Knob Creek Named “Best Bourbon” as Beam Suntory Wins 113 Awards in Prestigious Blind-Tasting Competitions
Deerfield, Illinois, April 7, 2015 – Beam Suntory, the world’s third largest premium spirits company, earned prestigious accolades spanning all major spirits categories in three internationally-renowned spirits competitions, including the title of “Best Bourbon” for its Knob Creek® Bourbon brand. Jim Beam® Single Barrel, Jim Beam® Distiller’s Masterpiece, Yamazaki® Japanese Whisky, Hakushu® Japanese Whisky, Laphroaig® Scotch Whisky, Bowmore® Scotch Whisky and El Tesoro® Tequila were among brands that also captured top recognition in the blind tasting competitions.
San Francisco World Spirits Competition
The San Francisco World Spirits Competition awarded Beam Suntory 55 total medals, including the “Director’s Award of Excellence” for the company’s “excellent portfolio of spirits” (the first time the company has received this honor). Knob Creek® Bourbon earned a Double Gold medal and out-rated 95 other bourbons to be named “Best Bourbon.” Yamazaki® 18 Years Old Japanese Whisky also earned a Double Gold medal and the title of “Best” product in its category, while El Tesoro® Anejo Tequila earned a Double Gold medal and the distinguished title of “Best Anejo Tequila.” In all, the company’s excellence in whiskey was recognized with 11 Double Gold medals and 13 Gold medals for brands including Jim Beam® Bourbon, Hakushu® Japanese Whisky, Auchentoshan® Scotch Whisky, Bowmore® Single Malt Scotch Whisky and Laphroaig® Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky. Beam Suntory Vodka, Cognac and Irish Whiskey brands also earned medals in this competition.
“We are very proud that the quality of our premium portfolio has been recognized with the Director’s Award of Excellence in just our first full year as Beam Suntory,” said Matt Shattock, Chairman & CEO of Beam Suntory. “It’s also particularly gratifying that Knob Creek, our flagship super-premium bourbon brand, has earned the distinction of Best Bourbon. Booker Noe created the Small Batch Collection two decades ago, and this is a very proud moment for his son, Fred Noe, who carries on the Knob Creek legacy today. I’m equally pleased that Yamazaki and El Tesoro rose to the top of their categories. All of these honors are a tribute to the people of Beam Suntory, who craft the spirits brands that stir the world, from our distilleries in the U.S. to Japan, from Mexico to Scotland, from Ireland to France, from Canada to Spain, and everywhere in between.”
Ultimate Spirits Challenge and International Review of Spirits
Beam Suntory’s whiskey and tequila brands were also honored by the Ultimate Spirits Challenge and the Beverage Tasting Institute’s “International Review of Spirits” competition. Judges in the Ultimate Spirits Challenge awarded El Tesoro® Platinum Tequila the “Chairman’s Trophy” (Best in Show), scoring the spirit a 95 and an “Extraordinary, Ultimate Recommendation.” Among 40 additional trophies, 12 Beam Suntory brands earned Ultimate Recommendations, including Knob Creek® Bourbon and Jim Beam® Single Barrel Bourbon. Separately, the Beverage Tasting Institute awarded Beam Suntory 17 total medals in its “International Review of Spirits” competition, including the most Gold Medals for bourbon in the industry and a Platinum Medal (highest rated) for Jim Beam® Distiller’s Masterpiece.
Top Beam Suntory Results from the San Francisco Wine & Spirits Competition:
Double Gold Winners Include: Alberta Rye® Dark Batch™ Whisky, Auchentoshan® 12 Years Old Scotch Whisky, Bowmore® 18 Years Old Scotch Whisky, Bowmore® Small Batch Scotch Whisky, Canadian Club® Chairman’s Select™ Rye Whisky, El Tesoro® Añejo Tequila, El Tesoro® Platinum Tequila, Hakushu® 18 Years Old Japanese Whisky, Knob Creek® Bourbon, Yamazaki® 18 Years Old Japanese Whisky, Yamazaki® 25 Years Old Japanese Whisky
Gold Winners Include: Bowmore® 10 Years Old Scotch Whisky, Bowmore® Darkest 15 Years Old Scotch Whisky, Courvoisier® VS Cognac, Jim Beam® Devil’s Cut™, Jim Beam® Black Bourbon, Jim Beam® Distiller’s Masterpiece Bourbon, Jim Beam® Harvest Bourbon Collection™ Brown Rice Bourbon, Jim Beam® Harvest Bourbon Collection™ High Rye Bourbon, Jim Beam® Signature Craft Quarter Cask Bourbon, Knob Creek® Single Barrel Bourbon, Laphroaig® Triple Wood Scotch Whiskey, Laphroaig® 25 Years Old Scotch Whisky
Top Beam Suntory Results from the Ultimate Spirits Challenge:
Bowmore® Darkest 15 Years Old Scotch Whisky – FINALIST; 97; Extraordinary, Ultimate Recommendation
Connemara® Irish Whiskey – FINALIST; 96; Extraordinary, Ultimate Recommendation
Bowmore® 18 Years Old Scotch Whisky – FINALIST; 96; Extraordinary, Ultimate Recommendation
Bowmore® 25 Years Old Scotch Whisky – FINALIST; 96; Extraordinary, Ultimate Recommendation
El Tesoro® Platinum Tequila – CHAIRMAN’S TROPHY (best in show); 95; Extraordinary, Ultimate Recommendation
Auchentoshan® Three Wood® – 95; Extraordinary, Ultimate Recommendation
Laphroaig® 25 Years Old Scotch Whisky – 95; Extraordinary, Ultimate Recommendation
Knob Creek® Bourbon – FINALIST; 95; Extraordinary, Ultimate Recommendation
Jim Beam® Single Barrel Bourbon – FINALIST; 95; Extraordinary, Ultimate Recommendation
Jim Beam® Harvest Bourbon Collection™ Soft Red Wheat Bourbon – FINALIST; 95; Extraordinary, Ultimate Recommendation
Laphroaig® 10 Years Old Scotch Whisky – 95; Extraordinary, Ultimate Recommendation
Laphroaig® Quarter Cask Scotch Whisky – 95; Extraordinary, Ultimate Recommendation
Kilbeggan® 18 Years Old Irish Whiskey – 94; FINALIST; Excellent, Highly Recommended
Maker’s Mark® Bourbon – 94; Excellent, Highly recommended
Maker’s Mark® Cask Strength Bourbon – 94; Excellent, Highly Recommended
Laphroaig® Select Scotch Whisky – 94; Excellent, Highly Recommended
Jim Beam® Distiller’s Masterpiece Bourbon – 94; Excellent, Highly Recommended
El Tesoro® Reposado Tequila – FINALIST; 93; Excellent, Highly Recommended
Knob Creek® Single Barrel Bourbon – 93; Excellent, Highly Recommended
Jim Beam® Bonded Bourbon – 93; Excellent, Highly Recommended
Jim Beam® Devil’s Cut™ Bourbon – 93; Excellent, Highly Recommended
Jim Beam® Harvest Bourbon Collection™ Brown Rice Bourbon – 93; Excellent, Highly Recommended
Jim Beam® Harvest Bourbon Collection™ High Rye Bourbon – 93; Excellent, Highly Recommended
Kilbeggan® Irish Whiskey – 93; Excellent, Highly Recommended
Tyrconnell® Irish Whiskey – 93; Excellent, Highly Recommended
Laphroaig® Triple Wood Scotch Whisky – 93; Excellent, Highly Recommended
Bowmore® 12 Years Old Scotch Whisky – 93; Excellent, Highly Recommended
Glen Garioch® 12 Years Old Scotch Whisky – 93; Excellent, Highly Recommended
Knob Creek® Rye Whiskey – 92; Excellent, Highly Recommended
Jim Beam® Rye Whiskey – 92; Excellent, Highly Recommended
Jim Beam® Harvest Bourbon Collection™ Rolled Oat Bourbon – 92; Excellent, Highly Recommended
Auchentoshan® American Oak™ Scotch Whisky – 92; Excellent, Highly Recommended
Ao™ Vodka – 91; Excellent, Highly Recommended
Auchentoshan®12 Years Old Scotch Whisky – 91; Excellent, Highly Recommended
Bowmore® Dorus Mor II 10 Years Old Scotch Whiskey – 91; Excellent, Highly Recommended
Glen Garioch® Founder’s Reserve Scotch Whisky – 90; Excellent, Highly Recommended
Bowmore® Small Batch Scotch Whiskey – 90; Excellent, Highly Recommended
For more information on Beam Suntory brands, please visit www.beamsuntory.com.
About Beam Suntory Inc.
As the world’s third largest premium spirits company, Beam Suntory is Crafting the Spirits that Stir the World. Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company’s brands, including the flagship Jim Beam bourbon and Yamazaki Japanese whisky, as well as world renowned premium brands including Maker’s Mark and Knob Creek bourbons, Hakushu and Hibiki Japanese whiskies, Teacher’s, Laphroaig, and Bowmore Scotch whiskies, Canadian Club whisky, Courvoisier cognac, Sauza tequila, Pinnacle vodka, and Midori liqueur. The company generates annual worldwide sales exceeding $4 billion excluding excise taxes.
Beam Suntory was created in 2014 by combining the world leader in bourbon and the pioneer in Japanese whisky to form a new company with a deep heritage, passion for quality, innovative spirit and entrepreneurial culture. Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, Beam Suntory is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan. For more information on Beam Suntory, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamsuntory.com and www.drinksmart.com.
