Diageo Brands Triumph at 10th Annual San Francisco World Spirits Competition

NORWALK, Conn., April 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Diageo brands were recognized across the board for their excellence at the 10th annual San Francisco World Spirits Competition, winning a grand total of 110 medals, 40 of which were gold or double gold medals. This year's San Francisco World Spirits Competition was the largest event in its history with 30 judges gathered at the Hotel Nikko in downtown San Francisco to reward spirits excellence by evaluating 1024 different spirits from 57 countries.

Whisk(e)y was the standout category for Diageo with an impressive 41 medals in total, including 14 double gold medals. Most notably, Bushmills was named the '"Best of Show Irish Whiskey" and Seagrams VO received the prestigious "Best of Show Canadian Whisky" award. Whether scotch, Irish or Canadian whisk(e)y, Diageo whisk(e)y brands saw multiple medals per brand. For example, the Bushmills family won an impressive six awards, all gold standard or above, including a Double Gold Medal for Black Bush Irish whiskey, while Johnnie Walker and Crown Royal each received six medals.

Diageo brands also performed very well in the liqueur, gin, tequila, rum and vodka categories, with most brands receiving multiple medals. Godiva and Baileys liqueurs won four medals a piece, including the highest accolade of "Best of Show liqueurs" and a double gold medal for Godiva White Chocolate liqueur. Additionally, as a testament to the high standard of Diageo brands, several double gold medals were awarded across the core spirits categories to Baileys Original Irish Cream liqueur, Gordon's gin, Jose Cuervo Tradicional Reposado tequila, Don Julio Anejo tequila and Pampero Aniversario rum. Smirnoff vodka, the world's largest selling premium spirit by volume, received 22 medals ranging from bronze to gold. Smirnoff's extensive range of flavored variants impressed the judges, and Smirnoff Raspberry was awarded a double gold medal.

Larry Schwartz, President, Diageo North America commented, "These fantastic results are a testament to the outstanding quality of Diageo brands. I am immensely proud of our performance across all the spirits categories, from brands with rich heritage, such as Bushmills – which is made at Ireland's oldest whiskey distillery – to new innovations such as Smirnoff Flavors. These numerous recognitions of Diageo products, some winning multiple medals, highlight our company's continued stewardship of world leading brands and categories.  We remind consumers to enjoy these great-tasting, high-quality products responsibly."

Following is an excerpted list of the 110 awards Diageo brands received at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.  A full breakdown of Diageo winning brands is available on request, and all of the Double Gold Medal winning brands can be found below.

• Double Gold Medal, Jose Cuervo Tradicional Reposado tequila
• Double Gold Medal, Don Julio Anejo tequila
• Double Gold Medal, Pampero Aniversario rum
• Double Gold Medal, Pinch scotch
• Double Gold Medal, Old Parr Superior Blended scotch
• Double Gold Medal, Caol Ila 12 scotch
• Double Gold Medal, Clynelish 14 scotch
• Double Gold Medal, Dalwhinnie 15 scotch
• Double Gold Medal, Oban 14 scotch
• Double Gold Medal, Bushmills 1608 - Best of Show - Irish whiskey
• Double Gold Medal, Bushmills Black Bush whiskey
• Double Gold Medal, Jeremiah Weed Blended Bourbon whiskey, Cherry Mash
• Double Gold Medal, Jeremiah Weed Blended Bourbon whiskey
• Double Gold Medal, Ciroc vodka
• Double Gold Medal, Rokk vodka
• Double Gold Medal, Seagrams VO - Best of Show - Canadian whisky
• Double Gold Medal, Godiva White Chocolate liqueur - Best of Show - cream liqueur

About Diageo

Diageo (Dee-AH-Gee-O) is the world's leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, wines and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Guinness, Smirnoff, J&B, Baileys, Cuervo, Tanqueray, Captain Morgan, Crown Royal, Beaulieu Vineyard and Sterling Vineyards wines.

Diageo is a global company, trading in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE).

For more information about Diageo, its people, brands, and performance, visit us at Diageo.com. For our global resource that promotes responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice tools, information and initiatives, visit DRINKiQ.com.

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SOURCE Diageo