Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1013885
The 2018 San Francisco World Spirits Competition reaffirmed its position as the largest and most important spirits event of its kind in the U.S. by attracting more than 2,450 entries: a 9 percent increase over the previous year. A judging panel of 47 industry members and influencers convened at San Francisco's luxurious Hotel Nikko for three days of rigorous tasting to produce these definitive results. The competition received entries from more than 65 countries this year, and increases in several categories served to signal important trends within the industry: Bourbon entries increased by a staggering 60 percent; baiju was up by 24 percent; rye jumped 20 percent; and gin grew by 10 percent. This year's top prizes went to Kavalan Distillery ( Tasting Panel Distillery of the Year); The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (Director's Award of Excellence); and Sazerac Company (Importer of the Year). And, for the third year in a row, Pisco LA Carevedo's Puro Torentel Pisco claimed the title of Best Pisco. Read on for a complete listing of the top awards: 1 18 / the tasting panel / august 2018 THE 2018 SAN FRANCISCO WORLD SPIRITS COMPETITION RESULTS