Ultimate Spirits Challenge® Announces 2015 Results For All Spirits Categories

HAWTHORNE, N.Y., March 25, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Ultimate Spirits Challenge^®, the world's platinum standard for spirits competitions, announces the winners and full results for the 2015 Challenge. Ultimate Spirits Challenge (USC), now in its sixth year, celebrates 33 Chairman Trophy winners, the highest award, along with 162 Finalists. The Challenge, which grew by 14% from 2014, was held in its specially designed evaluation center in Hawthorne, NY.  

"For 2015 we have moved Ultimate Spirits Challenge into our new state-of-the-art evaluation center and also moved to a new rolling judging schedule," says USC founder F. Paul Pacult. "We broke up the Challenges into smaller categories so we are able to give each grouping of spirits greater in-depth attention, with the inclusion of cocktail evaluations. All our judges agree that this hyper-focus allows USC to provide the most trusted and sought after testimonials that help companies build their brands."

USC 2015 – CHAIRMAN'S TROPHY WINNERS

VODKA
Unflavored: Russian Standard Original
Flavored: Van Gogh Dutch Caramel

GIN
Cold River

RUM
Opthimus Finished in Port Casks 25 Years Old

TEQUILA 100% AGAVE
Blanco: El Tesoro Platinum
Reposado: Blue Nectar
Anejo: Siete Leguas
Extra Anejo: Malinalli

MEZCAL
Amaras

WHISKEY – USA
American: Lone Elm Texas Wheat
Kentucky Straight Bourbon: Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve 20 Years Old
Rye: Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Straight 6 Years Old
Tennessee: George Dickel No. 12

WHISKEY – IRELAND
Blended: Jameson 18 Years Old
Irish Pot Still: Redbreast 15 Years Old
Single Malt: Bushmills 16 Years Old

WHISKY – SCOTLAND
Blended Malt: Sheep Dip
Blended: Dewar's 18 Years Old
Single Malt: Aberlour A'bunadh Single Malt

WHISKY – CANADA
Tap Rye Sherry Finished 8 Years Old

WHISKY – FRANCE
Armorik Single Malt Sherry Finish

WHISKY – WALES
Penderyn Single Malt

BRANDY
Armagnac: Chateau de Laubade Cask Strength 1989 25 Years Old Bas-Armagnac
Calvados: Boulard XO Auguste
Cognac: ABK6 XO Family Reserve
Grappa: Candolini Bianca
Pisco: Pisco Porton Mosto Verde Italia
Spanish Brandy: Cardenal Mendoza Solera Gran Reserva
Grape Brandy: Asbach Gothe Vintage Reserve 1952 Cask No. 1777

LIQUEUR
Grand Marnier Cuvee du Centenaire

VERMOUTH
Noilly Prat Rouge

SHOCHU
iichiko BLU

BITTERS/AMARO
Foro Amaro

For complete results visit www.ultimate-beverage.com/usc2015results

All products are rated on the 100-point scale by the spirits industry's most renowned judges including award-winning authors, buyers, journalists, educators and bar owners. The judges for USC 2015: Founder/Judging Chairman F. Paul Pacult, James Conley, Tad Carducci, Dale DeGroff, Gregg Glaser, Geoffrey Kleinman, Douglass Miller, Dan Nicolaescu, Steve Olson, Will Shine, Francis Schott, Andy Seymour and Jennifer Simonetti-Bryan, MW.

All spirits rated 80 points and higher have a "FULL RESULTS" page which provides downloadable marketing materials and a bottle image for easy consumer identification. Spirits rated 85 points and higher also receive a "FULL RESULTS" page plus tasting notes, downloadable certificates and shelf-talkers. New for 2015 -- cocktail evaluation for suitable spirits categories has been added and results will be released in April.

USC results are promoted globally via email and web publication to both trade buyers and consumers. In addition, high scoring products are featured in the Ultimate Beverage Challenge Guide published each year in the October issue of Beverage Media reaching more than 70,000 on- and off-premise spirits buyers.

Ultimate Spirits Challenge…like no other competition and doesn't want to be.

ABOUT ULTIMATE BEVERAGE CHALLENGE
Ultimate Beverage Challenge (UBC) provides expert evaluation of wines and spirits for producers, importers and marketers through its two innovative annual competitions: Ultimate Spirits Challenge and Ultimate Wine Challenge. UBC partners are F. Paul Pacult, Sue Woodley and David Talbot. Past Challenge results, photos, entry forms and more information can be found at www.ultimate-beverage.com.

For more info: 347-878-6551

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150325/194405

SOURCE Ultimate Spirits Challenge