Clear winners for Spirits Trophies

Trophies controversy over one of the world's most respected Wine & Spirit Competitions.

[ClickPress, Fri Aug 17 2007] The current controversy concerning vodka has taken a new twist, with the International Wine & Spirit Competition awarding their annual Trophy for the best Vodka to the South African brand Mainstay, which is sugar-cane based.

Whilst producers and the European Parliament debate the constitute ingredients allowed for the distillate, the vote at IWSC suggests that the quality and taste in the glass can and will support cane-origin vodkas.

Said Allen Gibbons, Executive Director for IWSC,
“Our judging panels comprise industry experts from around the world who re-evaluate in blind tastings all those products which have attained Gold medals in the first round of the IWSC and from these top entries chose the best of the best, under the most stringent examination conditions.

Mainstay was described & commended by the panel as ‘Exceptionally clean on the nose …lively attack in the mouth with a slight sweetness and some fine floral and fruity notes. More complex and full bodied than most. Very attractive and well distilled product... Ends with bright, zesty, clean finish’.

In the UK, nearly 20% of the spirits market is own-label vodka produced from sugar beet or molasses.

Other winners of IWSC Spirit Trophies, announced today, include awards for best gin, rum, sake, liqueurs and a range for brandy and whiskies. A full list of these winners is appended.

Frances Horder, Competition Director of the IWSC concluded;
“It will be an exciting Awards Banquet for us this November, when we announce live at our Banquet the overall Distiller of the Year. This will just about coincide with the ruling from MEPs on this vodka law”.

Ends.

Date: 17.08.07



Further information;
Full details on all IWSC awards released to date, can be found on website: www.iwsc.net

• Lesley Gray, Marketing & Public Relations Manager, International Wine & Spirit Competition
e-mail: Lesley@iwsc.co.uk Tel: ++ 44 (0) 1483 548963
• David Lindsay or Yvonne May: Lindsay May PR Tel: ++ 44 (0) 207 470 8890
e-mail: david@lindsay-may.co.uk yvonne@lindsay-may.co.uk
Mobiles: ++ 44 (0) 7711 531646 ++ 44 (0) 7711 531644




International Wine & Spirit Competition Spirit Trophies 2007

Winner of the V&S Trophy for Distiller of the Year
to be announced at the
IWSC Annual Awards Banquet on November 6th, Old Billingsgate, London

Arcus Trophy for Aquavit:
Aalborg Taffel Akvavit

IWSC Trophy for Fruit Spirits:
Zwack Unicum Fekete Ribizke

Greenalls Trophy for Gin:
Beefeater Crown Jewel

IWSC Trophy for Liqueur:
Amarula Cream Liqueur

Jim Murray Trophy for Rum:
Inner Circle Green 57%

IWSC Trophy for Vodka:
Mainstay Cane

Brown-Forman Trophy for Worldwide Whiskey:
Van Winkle 12 Year Old Lot B

IWSC Trophy for Shochu:
Long Term Stored Soba Shochu NAYUTA NO TOKI

IWSC Trophy for Sake:
Daiginjo Sato-Uhee 2006

Distell Trophy for Worldwide Brandy:
KWV Platinum 15 yo Brandy

IWSC Trophy for Cognac:
Prince Hubert de Polignac XO Grande Champagne

William Grant Independence Trophy for Blended Scotch Whisky:
William Grant Rare & Extraordinary 25 YO

Morrison Bowmore Distillers Trophy for Single Malt Scotch Whisky
(over 15 years):
Lagavulin Distillers Edition 1990

IWSC Trophy for Single Malt Scotch Whisky
(15 years and under):
The Balvenie Portwood 1993

a'bunadh Trophy for Special Edition Single Malt Scotch Whisky:
Lagavulin Distillers Edition 1990

Whyte & Mackay Trophy for Cask Strength Scotch Whisky:
Duncan Taylor Cask Strength Tomatin 41 YO Rare Auld Scotch Whisky

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