Gear up for the Holidays with stunning at-home cocktail creations from Empress 1908 Gin

October 24, 2020 by evebushman

This Holiday season, discover a new multi-sensory cocktail experience with Empress 1908’s delicious, all-natural gin. Handcrafted in small batch copper-pot stills, Empress 1908 is a collaboration between Victoria Distillers and the legendary Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria, British Columbia. Their gin pays homage to the Empress’ regal afternoon tea service, coupling the hotel’s signature black tea blend with carefully sourced botanicals in its recipe. The result is a spirit with a modern flavour profile that is at once lively, delicate, and opulent. Whether you’re looking for last minute gifts or a bold new way to enjoy Holiday-inspired cocktails, Empress 1908’s premium gin will elevate any Holiday celebration.

On top of traditional gin botanicals and Empress Blend tea, Empress 1908 adds grapefruit peel, ginger root, and cinnamon bark to their gin, lending it unique bright and peppery notes. Perhaps the most unusual botanical of all, butterfly pea blossom is also added to balance the gin’s citrus notes with a warm herbal earthiness and soft texture, and provide it with a lush natural indigo colour that transforms depending on the mixer. A twist on tradition, Empress 1908’s creative combination of botanicals, exquisite taste, and remarkable presentation provide the perfect base for a new aesthetic of Holiday cocktail creation.

Since it’s establishment in 2017, Empress 1908 has made a big splash in the world of spirits. It comes as no surprise that their award-winning gin has received praise on the local, national, and international stage, including but not limited to: The Canadian Artisan Spirit Competition, The Fairplex Los Angeles International Spirits Competition, The San Francisco World Spirits Competition, The World Gin Awards, The New York World Wine & Spirits Competition, and The World Beverage innovation Awards.

This Holiday season, we invite you to join the Empress 1908 story by creating— or simply enjoying— a new aesthetic of irresistible Holiday cocktails. Spice up the generic French 75 (or any other gin cocktail!) with Empress 1908’s exquisite taste, delicate aroma, soft texture, and remarkable presentation. The moment of creation is at hand.

Empress 1908’s Holiday favourites:

Cranberry 75
The perfect signature drink for your Holiday celebration! Sweet and tart, the Cranberry 75 is a festive spin on a classic.

1.5oz Empress 1908 Gin

0.5oz Lemon Juice

0.5oz Cranberry Juice

0.5oz Simple Syrup

Sparkling Wine (to top)

Garnish: Cranberries

Method: Shake on ice, fine strain into a chilled flute, top with sparkling wine. Garnish with cranberries

Cinnamon 75
Sugar, spice and everything nice! The Cinnamon 75 will be an instant Holiday hit.

1.5oz Empress 1908 Gin

0.75oz Lemon Juice

0.5oz Cinnamon Syrup

0.25oz Maple Syrup

Sparkling Wine (to top)

Garnish: Cinnamon

Method: Shake on ice, fine strain into a chilled flute, top with sparkling wine. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.
For the syrup: Combine equal parts sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Simmer with cinnamon sticks (approximately 2-3 per 1 cup of water) for about 15 minutes, or until the desired flavour is reached. Strain, and cool. Store in the fridge in a sealed container for up to 1-2 weeks.

Rosemary 75
Light and cheery, the Rosemary 75 is your new go-to Holiday cocktail.

1.5oz Empress 1908 Gin

0.75oz Lemon Juice

0.5oz Rosemary Syrup

Sparkling Wine (to top)

Garnish: Rosemary Syrup & Pomegranate Seeds

Method: Shake on ice, fine strain into a chilled flute, top with sparkling wine. Garnish with a rosemary sprig and pomegranate seeds.

For the syrup: Combine equal parts sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Simmer with rosemary sprigs (approximately 3-4 per 1 cup of water) for about 15 minutes, or until the desired flavour is reached. Strain, and cool. Store in the fridge in a sealed container for up to 1-2 weeks.

About: Handcrafted in small batch copper-pot stills, Empress 1908 Gin is a collaboration between Victoria Distillers and the legendary Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria, British Columbia. On top of traditional botanicals, Empress 1908 adds a signature blend of black tea served at the Empress Hotel, as well as butterfly pea blossom, an exotic herb that lends the gin a warm herbal earthiness and natural indigo colour. Empress 1908’s exquisite taste, delicate aroma, soft texture, and remarkable presentation set it apart from traditional spirits, and provide the perfect base for a new multi-sensory cocktail experience.

Empress 1908 Gin is a remarkable spirit that could have only been created in the city of Victoria, on beautiful Vancouver Island, where rugged mountains meet the beautiful Pacific Coast. It is a place where tradition is honoured, nature is revered, and artistic expression drives innovation. Perched on the edge of the continent, Empress 1908 is inspired and guided by the natural world. They embrace the wild, and respect both the saltwater that surrounds them and the pristine fresh water used in their gin. Empress 1908’s commitment to nature extends beyond the product to include sustainable production practices, including a geothermal cooling system used in their distillery. Empress 1908 is proud to be paving the way in sustainable spirits.

Empress 1908 Gin is now available for purchase in select liquor stores across Canada and the USA, and can be purchased online and shipped across North America.

Tenuta Montemagno Brut: the Barbera grape becomes sparkling

October 22, 2020 by evebushman

Barbera d’Asti is the identity of Tenuta Montemagno, wine producers in the heart of Monferrato. Actually, Barbera is the variety that most of all tells the story of Tenuta Montemagno, through its 80 years old vineyards, planted on clay and limestone soil with slightly silty marls, Western facing. Our Metodo Classico are made from Barbera grapes harvested early, hand picking and with a careful grapes selection.

The Barbera is a versatile and charming variety, capable of being the protagonist: the TM24 and TM36 Brut, are both another expression of its potential. They are sparkling wines born from the synergy of intuition and innovation. The idea to have the Metodo Classico of 100% Barbera that refines on yeasts for 24 (TM24) and 36 months (TM36) is astonishing.

The perlage of TM Brut 24 is elegant and fine; the bouquet is intense, delicate and generous, notes of yeast and delicate hints of crusty bread, overtones of freshly picked flowers and wild berries. On the palate it is fresh, lively and sapid, with an excellent underlying acidity and clearly expressed minerality. The finish presents light notes of wild plum and currants. Therefore, the peculiar traits of Barbera – bouquet and acidity, are well present almost as if weaving the warp on which the other sensations intertwine. TM Brut 24 has been rated 92 point by Wine Enthusiast, one of the most eminent international wine magazine.

GOLD

If the TMBrut 24 is “unexpected” because of its structure, color and pleasantness, the Tm Brut 36 is surprising and unique, enough to be awarded with the Gold Medal – category Sparkling Rosé, in the International wine Competition The Global Sparkling Masters 2020.

The bouquet reveals an intense fragrance, delicate and generous. Notes of yeast and crusty bread, overtones of freshly picked flowers and wild berries. On the palate, it is fresh, lively and savoury, excellent underlying acidity with clearly expressed minerality and a light finish of wild plum and currants.

In this sparkling too, the characteristics of the variety are the texture on which the other perfumes and aromas are waived on. TM24 and TM36 both are the example of how the Barbera grape is a precious and versatile grape, a storyteller of the region. In these sparkling, tradition and innovation are perfectly combined and we can say that TM24 and TM36 are a great examples of wine that becomes sparkling and then, comes back to wine.

Purity Connoisseur 51 Reserve Wins Title “Best Tasting Organic Spirit In The World”

September 28, 2020 by evebushman

ELLINGE CASTLE, Sweden, PRNewswire — On behalf of the Purity family we are honored to be awarded a score of 96 out of 100 and the Extraordinary Ultimate Recommendation from the Ultimate Spirits Challenge (USC). Purity was also named a Top 100 Spirit in the world, the only organic spirit to receive such honor.

Purity Connoisseur 51 Reserve is made from natural ingredients, its prize-winning flavors come from the combination of organic barley and wheat, distilled slowly with low heat multiple times. The heart of Purity Connoisseur 51 Reserve is distilled 51 times to maximize flavor as well as smoothness. As a family owned, craft, organic distillery we are so pleased when consumers and critics alike praise Purity for its quality versus more industrial producers.

Over the years, Purity Vodka has dominated the worlds blind tasting competitions, taking home a record number of highly sought-after awards, including being named as “Best Organic Vodka in the World 2019” by The International Spirit Challenge, and “World´s best Vodka” by the international Wine and Spirit competition 2017, and now the “Best Tasting Organic vodka” by USC simply because of its incomparable taste.

Mathias Tönnesson, Master Blender at Purity Distillery says: “Our main ingredients, Swedish wheat and malted barley, are carefully selected without any chemical cultivation or processing. We believe that by using organic ingredients it creates a much better tasting vodka, and of course, is better for the environment. We also value the quality of the water that we use and believe it’s crucial to the taste. Most brands use only distilled water, which removes any of the natural nuances, sediments and flavors that help bring out the complexity of the vodka. At Purity, we use naturally soft Swedish water, and as a result, it blends with the other ingredients creating a complex, characterful and truly unique spirit.”

The results are instantly apparent – compared to the giant industrial processes of competitors, Purity Connoisseur 51 Reserve Organic Vodka is unique in flavor and smoothness. The flavor is clean and crisp with a slight peppery note; and the finish comes with zero burns.

Purity Connoisseur 51 Reserve Organic Vodka is certified organic, kosher, and crafted free from gluten and is available for a suggested retail price of $27.99 per 750ml bottle.

For more information, please visit www.puritydistillery.com

ABOUT PURITY DISTILLERY
At the Swedish family-owned Purity Distillery we only have one motivation – to produce the best tasting spirits imaginable. It’s a simple statement that is very difficult to achieve. For the last decade every decision is based on that one criteria. From choosing the best organic ingredients and mineral-rich soft natural water, to spending years refining our unique distillation process. Every step matter, because the taste matters. That’s all that counts.

Jaw Dropping Results Breaking for BTI’s 2020 Whisk(e)y Awards

September 16, 2020 by evebushman

CHICAGO /PRNewswire/ — Beverage Testing Institute, conductors of the oft-imitated first international spirits competition in the United States, has completed its evaluation of 2020’s Best Whiskies. Twenty-one all-trade blind tasting panels assessed the spirited contenders for quality in the BTI Lab using its proprietary methodology and custom software.

From small US artisans, to Canadian distilleries, to Kentucky powerhouses, here are some of the best of category winners:

Colorado’s Old Elk Distillery came out with gloves on. The 15-year Old Elk Straight Rye and Old Elk Straight Wheat dressed to impress winning Gold and leading their categories. The secret to Old Elk’s success? We think it’s likely the combo of the lifetime experience of Master Distiller Greg Metze (38 years at Seagram’s Distillery) and the exceptional palate of Head Distiller Kate Douglas.

Also, from the “The Centennial State”, the Boulder Bottled-In-Bond American Single Malt from Vapor Distillery set the bar for what ASMW can produce with its 95-point, Gold Medal winning, liquid treasure. Nods to The QuintEssential ASMW from Iowa’s Cedar Ridge Distillery for a great showing as well at 93 points.

For the Blended Rye Whiskey category, Utah’s High West Double Rye! received a golden accolade solidifying its place as a bar and consumer top-performer.

Rye Whiskey craft dominators Old Potrero from California and Evanston Illinois’ FEW Rye Whiskey excelled at 94 and 92 points, respectively. And Kentucky stalwart, Wild Turkey Rye 101 shined as an expert expression of the Rye persuasion.

There’s no denying that there’s something about that Kentucky limestone-filtered, “branch” water… The big winner was Kentucky scion Doc Swinson’s 15 Year Cask Strength Straight Bourbon Whiskey, which grabbed the only BTI Platinum Medal—the beverage world’s ultimate honor for a spirits brand.

Heavy-medal-laden Kentucky distillery, Sazerac belted out some big Bourbon anthems. Their Colonel E.H. Taylor Single Barrel, Weller Full Proof and Stagg Jr. all hit 95-point high notes.

The Knob Creek 12-Year-Old 100 Proof Bourbon from Clermont Kentucky’s legendary Jim Beam Distillery not only proved that it provides great bang for the buck, but with an sensational 95-point score, will make your taste buds sing.

Flavored Whiskey nods go to the Michigan craftsmen at Journeyman Distillery for their 92-point Field Rye Fig Flavored Whiskey and the from-left-field, only-in-America Skrewball Peanut Butter Flavored Whisky, which are both delicious and far more than just guilty pleasures.

For the full list of BTI’s 2020 North American Whiskey Results visit their free consumer buying guide Tastings.com: http://www.tastings.com/Calendar-Spirits/Review-2020-09-01-North-American-Whiskey.aspx

Across the pond in the World Whiskey Review a record 7 Platinum BTI Medals were awarded to Midleton, Redbreast, Jameson and Kavalan this year. Kavalan from Taiwan shows off its whisky finishing and how their liquid gold and barrels benefit from the region’s warmer temperatures.

Do you know about Jameson’s Bow Street 18 Year Old Cask? It made our judges’ knees buckle as they fell in love with it. At 96 points, gifting this beaut will ensure that your in-laws write you into their will.

Midleton’s Dair Ghaelackh Knockrath may be difficult for Americans to pronounce but even harder to put down. Savory, warming and a spiritual experience. Consistently golden Aberlour grabs 5 gold medals.

On our radar, newcomer Archie Rose from Australia will be a collector’s dream whiskey as we suspect the brand grow and get better and better and better. Slightly peated Irish Blended Whiskey The Legendary Silkie is highly recommended.

The takeaways?

No matter the size of the budget of the consumer, delicious North American drams are plentiful.
Digging for gold? Get lucky in Kentucky.
Ready to venture beyond the bluegrass state? Craft distilleries Journeyman and FEW deliver and show that craft spirits producers have truly honed their technique and distilling skills.
Learn to leave the Steakhouse Single Malts to the uninspired. Instead try Aberlour, the malt of the individual.
And if you do have some extra dough to dish out for some quality whiskies—our results show, they should be Irish.

For a full list of BTI’s 2020 World Whiskey Review along with detailed tasting notes and cocktail recommendations visit: http://www.tastings.com/Calendar-Spirits/Review-2020-08-01-Scotch-Irish-and-World-Whiskey.aspx

About BTI: Beverage Testing Institute was founded in 1981 with the mission of making the beverage industry better, one brand at a time. Creators of the first international spirits competition in the U.S. they have a rotating monthly category call for their unbiased, professional published reviews. For more information about BTI’s reviews, competitions and other services visit: www.bevtest.com

Portland Cider Co. Brings Home Best Cider from the 2020 Sunset International Wine Competition

September 9, 2020 by evebushman

PORTLAND, OR – Portland Cider Co., one of Oregon’s longest operating independent craft cider producers, won multiple categories at the 2020 Sunset International Wine Competition. The cider company brought home the awards for Double Gold Best of Class (Sorta Sweet), Best of Show Cider (Sorta Sweet) and Silver (Kinda Dry). Sorta Sweet took home a Double Gold medal and Best of Class title in the Hard Cider category and Best of Show with a score of 98 points.

The 2020 Sunset International Wine Competition featured wines and ciders that were blind tasted by industry experts, researchers, growers, writers, producers and sommeliers to determine the winners in each category. Judging took place on June 23 and 24, 2020, in Santa Rosa, California.

“Sorta Sweet continues to be our most-awarded cider with seven total Gold Medals to its name,” said Jeff Parrish, co-owner of Portland Cider Co. “It’s gratifying to be awarded for your efforts, especially in a competition that is the caliber of the Sunset International Wine Competition with experienced sommeliers assessing ciders and wine from all over the world.”

Since first entering competitions, Portland Cider Company’s Sorta Sweet has claimed over 15 awards, and since the cidery’s establishment, it has won nearly 100 awards for its products and taprooms, including Best Cider House and Best Cidery in Portland.

Portland Cider Co.’s Sorta Sweet is a love song to the Oregon craft cider movement and the company’s most award-winning cider. It’s semi-sweet, refreshing and effervescent, and is a winning example of the marriage of the owners of Portland Cider: an Oregon native & UK expat on a mission to bring quality cider to the world. The higher levels of natural sugars are balanced with the right amount of tartness that offers a fresh finish that tastes like biting into a crisp apple. Available year-round, Sorta Sweet is made from 100 percent Northwest apples.

While many wine and spirit competitions have been canceled for 2020, the 2020 Sunset International Wine Competition was determined to take place and saw a 10 percent increase in entries compared to the 2019 competition.

“All imaginable health precautions were taken to ensure the safety of judges and backroom staff, while the wines were given the full measure of respect they deserve. Secondly, we are grateful to all the wineries that sent in their wines for evaluation. This year’s entries garnered a record number of Golds and Double Golds, making for a very competitive Sweepstakes round,” said Debra Del Fiorentino, President of Wine Competitions Production & Management, who owns and operates the Sunset International Wine Competition.

About Portland Cider Company

Portland Cider Company was started in 2013 by an Oregonian and a family of British expats with the mission of bringing cider, handcrafted in the English tradition, to the Northwest. One of Oregon’s longest operating independent cider producers, Portland Cider has two taproom locations: the Portland Cider House at 3638 SE Hawthorne Blvd. and the Clackamas Taproom and Cidery at 8925 SE Jannsen Rd, Bldg. F, in Clackamas. Since its opening, the cidery has won nearly 100 awards for its products and taprooms, including being named Best Cider House and Best Cidery in Portland. For more information, visit PortlandCider.com and engage on social media at @portlandcider.

Recognition for Madera Wine Trail Vintners

August 12, 2020 by evebushman

MADERA, CA (JULY 7, 2020) – The results are in from the distinguished Sunset International Wine Competition which took place in June.

Several Madera County wineries received high recognition. Ficklin Vineyards received double gold, 95 points, for both their Aged 10 Years Tawny Port and the Old Vine Tinta Port.

Westbrook Wine Farm’s 2015 Fait Accompli, a co-fermented field blend of 6 grape varieties, earned gold and 91 points.

The Sunset International Wine Competition also awarded San Joaquin Winery silver for their 2018 Moody Press Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, 2018 Paul Lorry Merlot, 2018 Toschi Vineyards Pinot Noir and 2019 Moody Press Cellars Sauvignon Blanc.

This year’s Sunset International Wine Competition saw a 10% increase in entries over last year, despite the pandemic, and was held in Santa Rosa the week of June 22. A record 12 judging panels were needed to accommodate the volume of entries, along with physical distancing requirements. Judging panels were comprised of 36 industry experts, including journalists, buyers and winemakers, who judged wines from all over the world.

A complete list of medal winners from the Sunset International Wine Competition from the Madera and Fresno area can be viewed here.

In the Monterey Wine Festival Judging, Fäsi Estate Winery’s Central Coast label Buoyant earned gold for their 2018 Pinot Noir and Fäsi Estate Winery’s Rose Bianca and Rose Syrah received bronze.

For more information about the awards and wineries contact the Madera Vintners Association at 559-975-6083 or wendy@maderavintners.com or visit www.MaderaWineTrail.com.

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About Visit Yosemite | Madera County

Formed in 1985, Visit Yosemite | Madera County’s mission is to draw the millions of visitors of Yosemite National Park to the many businesses and attractions in its gateway. Inviting visitors to take a journey from the Fossil Discovery Center to the Madera Wine Trail and onward into the High Sierra. Along the way, discover incredible dining, talented tradespersons, four-seasons of water sports at Bass Lake, the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad and mighty adventures right up to the massive Giant Sequoia trees. Madera County is the gateway to so much more.

Slow Wine Announces New US Editor for the Slow Wine Guide: Deborah Parker Wong!

July 6, 2020 by evebushman

NEW YORK (PRWEB) – Slow Wine Editore announces some important changes and news for the next 2021 edition of its English-language edition of the Slow Wine Guide, which this year successfully celebrated its 10th anniversary. Deborah Parker Wong, DWSET, one of the Slow Wine Guide contributors, has recently been named National Editor of the US edition of the guide, thus confirming her dedication and passion to put a spotlight on those American wineries that have made it their priority to be environmentally cautious, according to the “Slow philosophy.” Deborah, Global Editor at Somm Journal and The Tasting Panel, is an opinion-leading wine industry leader, communicator, journalist and author. She also guides tastings and educational seminars, and judges several wine competitions each year.

Bottom Row: Cami Sisk MS, Chairwoman of the Judges Panel Deborah Parker Wong, Eve Bushman, Stacie Hunt.
Top Row: Danny Ronen, Paul Ellis, Cassandra Brown, David Glancy MS, Roger Bohmrich MW

With the growth of “green” oenology in the United States, the guide started to include wineries from California and Oregon in 2017 and announced lately its expansion through Washington state and the east coast, with New York, Virginia, and Maryland wineries soon to be reviewed. “I am honored to have the opportunity to lead the Slow Wine editorial team in the US,” stated Parker Wong, “and am excited to be part of the next chapter in this ever-evolving time.”

The Slow Wine community in the US is steadily growing after having expanded beyond Italian borders just a few years ago. “I’d like to thank former US editor, Jeremy Parzen, for his dedication the Slow Wine Guide and his contribution to our expansion in the US,” stated Editor-in-chief, Giancarlo Gariglio. “We are very encouraged by the positive response so far and look forward to continuing the Slow Wine mission with our American peers for years to come.”

The recent lockdown caused by the pandemic created an uncertain scenario for the Slow Wine movement, whose reviewing process is based on winery visits and blind tastings. To cope with the emergency, the editorial staff has recently announced a new digital approach consisting of virtual visits with producers to gather all the necessary information and parameters required by the guide.

“For ten years,” commented Gariglio, “we have personally visited more than 2,000 wineries, we have met their leaders, walked their vineyards and told their stories. The recent pandemic forced us to modify the way in which we work, but we are not slowing down. Thanks to technology and our learnings during the lockdown, we are substituting in-person visits with virtual meetings and tastings, and the result so far has been extremely successful. We can now share these digital interviews with our readers on our social media channels, a completely new offering for our followers.”

To get your own digital copy of the 2020 Slow Wine Guide, visit this link here. The Slow Wine Tour will come back in the US in 2021 with a new edition that is destined to remain in history.

About Slow Wine
The Slow Wine Guide, published by Slow Food Editore (the publishing arm of Slow Food Italy*), adopts a new approach to wine criticism and looks at a variety of factors to evaluate wineries in their entirety. They take into consideration wine quality, history and adherence to terroir, value, environmental sensitivity and ecologically sustainable methods of practice. Slow Wine was conceived to give a realistic snapshot of the current Italian wine landscape. The guide features reviews of over 500 different wineries, each one visited by Slow Food experts. It is available for purchase on Amazon.com as well as in select bookstores.

*Slow Food International is a global grassroots organization that envisions a world in which all people can access and enjoy food that is good for them, good for those who grow it, and good for the planet. A non-profit member-supported association, Slow Food was founded in Italy in 1989 to counter the rise of fast food and fast life and the disappearance of local food traditions, and to encourage people to be aware about the food they eat, where it comes from, how it tastes, and how our food choices affect the rest of the world.

V. Sattui Winery named “Domestic Winery of the Year”

June 27, 2020 by evebushman

V. Sattui was named 2020 “Domestic Winery of the Year” after earning a remarkable 26 medals, including 10 that were awarded Platinum and 12 awarded Gold at the 38^th annual San Diego International Wine & Spirits Challenge. The Napa Valley winery, specializing in vineyard-designate bottlings, produced a tie for “Wine of the Year” with their 2016 Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon ($92) and 2016 Vangone Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon ($140), each dazzled with a score of 98 points out of 100. V. Sattui’s Bordeaux-style blend, the 2016 Paradiso ($95), narrowly missed a three-way tie with a score of 97 points.

Seven more V. Sattui wines scored Platinum, including their 2017 Napa Valley Malbec ($46) with 95 points and 2015 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($52) with 96 points. Their Estate Vittorio’s Vineyard produced two more Platinum winners: 2017 Petit Verdot ($47) and Cabernet Sauvignon ($78), both earning 94 points. Additional 94 point wines included V. Sattui’s 2018 Anderson Valley Pinot Noir ($48), 2018 Los Carneros Pinot Noir ($39), and 2017 Napa Valley Syrah ($42) – further displaying the winery’s broad range of quality wine varietals.

The venerable San Diego International is one of the oldest and most revered competitions in the United States. Founded by award-winning wine columnist Dan Berger and Bob Foster and wine rep Dick Colangelo in 1982, the competition has been under the guidance of nationally syndicated wine columnist Robert Whitley for the past 17 years.

Whitley has assembled a remarkable team of dedicated wine enthusiasts, including Director Rich Cook and Chief Judges Michael Franz (Wine) and Maurice DiMarino (Spirits), to oversee planning and production of this important annual deep dive into wine & spirits evaluation. The San Diego International chooses its judges carefully, always with an eye toward giving each wine and spirit entered a fair shot on a level playing field. This year’s panel of judges included a prestigious list of winemakers, wine writers, and sommeliers.

“American and foreign wine competitions can be, and often are, unpredictable. It’s not unusual for an unknown to show up and claim a top award. But some things never change. One of those would be the inevitability of V. Sattui Winery, one of Napa Valley’s finest,” stated Whitley. Speaking to V. Sattui’s richly flavored 2018 Anderson Valley Pinot Noir, “Notes of black cherry, ripe strawberry, fall spice and gentle oak toast entice on the nose and please on the palate, with a supple texture and a long, fully integrated finish keep you coming back for more. Wines like this are why Pinot Noir is so popular.” he added.

“I am very proud and happy for our vineyard and winemaking teams; they work so hard and deserve all the credit for this amazing recognition of our wines. To be Voted Best Winery and tie with ourselves for Best Wine of the competition is a tremendous feat,” says Winery President, Tom Davies.

Milam and Greene Whiskey Wins Double Gold

June 8, 2020 by evebushman

BLANCO, TEXAS (PRWEB) – Milam & Greene Whiskey was recognized as a producer of the finest whiskies in the world with two Double Gold medals bestowed by the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Milam & Greene Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Port Wine Casks won a Double Gold in its first year on the market, and Ben Milam Barrel Proof Straight Bourbon has been recognized with a Gold or Double Gold medal for three years in a row.

e 20th annual San Francisco World Spirits Competition is the world’s largest competition of its kind, with almost 3,000 entries and judges from all over the world. The 51 judges of the 2020 Competition are well known spirits-industry experts who evaluate entries in blind tasting formats. The Double Gold designation is awarded when every judge on the panel declares the entry as a Gold Medal winner. Only a very select few of the finest products in the world ever earn this recognition.

“The San Francisco World Spirits Competition is considered to be the most influential spirits competition in the world and is a clear endorsement for whiskey drinkers to know that our bourbon and rye are among the best on the shelves today,” says Heather Greene, CEO and master blender of Provision Spirits, makers of Milam & Greene Whiskey and Ben Milam Whiskey. “We believe that our combined 58-years of whiskey-making among us and innovative approach in the independent whiskey space creates some of the finest American Whiskeys available.”

The Milam & Greene Whiskey team distills both in their hometown of Blanco, Texas and in master distiller Marlene Holmes’s home state of Kentucky. Milam & Greene Whiskey casks, grains and people come from all over America. In addition to distilling on-site and off site, the team blends, batches, sources, finishes, and hand-bottles. In 2020, the team will be sending casks to various parts of the US to study the effects of U.S. geography on whiskey. The team plans to sell its award-winning bottles across the nation in the coming months.

“We think of Milam and Greene as a truly American Whiskey experience strengthened by our renegade Texas heart,” says master distiller, Marlene Holmes.

The Blanco, Texas based Milam & Greene Whiskey distillery has currently turned its attention to the community during the COVID-19 pandemic by producing hand sanitizer for the healthcare community and first responders. In addition, it is supporting local charities and providing assistance to service industry employees directly impacted by the closure of bars and restaurants.

About the Whiskies

Milam & Greene Port Finished Straight Rye Whiskey is a gorgeous ruby colored whiskey with luscious aromas of cinnamon, chocolate, and dark fruits such as black currants and blackberries. Robust flavors are carried in a rich, velvety whiskey with a long warm finish. Casks are brought from Indiana to Texas where they are first batched in the Blanco rickhouse and then finished in old Port wine casks from Portugal. The casks are meticulously curated, vatted for consistency, and monitored for flavor. The Texan sun and varied humidity levels influence the rate and strength of flavor imparted into the 94-proof whiskey, making this a tricky whiskey to produce.
The Ben Milam Barrel Proof Straight Bourbon is an expertly batched combination of aged Tennessee whiskeys that sparkle with notes of toffee, candied nuts, oak, and baking spices. It is a rich and complex Bourbon bottled at cask strength, 114.6 proof, allowing whiskey fans an opportunity to play with water and ice to find the perfect balance for their palates.

Pricing and Availability
Milam & Greene Whiskey is soon to be distributed nationally and is currently distributed statewide in Texas at the finest liquor stores and at the distillery itself. Milam & Greene Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Port Wine Casks retails for a suggested retail price of $47.99, while the Ben Milam Barrel Proof Straight Bourbon is available for a suggested retail price of $79.99. Find the nearest retailer with https://milamandgreenewhiskey.com/find-our-whiskies/.

About Provision Spirits
Provisions Spirits was founded in 2017 and produces both the flagship brand of Milam & Greene Whiskey and Ben Milam Whiskey. The distillery is led by an all-star team of whiskey experts with more than 58 years of American whiskey making experience including CEO, partner and master blender, Heather Greene, veteran Kentucky master distiller Marlene Holmes and chief brewer Jordan Osborne. Provision Spirits Milam & Greene is named for the partnership formed between Texas entrepreneur Marsha Milam and whiskey expert Heather Greene. Provision Spirits believes brilliance in independent whiskey making requires the integration of the highest quality distilling, aging, blending, batching, proofing, sourcing, finishing and bottling practices to achieve complexity and balance to please the most demanding palate. For more information visit: http://www.milamandgreenewhiskey.com.

Pusser’s Rum Aged 15 Years wins Double Gold at the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition

May 31, 2020 by evebushman

CHARLESTON, S.C. (PRWEB) – Pusser’s Rum is proud to announce that its 15 Year Old rum just earned the coveted Double Gold Medal at the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition in the aged rum category. “This distinctive award endorses our own claim that it’s the ‘Crown Jewel’ of aged rums and unequivocally the best in the world,” says President and CEO, Gary Rogalski.

The SFWSC consists of four days of controlled blind tastings. Judges do not receive any information on producer or price point, ensuring each spirit is judged fairly, equally and without bias. While tasting, judges evaluate each product on an individual basis and determine which entries are worthy of a Gold, Silver, or Bronze medal. Double Gold Medals are only awarded to the entries that receive a Gold medal rating by all members of the judging panel.

The Pusser’s Aged 15 adds the SFWSC Double Gold Medal to a long list of other accolades, including the World’s Best Pot and Column Still Rum which it earned at the 2019 World Rum Awards sponsored by the Spirits Business in London.

Deemed “The Single Malt of Rum” by Forbes Magazine, Pusser’s Aged 15 is produced in small batches. The rum originates from stills located in Guyana’s Demerara Valley. The blend is heavily influenced by rum from vintage wooden pot stills – the signature of the Royal Navy. Constructed in the early 1700s, these historic “vat” stills produce flavors unmatched by modern metal column stills. The rum is then Caribbean aged for 15 years in once used charred bourbon barrels. Most other major rum brands add flavoring and sugar to make their products smoother and to give them body. By contrast, Pusser’s uses no flavoring agents or sugar. It is all natural.