June 30, 2021 (Hawthorne, NY) – Ultimate Spirits Challenge (USC), since 2010 the worldâs most prestigious global spirits competition, today releases the results of the 2021 Challenge. With an increase in entries this year of 30%, 2021 was the twelfth consecutive year of record submissions. Entries arrived from more than 52 spirit-producing nations.
The judging, held throughout May and June, determined 56 Chairmanâs Trophy winners, 301 Finalists, 208 Great Values, and 96 Tried & True Award winners. As always, USC was conducted at the custom-designed Ultimate Beverage Challenge (UBC) Evaluation Center, located in Hawthorne, NY.
Says UBC Co-Founder and Judging Director F. Paul Pacult, âAside from being by far the largest USC ever, this yearâs Challenge was likewise the most global, with an impressive array of quality distillates from places as far away from New York as China, Croatia, and Chile. Virtually all categories saw healthy gains in submissions, most notably gin, Ready-to-Drink cocktails, hard seltzers, craft spirits, mezcal, rum, and all whiskey and brandy categories.
âSince producers enter their top-shelf marques into USC, itâs clear that they look to us for the most accurate and unbiased data in the industry. We already look forward to USC 2022!â
WHISKY â CANADA
Alberta Premium Cask Strength Rye
WHISKEY â IRELAND
Blended: The Legendary Silkie
Single Pot Still: Redbreast Cask Strength 12 Years Old
Single Malt: Waterford Dunmore Single Farm Origin Addition 1.2
WHISKY â SCOTLAND
Blended: Dewar’s Double Double 32 Years Old
Single Malt-Highland: Glenturret Peat Smoke 10 Years Old
Single Malt-Island: Talisker 18 Years Old
Single Malt-Islay: Kilchoman Machir Bay Cask Strength
Single Malt-Speyside: Mortlach Distiller’s Dram 16 Years Old
WHISKEY â USA
Bourbon/Bottled-In-Bond: Old Fitzgerald VVS 2020 16 Years Old Bottled-in-Bond
Bourbon: Weller Wheated Bourbon Full Proof
Rye: Col. E.H. Taylor, Jr. Bottled-in-Bond Kentucky Straight Rye
Single Barrel/Bourbon: Blanton’s Straight From The Barrel
Single Malt: Westland
Small Batch Bourbon: Black Bourbon Societyâs Makerâs Mark Private Selection: Recipe 2
Tennessee: Uncle Nearest 1820 Single Barrel 11 Years Old
Wheat: Bainbridge Battle Point Two Islands Islay Cask Barrel Proof
Other: Mammoth Distilling Infinity
WHISK(E)Y â WORLD
Matsui Shuzo Sakura Single Cask
WHISK(E)Y FLAVORED â WORLD
Tom Bullock’s Burnt Orange Bourbon
After undergoing careful analysis through multiple panels, all products are rated on the 100-point scale by the spirits industryâs most renowned judges including buyers, journalists, educators, and bar owners.
Spirits scoring 85+ points receive a detailed tasting note. All spirits scoring 80+ points receive an individual results page, which provides all downloadable marketing material.
USC results are promoted globally and on social media.Â
ULTIMATE SPIRITS CHALLENGEâŚNo shortcuts. Just honest, impartial judging.
ABOUT ULTIMATE BEVERAGE CHALLENGE
Ultimate Beverage Challenge (UBC) provides expert evaluation of spirits for producers, importers, and marketers through its innovative annual competition: Ultimate Spirits Challenge. UBC partners are F. Paul Pacult, Sue Woodley and David Talbot.
