New York, NY (March, 2012) – The annual Ultimate Spirits Challenge (USC) was held at Astor Center in New York City on March 5-9, 2012. Ultimate Beverage Challenge LLC, the sponsoring company, proudly announces the top spirits in more than 30 categories (but here at Whisky Intelligence we only care about one….) USC began with a record number of contestants as more than 650 spirits were entered (up 15% from 2011) from more than 70 companies and 30 countries around the world.

Led by Ultimate Beverage Challenge (UBC) Founder and Judging Chairman F. Paul Pacult and Judging Co-Chairman Sean Ludford, fourteen of the world’s foremost distilled spirits authorities, including award-winning authors, spirits buyers, journalists, educators, bar owners and consultants rated the world’s finest distillates on USC’s innovative multilevel system, rendering the most unassailable results in the industry. This remarkable super-group of experts named 31 Ultimate Spirits Challenge Chairman’s Trophy winners and more than 80 Finalists.

Said UBC Founder F. Paul Pacult, “Since we started Ultimate Spirits Challenge we have seen double digit growth in number of entries each year. Whether a product receives a Chairman’s Trophy Winner, a Finalist or a regular score, USC entrants are able to use their credible scores and insightful tasting notes to market and sell their products to bars, retailers and ultimately the consumer. USC is in the business of helping spirits companies achieve their sales goals, not by pandering to false aspirations but by telling the truth. With USC, you know the score.”

Judges for USC 2012 were: Chairman F. Paul Pacult, Co-Chairman Sean Ludford, Jacques Bezuidenhout, Tad Carducci, James Conley, Dale DeGroff, Doug Frost, MS, MW, Jim Meehan, Steve Olson, Julie Reiner, Jack Robertiello, Andy Seymour, Marcos Tello and David Wondrich.

For a complete list of results go to www.ultimate-beverage.com/usc2012results/

For downloadable images (hi/lo res) go to www.ultimate-beverage.com/2012USCpics

VODKA – UNFLAVORED

Fuzzy’s Ultra P

2012 ULTIMATE SPIRITS CHALLENGE CHAIRMAN’S TROPHY WINNERS

WHISK(E)Y – NORTH AMERICA

AMERICAN WHISKEY: Balcones “1” Texas Single Malt

BOURBON: Blanton’s Single Barrel

RYE: Masterson’s (should be in the Canadian category – WI)

TENNESSEE WHISKEY: George Dickel Barrel Select

WHISKEY – IRELAND

BLENDED: Midleton Barry Crockett

IRISH POT STILL WHISKEY: Redbreast Cask Strength 12 Years Old

SINGLE MALT: Bushmills 16 Years Old

WHISKY – SCOTLAND

BLENDED MALT: Johnnie Walker Green Label

BLENDED: Buchanan’s Special Reserve 18 Years Old

SINGLE MALT: Caol Ila 12 Years Old

WHISKY – CANADA

Caribou Crossing Single Barrel

WHISKY – WORLD

Japan: Yamazaki Single Malt 18 Years Old

Ultimate Spirits Challenge…like no other competition and doesn’t want to be

ABOUT ULTIMATE BEVERAGE CHALLENGE

Ultimate Beverage Challenge (UBC) provides expert evaluation of wines and spirits for producers, importers and marketers through its three innovative annual competitions – Ultimate Spirits Challenge, Ultimate Wine Challenge and Ultimate Cocktail Challenge. Based on exacting standards, expert judges and rigorous methodology, UBC raises the standards of spirits and wine evaluation and supplies ratings and accolades to help companies build their brands with buyers, both industry and consumer. UBC was founded by F. Paul Pacult, Sue Woodley and David Talbot. Challenge and event photos, videos and press coverage can be found at www.ultimate-beverage.com