Another week, another set of awards results announced! This time from the International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC), “the premier competition of its kind in the world”. (I know, I know, they can’t all be the best – and they do indeed have similar sounding names – but this is another one of the really, really BIG competitions. Important stuff.)
As well as the usual Gold, Silver and Bronze medals, there are also Gold Outstanding and Silver Outstanding Medals at the IWSC, with a huge score of 90-100 out of 100 required for a Gold Medal and Gold Outstanding Medals only being awarded at the judges’ discretion! Welcome to big school!
So, did any of our whiskies and spirits reach these heady heights of liquid perfection??? Erm… yes, they did actually, amongst a total of 17 medals!!! Not a bad haul!
Gold Outstanding Medal – Master of Malt 30 Year Old Speyside (5th Edition)
International Wine & Spirits Competition Tasting Note:
“Nose opens with an array of tropical fruits including mango, pineapple and citrus. The barley, ripe plum, raisin and dried apricot come into play. Warm, elegant entry with slow flow across the palate into deep, well rounded mouth. Butterscotch joins what the nose advertised. Warm, appealing, long finish. Generous and rewarding.”
International Wine & Spirits Competition Tasting Note:
“Delicate aromas of juniper and spice, with a touch of glycerine sweetness, lead the way to a classy palate, with an impressively gentle delivery for its strength, and a lingering finish that only emphasises the underlying quality of the base spirit.”
Silver Outstanding Medal – Master of Malt 40 Year Old Speyside (2nd Edition)
International Wine & Spirits Competition Tasting Note:
“Interesting nose with spearmint, molasses and nutmeg. Entry into the mouth is warming and satisfying. Creamy vanilla flow with hints of char, some tropical fruit. Pecan, toffee, sweet tobacco and loads more vanilla. Very mature, generous and rich finish.”
Silver Outstanding Medal – Bowmore – Batch 2 (That Boutique-y Whisky Company)
International Wine & Spirits Competition Tasting Note:
“Gently aromatic nose with hints of tar rope, smoke and laced with caramel with salted malt and sea spray. Fascinating. Firm entry into the mouth with citrus, more smoke and then dark chocolate and rich honey. Mellow and full with long finish where treacle and smoke feature.”
Silver Outstanding Medal – Clynelish – Batch 2 (That Boutique-y Whisky Company)
Chaps at Master of Malt Tasting Note: Tasting Note:
Gingerbread and spice, hints of sea air and citrus on the nose. Oily and fruity with hints of dried apricots. Thick, oily palate with a sherried, malty core. Sultanas and cinnamon, a little toasted oak and dried herbs. Spicy, fruity finish with a hint of wood smoke trailing off over notes of allspice and toffee.
Silver Outstanding Medal – Blended Malt Number One – Batch 1 (That Boutique-y Whisky Company)
International Wine & Spirits Competition Tasting Note:
“Delicate floral nose with lemon and lime also coming into the frame. Honey and vanilla fill in the rear. Fairly active entry into the mouth then a full, well rounded palate shows off sweet malt with honey and vanilla. Good balance and smooth flow. Honey shows again at the finish along with some autumn bonfire notes.”
Silver Outstanding Medal – Invergordon – Batch 1 (That Boutique-y Whisky Company)
International Wine & Spirits Competition Tasting Note:
“Very attractive grassy nose with honey and creamy vanilla. Crisp entry into the mouth where maple syrup sweetness and brown sugar notes dominate. Firm flow through the mouth where nutty notes join the honey and syrup flavours. Touch of coffee and lots more spice in delicate, attractive finish.”
Silver Outstanding Medal – Master of Malt Speyside Whisky Liqueur 40 Year Old
International Wine & Spirits Competition Tasting Note:
“The nose packs a punch of smoke and spice, with underlying hints of caramel and sweet sherry highlighted by tantalising notes of orange peel. In the mouth the flavours are warming with subtle spicing, smoke and a lingering citrus notes before finishing with sweet rum and spice.“
Silver Outstanding Medal – The Negroni Cocktail 2013
Silver Medal – Master of Malt 50 Year Old Speyside (3rd Edition)
Silver Medal – Bathtub Gin Navy-Strength
Silver Medal – Rumbullion! Navy-Strength
Silver Medal – Worship St. Whistling Shop Cream Gin
Silver Medal – Origin – Istog, Kosovo
Silver Medal – The World’s Best Cocktail 2013
Bronze – 250,000 Scovilles – Naga Chilli Vodka
Yep, that’s right, apparently the 250,000 Scovilles – Naga Chilli Vodka was entered into a blind tasting competition!!! Oh dear God.
I can only sincerely apologise to vodka judges Ian Wisniewski (spirits writer), Alexander Zaytsev (Russian Alcohol Association), Claire Smith (Belvedere), Leonid Vladimirovich Gelibterman (International Centre of Wine & Gastronomy), Joanne Moore (G&J Greenall), Halvor Heuch (Arcus), Markku Raittinen (Finlandia) and Alexey Zaytsev (Prodexpo Russia) who all experienced a spirit that is two-and-a-half times hotter than the original (as tasted by Phillip Schofield) – let’s hope they at least left it until last!
Jake
