Ultimate Spirits Challenge (USC) – a prestigious, global spirits competition since 2010 – revealed the winners of its 2022 Challenge, based on entries from more than 50 spirit-producing nations.
The judging, held through May and early June, determined 57 Chairman’s Trophy winners, 274 Finalists, 446 Great Values and 143 Tried & True Award winners.
The USC was conducted at the custom-designed Ultimate Beverage Challenge (UBC) Evaluation Center, located in Hawthorne, N.Y.
“Aside from being the largest USC ever, this year's Challenge was likewise the most global, with an impressive array of quality distillates from places as far away from New York as China, Australia, Ecuador, India, and Chile,” said UBC Co-Founder and Judging Director F. Paul Pacult. “Virtually all categories saw healthy gains, most notably gin, ready-to-drink cocktails, mezcal, rum, tequila, vodka, and all whiskey and brandy categories.”
Each year, the Ultimate Beverage Challenge provides expert evaluation of spirits for producers, importers and marketers. After undergoing careful analysis through multiple panels, all products are rated on the 100-point scale by the spirits industry's most renowned judges – including buyers, journalists, educators, authors and bar owners. Spirits scoring 85+ points receive a detailed tasting note. All spirits scoring 80+ points receive an individual results page, which provides all downloadable marketing material.
“Since producers tend to enter their top-shelf marques into USC, it's clear that they look to us for the most accurate and unbiased data in the industry,” said Pacult. “We already look forward to USC 2023.”
The Ultimate Spirits Challenge Chairman's Trophy Winners for 2022 include:
AMARO
-Nonino Amaro Riserva
APERITIF/APERITIVO
-Bache Gabrielsen Very Old Pineau des Charentes
BAIJIU
-Yushan Taiwan Superior 12 Years Old Kaoliang
BRANDY
-American: BrandyLab California Brandy
-Armagnac: Château de Laubade Cask Strength 1994 Bas Armagnac
-Calvados: Christian Drouin Les Millésimés 1982 Pays d'Auge
-Cognac: Pierre Vallet Single Cask
-Pisco: Tres Erres Reservado
GIN & GENEVER
-Gin: Gordon's Traveler's Edition London Dry
-Genever: Notaris Bartender's Choice Jerry Thomas Rome Edition
HARD SELTZER
-High Noon Sun Sips Pineapple Vodka & Soda
LIQUEUR
-Berry/Fruit: Matsui Brandy Umeshu Fruit
-Citrus/Triple Sec: Cointreau
-Chocolate: Faretti Biscotti Chocolate
-Cream/Dairy: Carolans Cold Brew
-Herbal/Mint/Spice/Botanical: Sorel
MEZCAL
-Vago Ensamble en Barro
MIXER
-Fever-Tree Ginger Ale
READY-TO-DRINK COCKTAIL
-Gin: Le Barteleur Hanky Panky
-Rum: Koloa Sparkling Mango Hawaiian Rum Cocktail
-Tequila: Cazadores Paloma
-Vodka: Boyd & Blair Blood Orange Cosmo
-Whiskey: Social Hour Harvest Whiskey Sour Made with George Dickel
RUM
-Dark/Gold: Plantation Xaymaca Special Dry Pot Still
-Flavored: Plantation Cut & Dry Coconut
-Rhum Agricole: Baie de Trésors Plein Soleil Blanc
-Over-Proof: ImpEx Collection Long Pond 2007 14 Years Old
-White/Silver: Plantation 3 Stars
SHOCHU
-iichiko Frasco
TEQUILA, 100% AGAVE
-Blanco/Plata: El Tesoro
-Reposado: Don Fulano
-Añejo: Tequila OchoExtra
-Añejo: Cierto Reserve Collection
VERMOUTH
-Dry: La Quintinye Royal Extra Dry
-Sweet: La Quintinye Royal Rouge
VODKA
-Unflavored: Belvedere Smogóry Forest Single Estate Rye
-Flavored: 23rd Street Riverland Rose
WHISKY – CANADA
-WhistlePig The Boss Hog VIII LapuLapu's Pacific Straight Rye
WHISKEY – IRELAND
-Blended: J.J. Corry The Gael
-Single Pot Still: Redbreast 21 Years Old
-Single Malt: Knappogue Castle 21 Years Old
WHISKY – SCOTLAND
-Blended: Dewar's Double Double 32 Years Old
-Blended Malt: The Scotch Malt Whisky Society Batch #13 Tabanco Time 11 Years Old
-Single Malt-Highland: Glenmorangie Truffle Oak Reserve 26 Years Old
-Single Malt-Island: Highland Park Viking Honour 12 Years Old
-Single Malt-Islay: Ardbeg Uigedail
-Single Malt-Speyside: Mortlach Cowie's Blue Seal 20 Years Old
WHISKEY – USA
-Bottled-In-Bond: Old Fitzgerald Spring 2022 Edition 17 Years Old
-Bourbon: Eagle Rare 17 Years Old
-Rye: Smooth Ambler Founders' Cask Strength Series
-Single Barrel: Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel
-Single Malt: Courage & Conviction Cuvée Single Cask, Cask No. 1266
-Tennessee: Jack Daniel's 10 Years Old
-Wheat: Bainbridge Battle Point Two Islands Islay Cask
-Other: Barrell Whiskey Private Release DJA1 Blend 1 Finished in a St. Agrestis Brooklyn Amaro Cask
WHISK(E)Y – WORLD
-Japanese: Matsui The Kurayoshi Sakura Cask Japanese Single Malt
-World: Seven Seals The Age of Pisces Oloroso Sherry Wood Finish Single Malt
To view the complete USC results, visit Ultimate-Beverage.com/USC2022results.
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