mezcal is the purest distilled alcohol and all attributions of this claim to BevTest are patently false. Moreover, we believe that such a claim would be impossible for us, or any credible research organization, to scientifically prove and demonstrate and therefore is pure puffery.

For more information about our actual writing and reviews about mezcal, please visit Tastings.com

BTI’s official statement on claims that mezcal is the purest distilled alcohol.

In all our years of tasting, reviewing, and writing about mezcal, BTI has never made a claim that mezcal is the purest distilled alcohol and all attributions of this claim to BTI are patently false. Moreover, we believe that such a claim would be impossible for us, or any credible research organization, to scientifically prove and demonstrate and therefore is pure puffery.

For more information about our actual writing and reviews about mezcal, please visit Tastings.com

BevTest Drops a Rare 100-Point Score in their 2021 World Whisk(e)y Review

Irish Whiskey is on the rise

Beverage Testing Institute has published their 2021 World Whisk(e)y Review which includes a palate-popping 100-point score not seen in nearly a decade. All results can be explored on Tastings.com, BevTest’s sister site, where consumers rely on the beverage alcohol research firm’s fair, consistent reviews to discover drinks they’ll love.

This year’s review boasts a rarely-seen 100-point score awarded to Redbreast 27; the first Irish Whiskey to receive such a prestigious honor in BevTest history. Scores this high haven’t been seen in a whisk(e)y category since Kavalan’s Solist Fino Cask showing in 2014. Redbreast 27 now joins the ranks of the other highest-scoring whiskies, among them the 2008 review of Pappy Van Winkle 20-year-old Family Reserve and the 2012 review of The Dalmore 1974. BevTest calls Redbreast 27 “unforgettable” and “a dapper extrovert.” Imbibers lucky enough to score a bottle of this several hundred dollar nectar are in for brooding flavors of tantalizing spices and opulent texture that delivers the smooth, inviting palate of a whiskey 30 degrees lower than its dazzling 109.2 proof. After the bottle was revealed to the all-trade blind panel, a full hour was devoted to savoring and pontificating on this superlative spirit.

Top honors were also awarded to the consistently outstanding Aberlour A’Bunadh (95 points), the colossal Kavalan Solist Sherry Cask (99 points), and India’s excellent contribution to the whiskey scene, Amrut Fusion Single Malt (94 points).

Young Irish brands made a huge impression on BevTest’s retailer-, bartender-, and distributor-packed panels this year. Method and Madness made their mark with a 92-point Irish SIngle Grain and a 93-point Irish Single Malt, both earning “exceptional” ratings. Judges were intrigued by the Waterford Single Farm Origin Series with the 90-point Dunmore Edition deemed “vivid” and “luxurious” by the panel. Proximo Spirits’ The Sexton Irish SIngle Malt Whiskey was awarded a notable 90 points and delighted panelists with nuance and length.

The takeaway from BevTest’s most anticipated spirits review session of 2021? The quality of Irish Whiskey is at an all-time high and is poised for increased trade and consumer interest across its entire range. While Scotch and Japanese whiskies typically evoke the most interest and engagement from BevTest panelists, this year’s Irish Whiskies captivated BevTest buyer panels with their finesse, depth, and sheer unbridled drinkability. Given the diversity and influence of BevTest panelists’ trade experiences, their verdict suggests that other influencers and gatekeepers may too add these sophisticated-yet-crowd-pleasing Irish gems to their menus, schematics and customer recommendations, resulting in increased consumer interest for the category. The complete review results can be viewed here.

Stay tuned for BevTest’s North American Whisk(e)y review, published August 1st. Additionally, all spirits brands have one last chance for a 2021 review from the 40-years-and-counting Beverage Testing Institute. This submission deadline has passed but late entries will be accepted for a few more days via matthew@bevtest.com.

About BevTest

Beverage Testing Institute, an alcohol beverage marketing, research and professional review firm evaluates thousands of wine, beer, spirits, cider and sake annually. Member of the American Society of Testing and Materials, BevTest is known for their scientific, data-driven approach to evaluating spirits and their year-round sensory lab filled with influential buyers. Attention to detail, impartiality and consistent reviews have been the driving force behind its four decades in operation. Known for their brand-building work with brands Grey Goose, Stoli and Pappy Van Winkle, beverage brands turn to BevTest for quality-centric communications that consumers and the trade trust.

Media Contact:
Matthew Richardson
matthew@bevtest.com
773-930-4080