Diageo Brands Triumph at 13th Annual San Francisco Spirits Competition

NORWALK, Conn., June 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Diageo brands were recognized across the board for their excellence at the 13th annual San Francisco World Spirits Competition, winning a grand total of 60 medals, 31 of which were gold or double gold. Johnnie Walker Blue Label Scotch was awarded "Best Blended Scotch – 16 Years+" and Lagavulin 16 Year Old Single Malt Scotch was awarded "Best Single Malt Scotch – 13 to 19 Years." Additionally, Bushmills 21 Year Old Single Malt was awarded "Best Irish Whiskey."  The tasting competition, which took place earlier this spring, was judged by 34 industry experts.

Whisk(e)y and tequila were the standout categories for Diageo, receiving 28 and 20 medals respectively. In Scotch, Irish and Canadian whisk(e)y, Diageo brands won multiple medals.  Bushmills won six awards, three of which were gold and two were double gold.  Buchanan's and Johnnie Walker each won four medals including two double gold awards per brand. Bulleit won one gold and two double gold awards, and George Dickel won two gold awards. In tequila, Don Julio received a double gold and two gold awards.

Diageo brands also performed very well in the vodka, rum, liqueur and gin categories, with most brands winning multiple medals. Smirnoff vodka, the world's number-one selling premium spirit, received 7 medals ranging from bronze to gold.  The gold medal was awarded to Smirnoff Sorbet Light Mango Passion Fruit, part of Diageo's new reduced calorie line of vodka specialties. In rum, Matusalem Gran Reserva Rum won double gold, and in liqueur House of Zwack won a total of three medals. In the gin category, Tanqueray received two medals including gold for the brand's London Dry Gin.

Larry Schwartz, President, Diageo North America commented: "It is an honor to be recognized again at such a prestigious competition, and this time Diageo won thirteen more awards than in 2012. These results are indicative of the quality of our portfolio, ranging from centuries-old brands like Johnnie Walker to new innovations like Smirnoff Sorbet Light."  

A full breakdown of Diageo's winning brands at the 2013 San Francisco Spirits Competition is available on request, and all of the double gold and gold medal winning brands can be found below.

Double Gold:

• Buchanan's Special Reserve Aged 18 Years Scotch Whisky
• Buchanan's Red Seal Aged 21 Years Scotch Whisky
• Bulleit Straight Rye Whiskey
• Bulleit Bourbon 10 Years Old
• Bushmills 16 Year Old Single Malt
• Bushmills 21 Year Old Single Malt
• Don Julio Anejo Tequila
• Johnnie Walker Black Label
• Johnnie Walker Blue Label
• Lagavulin 16 Year Old
• Talisker 10 Year Old

Gold:

• Buchanan's De Luxe Aged 12 Years Scotch Whisky
• Bulleit Bourbon 10 Years Old
• Bushmills Irish Honey
• Bushmills Original
• Bushmills 10 Year Old Single Malt
• Cacique Anejo Rum
• Dalwhinnie 15 Year Old
• Don Julio BLANCO Tequila
• Don Julio Ultra-Aged Anejo Tequila
• George Dickel Barrel Select
• George Dickel Rye
• Haig Supreme 1627 Scotch Whisky
• Johnnie Walker Red Label
• Johnnie Walker Double Black
• Jose Cuervo Reserva de la Familia
• Oban 14 Year Old
• Pampero Aniversario Rum
• Pampero Oro Rum
• Smirnoff Sorbet Light Mango Passion Fruit
• Tanqueray London Dry

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, beer and wine. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, JεB, Windsor, Buchanan's and Bushmills whiskies, Smirnoff, Ciroc and Ketel One vodkas, Baileys, Captain Morgan, Jose Cuervo, Tanqueray, Guinness, Beaulieu Vineyard and Sterling Vineyards Wines.

Diageo is a global company, with its products sold 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