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Announcing TEXSOM International Wine Awards 2021
The following is a timeline with corresponding entry fees: Submission Period Wine: $95 + 4 bottles per online entry Late Submission Period Wine: $105 + 4 bottles per online entry “Spirits have played an important role in the beverage industry and mixology, and now there are operating craft distillers in all 50 states and over 1,000 internationally,” says Donaji Lira, Events Manager for TEXSOM. “The addition of spirits to the Awards will help to increase exposure not only of craft distillers, but also classic distillers. Now is a good time to include this important category, given the changing nature of the hospitality industry and evolving roles in restaurants and retail.” “Improvements to our submissions experience for mead, cider, and sake entrants, as well as the addition of spirits, add to our strategic value for returning Awards winners and new prospective entrants,” says Amie Hendrickson, Operations Manager for TEXSOM. “In spite of the significant challenges we face as an industry in 2021, our team is devoted to the exceptional standards of care our entrants, judges, volunteers, and participants have come to expect. We offer entrants a consistent place to showcase their offerings and welcome new and returning representative producers from all 50 US States and numerous countries.” Maximilian Kast MS is based in North Carolina and serves as the Director of Education and Sales NC/SC at import company, Broadbent Selections. He states, “I have never seen such a high concentration of the best palates in the country at one place in my life. Wineries that receive awards from the competition can be assured that the best of the best deliberated tirelessly on those decisions.” “Folks in Idaho last year were thrilled with the response to their entries at TEXSOM,” says Eric Degerman, president and CEO of Great Northwest Wine. “A number of Idaho producers have stopped submitting new releases to some publications because they question if Idaho wines are evaluated under blind conditions, which is another reason why the showing of Idaho wines at your competition — featuring arguably the most prestigious panel of judges in the U.S. — is important to that emerging wine region.” Alexandra Cherniavsky, an Advanced Sommelier and Wine Consultant from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania shares, “TEXSOM IWA gave me a larger world perspective and insight into who the important producers were in individual parts of the world and what grapes were important there.” Cherniavsky, a previous multi-year participant in the TEXSOM Sommelier Retreat and a 2020 TEXSOM IWA volunteer continues, “It gave me wines to recommend at every price point and a working knowledge of Texas wines, something I never would have been exposed to otherwise.” In 2015 TEXSOM International Wine Awards combined the logistics team and infrastructure of an historical competition with the influence and power of the TEXSOM brand. The competition has grown more than 33% and seen diversification to 32 countries and 18 U.S. states represented, spanning suggested retail pricing from U.S. $2.99 to over U.S. $700, and vintages as old as 36 years. Previous results are available through the TEXSOM International Wine Awards website searchable database. TEXSOM International Wine Awards contributes to the global conversation of beverage, amplifies classic and emerging regions, and builds exposure and interest for all invested in the experience. A unique range of benefits for Award winners includes:
The TEXSOM International Wine Awards team looks forward to working with the industry to identify and champion wines and beverages of quality and distinction from around the world. Distribution in Texas is NOT required to enter the competition, and TEXSOM IWA can assist international wineries in obtaining COLA Waivers. Wineries interested in submitting entries may visit the updated entrant submission page with easy-to-follow steps, fees and requirements here. Further inquiries may be made by info@texsom.com or calling 214-886-1665. An overview of the 2020 competition is available here. ABOUT TEXSOM Founded in 2005, TEXSOM promotes professional wine service standards, outlines paths for further wine education and certification, and raises public awareness about the professional standards and certifications for sommeliers. Today, the conference draws more than 1,000 attendees. In April 2014 the TEXSOM group purchased one of the largest, most respected, and longest-running competitions in the United States now known as the TEXSOM International Wine Awards. |
Dallas, Texas —James Tidwell MS, owner and producer of TEXSOM International Wine Awards, announces entries are open for judging and awards consideration for the 2021 competition to be held April 25-27, 2021 at the Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas. A new addition to this year’s judging is the inclusion of spirits (whiskey, gin, vodka, etc.), pre-mixed cocktails, cocktail components, and bitters. The competition has an improved, more tailored entry experience for sake, cider, and mead producers, all beverages judged in previous years, allowing for greater differentiation.Discovering Wines: Two Excellent Examples From Texas…TEXAS! By Mike Fraschilla
Snobs are sure to dismiss Texas wines as wines made by local “Philistines”. They should note the Dave Phinney: Yeah THAT Dave Phinney who created the now legendary Orin Swift wines such as: The Prisoner, Saldo, Pappillon, Mercury Head, Machete, & D2…Phinney has made his statement that Texas can and does grow and produce world class wine.
Phinney’s Locations TX 7 is a phenomenal Red Blend made in collaboration with local grower and producer Kim McPherson. A “Rhone” blend of Shiraz/Syrah, Mourvedre, Carignan, Grenache…
Locations TX is made in signature Dave Phinney style: rich and fleshy filled with notes of dark berry fruit with a bit of pepper and spice. It’s an under $20 retail steal of a wine!
Also tried the 2017 McPherson “Les Copains” (The Friends) Texas Red Blend. A Mourvèdre, Carignan, Cinsault, Counoise and Syrah. The McPhersons have been making wines in the panhandle for over 40 years. These are serious wine people working to bring the right grapes to the multitude of microclimates in the Panhandle AVA.
Les Copains offers up rich notes and flavors of ripe cherries, raspberry, blackberry…add to that hints of lavender backed by black pepper and spice, while supple tannins provide a pleasant lingering finish. A real pleasure at $20-25 retail.
Both the Location TX and McPherson wines get their grapes grown in the McPherson vineyards located in the highlands AVA of the Texas Panhandle, eight million acres at an elevation of 3-5,000 feet, one of the largest AVAs on the planet is in and around the Texas cities of Amarillo and Lubbock.
In a short number of years Texas has created a wine industry that’s soon being recognized as world class. Yeah the Cali and Euro snobs will poo poo the notion!
Just as they did for Oregon, Washington, Argentina, Australia, Chile, South Africa, and New Zealand!
Always wanting to remind folks that there are a host of new locales developing world class wines. Just a few of mention to watch:
Idaho
Arizona
New Mexico
New York
Virginia
Canada
Israel
Slovenia
Uruguay
And yes… Texas! Wine is coming of age throughout the world!
Milam and Greene Whiskey Wins Double Gold
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.
Christina Walther of Jeffrey’s of Austin Named Best Sommelier at 15th Annual Texsom
Irving, Texas –– TEXSOM co-founders and Master Sommeliers Drew Hendricks and James Tidwell today announced at the TEXSOM Grand Tasting that Christina Walther of Jeffrey’s of Austin is the 2019 TEXSOM Best Sommelier. The 2019 TEXSOM Best Sommelier Competition takes place during TEXSOM, the most prominent and influential wine education conference in the United States, held annually at the Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas in Irving, Texas.
Photo from Forbes.
Christina topped an impressive field of competitors in a rigorous three-part wine examination involving service, blind tasting and theory knowledge. An elite group of Master Sommelier, Master of Wine, and Master Cicerone judges named Christina the 2019 TEXSOM Best Sommelier at a ceremony on Tuesday evening. The competition is a traditional part of TEXSOM. To participate, candidates must be a current resident of Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, New Mexico, or Texas and must not have passed the Court of Master Sommeliers’ Advanced Sommelier Examination or won the competition previously.
“The 15th year of the TEXSOM Best Sommelier Competition was certainly one for the record books,” says Tidwell. “It is a testament to the quality and standards of their wine team for these three individuals to place in our competition. We offer wholehearted congratulations to Christina on taking top honors and look forward to following her career. We also want to extend our sincere thanks to the entire TEXSOM team who really took our conference to another level this year.”
In addition to laying claim to the title of “2019 TEXSOM Best Sommelier,” Christina received a scholarship of $2,500 from SOMMFoundation to be used for a Court of Master Sommeliers certification program. Skyler Ring was the runner up and will receive a $1,500 scholarship, and the 3rd place winner Austin Farina will receive a $1,000 scholarship. All three winners are employed by Jeffrey’s of Austin. We applaud their quality of service and training.
Held August 18th to 20th at Four Seasons Resort and Club and co-presented by the not-for-profit organizations GuildSomm, SOMMFoundation, Court of Master Sommeliers – Americas, and Wine & Spirit Education Trust—TEXSOM is the only event of its kind in the United States. The speakers and judges constitute a who’s who list of the nation’s top wine professionals. Dozens of Master Sommeliers (MS), Masters of Wine (MW), Master Cicerones, WSET Diploma Graduates (DipWSET) and other respected industry professionals were integral parts of the conference.
The 2019 TEXSOM conference featured a stellar line-up of speakers, mentors, and competition judges, including:
- Jesse Becker MS
- Wayne Belding MS
- Shayn Bjornholm MS
- Bree Boskov MW
- Devon Broglie MS
- Dilek Caner PhD MW
- Remy Charest
- Christy Canterbury MW
- Elaine Chukan Brown
- Jim Clarke
- Craig Collins MS
- Olga Crawford MW
- Brian Cronin MS
- Charles Curtis MW
- Ian D’Agata
- Matthew Deller
- Frederick L. Dame MS
- Laura DePasquale MS
- Jeni Dodd
- Maureen Downey
- Jessica Dupuy
- Sarah Jane Evans MW
- Ganna Federova
- Klaus Gasser
- Keith Goldston MS
- Jamie Goode PhD
- Mary Gorman-McAdams MW
- Ian Harris MBE DipWSET
- Drew Hendricks MS
- Rich Higgins MC CS
- Jay James MS
- Terry Kandylis
- Geoff Kruth MS
- Paul Mabray
- Peter Marks MW
- Benoit Marsan PhD
- Jack Mason MS
- Mary Margaret McCamic MW
- Andrew McNamara MS
- Melissa Monosoff MS
- Sheri Morano MW
- Antony Moss DipWSET MW
- Nicholas Paris MW
- Rajat Parr MS
- Bronwen Percival
- Francis Percival
- Emily Pickral MS
- Thomas Price MS
- Kyle Stewart
- Larry Stone MS
- Guy Stout MS
- Chris Tanghe MS
- Dirceu Vianna Junior MW
- Kelli White
- Laura Williamson MS
- Emily Wines MS
- David Wrigley DipWSET MW
- Debbie Zachareas
2019 Sponsors: The event is made possible by the generous support of many sponsors, with scholarships provided by the SOMMFoundation.
Sponsors include:
(Presenting Sponsors) Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas; GuildSomm; SOMMFoundation; Wine & Spirits Education Trust.
(Platinum Sponsors) Aqua Panna; Balzac Communications & Marketing; Banville Wine Merchants; Broadbent Selections; Classic Wine Merchants; Fortessa; Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas; ProWein; Ribera y Rueda; San Pellegrino; Silver Oak/Twomey; The Sorting Table; TEXSOM International Wine Awards; Washington State Wine; Wine Australia; Wine Dialogues; Wines from Spain.
(Gold Sponsors) Australia Classic & Rare; Banfi Vintners; Barossa Australia; Classified Wine Imports; Champagne Taittinger; Chappellet Winery; Club Crus Beaujolais; Coravin; Dreyfus, Ashby & Co.; González Byass; GoVino; Harvest Press Cider; Irving Texas Convention & Visitors Bureau; Kistler Vineyards; Loosen Bros. USA; Lux Wines; Mutual Trading Company; Newton Napa Valley; Old Bridge Cellars; Olé & Obrigado; Oregon Wine Board; Ruinart; Santa Lucia Highlands Wine Artisans; Santa Margherita USA; Texas Fine Wine; WhyNot; Wilson Daniels; Wines of Georgia; Wines of South Africa; Wines of Uruguay.
(Silver Sponsors) Ambiente; Austrian Wine; Cape Classics; Champagne Bruno Paillard; Consorzio di Tutela Prosecco Superiore; Crimson Wine Group; Empson USA; Europvin; Food Is Great Britain & N. Ireland; Folio Fine Wine Partners; Gerard Bertrand; Gimblett Gravels Wine Growing District; Graves – Sauternes; Iron Horse Vineyards; Jackson Family Wines; Kobrand Fine Wine and Spirits; Franciacorta; Lake County Winegrape Commission; Larkmead Family Estate; Lodi Wines; Louis Jadot/Zind Humbrecht; Mcpherson/Llano/Fallcreek/Brennan Vineyards; Multicarte Inc.; MundoVino; Napa Valley Vintners; New Zealand Wine; North Berkeley Imports; Pacific Highway Wines & Spirits; Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance; Petaluma Gap Wine Grower’s Alliance; Rías Baixas; Serendipity Wines; Sideshow Wine Freaks Tour; Texas Wine & Grape Grower’s Association; The Cultured Cup; The Wine Group; Terrien; Third Leaf Wines; Uncork Texas Wines; VQA Wines of Ontario; Viña Cobos by Paul Hobbs; Vinho Verde; Willamette Valley Wine; Wines of Argentina; Wines of British Columbia; Wines of Chile; Wines of Georgia; Wines of Germany; Wines of Greece; Yarden Inc.
(Bronze Sponsors) Achaval-Ferrer; Adelsheim; Alejandro Fernández Grupo Pesquera; Alexander Valley Vineyards; Almaviva; Arínzano; Athenee Importers & Distributors; Barnett Vineyards; Becker Vineyards; Bellavista; Beronia; Bodega Garzon Uruguay; Bodegas Hidalgo La Gitana; Brazos Wine; Bowler; Champagne Collet; Clos du Val; Coast Pinot Noir; Corison; Crown Point Vineyards; Dalla Terra Winery District; Daou Vineyards & Winery; David Milligan Selections; Delectatio; Dessai; Donald Patz Wine Group; Dry Creek Vineyard; Ehlers Estate; Entisquero; Faustino; Fisher Vineyards; Foley Family Wines; Fredrick Wildman & Sons; Freemark Abbey; Garnacha/Grenache; Groth Vineyards & Winery; Gruet; Guinness; Gundlach Bundschu; Hahn Family Wines; Hartford Family Winery; Hundred Acre; Hertelendy Napa Valley; Joseph Phelps Vineyards; Kerr Cellars; Land of Promise Sonoma; Lange Twins; Lede Family Wines; Lingua Franca; Lipman; Messina Hof Winery & Resort; Murrieta’s Well; Obsidian Wine Co.; Pasalei; Passopisciaro Tenuta di Trinoro; Patz & Hall; Pedernales Cellars; Ranchos de Ontiveros Santa Maria Valley; Revana Family Vineyard; Rex Hill; Saint Arnold Brewing Company; Schmitt Sohne Family Wines; Siduri; Sinegal Estate; Ste. Michelle Wine Estates; Symington Family; The Hess Collection; Tinto Negro; Trefethen Family Vineyards; Villa Maria; Vina Don Machor; Vinkara; Vineyard Brands; William & Chris Vineyards; Winesellers LTD; ZD Wines; Zuccardi.
ABOUT TEXSOM
Founded in 2005, the TEXSOM conference was started by Master Sommeliers James Tidwell and Drew Hendricks to help promote professional wine service standards, outline paths for further wine education and certification, and raise public awareness about the professional standards and certifications for sommeliers. Today the conference draws more than 1,300 attendees, of whom more than 800 are sommeliers and other beverage industry professionals. In addition to the conference, the group also manages the TEXSOM International Wine Awards, one of the largest, most respected, and longest-running in the United States.
Call for Entries – BRIT®/FIVS International Sustainable Winegrowing Competition
FORTH WORTH, Texas (PRWEB) – Come join the competition! The Botanical Research Institute of Texas and FIVS are pleased to announce the start of their 2020 sustainable winegrowing competition. Competition applications can be downloaded from BRIT’s web site at http://www.brit.org/wineaward and from the FIVS website http://www.fivs.org. The submission deadline for applications is September 30, 2019.
This is the first BRIT/FIVS co-branded and co-managed competition since the event began in 2010. The new partnership engages FIVS’s global membership of regional wine associations, wine producers and distributors to support and promote the competition.
The award attracts progressive and passionate wine organizations from around the world that are taking a leading role in “ground to glass” sustainable programs. The competition is based on the continuous improvement of the three tenets of sustainability – environment, economic, and social – and wine flavor.
The competition application consists of 20 high-level self-assessment questions in which applicants describe their organization’s conservation efforts in the vineyard and in operations. Examples include how waste is avoided, how it is reclaimed, and how the winery extends conservation efforts to its customers. Practices established to maintain environmentally sound, socially responsible, and economically feasible winemaking principles are detailed. Two bottles of wine must also be provided for a tasting by the judging committee. The competition has an entry fee of $50 USD.
International entrants may use their US distributors to forward their wine samples to BRIT or may use BRIT’s consignee, La Cigale Wines of Fort Worth, Texas, to clear shipments and provide COLA Waivers. If wishing to use La Cigale Wines, please contact Edward Proctor, La Cigale Wines, at (817) 923-6747 or email, ed@lacigalewines.com before shipping.
Previous platinum award recipients include: Casa Ferreirinha, 2019, Alexander Valley Vineyards (2018), Yealands Family Wines, (2017), Buzet (2016), LangeTwins Family Winery and Vineyards (2014), Yalumba (2013), Trefethen Family Vineyards (2012), Parducci Wine Cellars (2011), and HALL Wines (2010).
The competition begins May 1, 2019 with a submission deadline of September 30, 2019. Winners will be announced in November. Platinum, gold, silver, and bronze-level medals are awarded to top-placing entries.
The competition’s overall winner will be presented with BRIT/FIVS International Sustainable Winegrowing glass sculpture in Fort Worth in January 2020, during BRIT’s Vine to Table award presentation and dinner.
2019 Texas Whiskey Festival Set For April 19
AUSTIN, Texas (PRWEB) – The Texas Whiskey Festival has announced the date and venue for its second annual event: April 19th at the Star Hill Ranch near Bee Cave Texas. The event provides a casual and informative opportunity for whiskey enthusiasts to meet Texas’ master blenders and distillers, while enjoying an evening of food, entertainment and cigar pairings designed to complement the craft whiskey brands showcased at the event.
“Last year’s inaugural event was such a success that we outgrew our venue – so we’re hosting this year’s Festival at the much larger Star Hill Ranch outside of Bee Cave, Texas,” said event co-founder Jake Clements. “This amazing venue is a classic old west town that’s served as a set for Hollywood films, and its main street and many air-conditioned buildings provide the perfect setting for the food, music, and of course the whiskey that we’ll present and share with all in attendance.”
The Texas Whiskey Festival is a fun and entertaining event that lets whiskey enthusiasts meet the distillers and master blenders who are making Texas’ best spirits. The evening provides a perfect setting for educating whiskey lovers and introducing them to not only top-shelf whiskeys produced throughout the State, but also to a handful of participating wineries. Extensive food selections, cigar pairings and live entertainment are sure to make the 2019 event memorable for whiskey enthusiasts and also for the state’s most innovative distillers.
Click here for Ticket information.
Event founders are pleased to announce that a number of favorite distilleries are participating, including: Still Austin Whiskey Co; Andalusia Whiskey Co; Balcones Distilling; Treaty Oak Distilling; 1876 Bourbon; Yellow Rose Distilling; and Garrison Brothers. Details on new and additional distilleries will be made available in the weeks ahead, and distilleries interested in participating are invited to contact: distilleries@txwhiskeyfest.com.
- Sponsors interested in interacting with more than 500 attending whiskey enthusiasts can contact: sponsor@txwhiskeyfest.com.
- Accommodations are available at the Sonesta Bee Cave, which is partnering with the Festival to offer discounts and group packages for attendees.
- Members of the media interested in attending, or being a media partner are encouraged to contact media@txwhiskeyfest.com.
Additional details on sponsors, awards programs, and participating distilleries will be made available via the event’s Facebook page, at facebook.com/TXWhiskeyFest.
About the Texas Whiskey Festival
The mission of the festival is simple: To help promote and enhance the brands of the many great distilleries throughout Texas. Along with promotion, we want to educate whiskey lovers about the many top-of-the-line whiskeys being produced in our great state – and we’re doing it all while having fun, drinking great whiskey, and building memorable experiences. As an organization, we know that Texas has some of the best distilleries and whiskeys in the world. The Texas Whiskey Festival is an opportunity to showcase that. For more information, please visit: https://txwhiskeyfest.com.
Kenneth Freeman of Sixty Vines Named Best Sommelier at 14th Annual TEXSOM
Irving, Texas – TEXSOM co-founders and Master Sommeliers Drew Hendricks and James Tidwell announced at the TEXSOM Grand Tasting presented by ProWein that Kenneth Freeman of Sixty Vines in Uptown Dallas is the 2018 TEXSOM Best Sommelier. The 2018 TEXSOM Best Sommelier Competition, presented by Texas Monthly, takes place during TEXSOM, the most prominent and influential wine education conference in the United States, held annually at the Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas in Irving, Texas.
Freeman topped an impressive field of 25 other competitors in a rigorous three-part wine examination involving service, blind tasting and theory. An elite panel of Master Sommelier judges named Freeman the 2018 TEXSOM Best Sommelier at a ceremony on Monday evening. The competition is a traditional part of TEXSOM. To participate, candidates must be a current resident of Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, New Mexico, or Texas and must not have passed the Court of Master Sommeliers’ Advanced Sommelier Examination or won the competition previously.
“Though we’ve grown over the past 14 years, the mission of TEXSOM continues to be the advancement of our industry and the elevation of service standards in a constant quest for excellence,” said Tidwell. “The TEXSOM Best Sommelier Competition is an opportunity for those individuals who show both a drive to learn and a commitment to these principles. We offer wholehearted congratulations to Kenneth for winning the competition this year. We see a bright future for him and will follow with interest, his accomplishments over the next few years.”
In addition to laying claim to the title of “2018 TEXSOM Best Sommelier,” Freeman received a scholarship of $2,500 from SOMMFoundation to be used for a Court of Master Sommeliers certification program. Lindsay Drew of Guild in Austin was the runner up and will receive a $1,500 scholarship, and the 3rd place winner Morgan Gray of Pappas Bros. Steakhouse in Houston will receive a $1,000 scholarship.
Held August 10th to 13th at Four Seasons Resort and Club Las Colinas and co-presented by the not-for-profit organizations GuildSomm, SOMMFoundation, Court of Master Sommeliers – Americas, and Wine & Spirit Education Trust—TEXSOM is the only event of its kind in the United States. The speakers and judges constitute a who’s who list of the nation’s top wine professionals. Dozens of Master Sommeliers (MS), Masters of Wine (MW), Certified Wine Educators (CWE), and other respected industry professionals were integral parts of the conference.
The 2018 TEXSOM conference featured a stellar line-up of speakers, mentors, and competition judges, including:
- Serafin Alvarado MS
• Gillian Ballance MS
• Christopher Bates MS
• Wayne Belding MS
• John Blazon MS
• Bree Boskov MW
• Devon Broglie MS
• Jim Bube MS
• Dilek Caner PhD MW
• Christy Canterbury MW
• Elaine Chukan Brown
• Matt Citriglia MS
• Jim Clarke
• Craig Collins MS
• Brian Cronin MS
• Charles Curtis MW
• Ian D’Agata
• Frederick L. Dame MS
• Mark Davidson
• Laura DePasquale MS
• Jessica Dupuy
• Sarah Jane Evans MW
• Michael Franz Ph.D.
• Keith Goldston MS
• Mary Gorman-McAdams MW
• Peter Granoff MS
• Greg Harrington MS
• Ian Harris DipWSET MBE
• Drew Hendricks MS
• Jay James MS
• David Keck MS
• Geoff Kruth MS
• Ernst Loosen
• Jack Mason MS
• Mary Margaret McCamic MW
• Andrew McNamara MS
• Melissa Monosoff MS
• Sheri Morano MW
• Antony Moss DipWSET MW
• Nicholas Paris MW
• Aaron Patrick MS
• Francis Percival
• Thomas Price MS
• Josh Raynolds
• Jean K. Reilly MW
• Laura Rhys MS
• Treve Ring DipWSET
• June Rodil MS
• Joseph Spellman MS
• Guy Stout MS
• Chris Tanghe MS
• Liz Thach Ph.D. MW
• Dirceu Vianna Junior MW
• Kelli White
• Nigel Wilkinson MS
• Virginia Wilcock
• David Wrigley DipWSET MW
• Debbie Zachareas
2018 Sponsors: The event is made possible by the generous support of many sponsors, with scholarships provided by the SOMMFoundation.
Sponsors include:
(Presenting Sponsors) Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas; GuildSomm; SOMMFoundation; Wine & Spirits Education Trust.
(Platinum Sponsors) Aqua Panna; Balzac Communications & Marketing; Broadbent Selections; Classic Wine Merchants; E&J Gallo Winery; Fortessa; Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas; ProWein; Republic National Distributing Company; Ribera y Rueda; San Pellegrino; Silver Oak/Twomey; The Sorting Table; Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits; TEXSOM International Wine Awards; TRU Estates and Vineyards; Washington State Wine; Wine Australia; Wines from Spain.
(Gold Sponsors) Australia Classic & Rare; Banfi Vintners; Banville Wine Merchants; Barossa Australia; Classified Wine Imports; Champagne Taittinger; Chappellet Winery; Coravin; Dreyfus, Ashby & Co.; GoVino; Irving Texas Convention & Visitors Bureau; Kistler Vineyards; Loosen Bros. USA; Louis Jadot; Lux Wines; Massanois; Mutual Trading Company; Old Bridge Cellars; Oregon Wine Board; Rhone Valley Vineyards; Santa Lucia Highlands Wine Artisans; Texas Fine Wine; Repour Winesaver; Vintus; Wilson Daniels; Wines of South Africa.
(Silver Sponsors) Bliss Wine Imports; Cape Classics; Crimson Wine Group; DSWS; Domaines Albert Bichot; Empson USA; Esprit du Vin; Europvin; Folio Fine Wine Partners; Gerard Bertrand; Gimblett Gravels Wine Growing District; Graves – Sauternes; Helen & Joey Estate; Iron Horse Vineyards; Jackson Family Wines; Jeroboam; Kobrand Fine Wine and Spirits; C. N. Kopke; Lake County Winegrape Commission; Lodi Wines; Multicarte Inc.; MundoVino; Napa Valley Vintners; New Zealand Wine; North Berkeley Imports; Old World Vines; Ole Imports; Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance; Provence Rose Group; Serendipity Wines; Sideshow Wine Freaks Tour; The Cultured Cup; The Wine Group; Vina Cobos by Paul Hobbs; Vini Fantini by Farnese; Vinos D.O. Navarra; West Sonoma Coast Vintners; Willamette Valley Wine; Wines of Chile; Wines of Georgia; Wines of Germany; Wines of Greece; Wines of Turkey; Wine of Uruguay; Winesellers, Ltd; Yraden Inc.
(Bronze Sponsors) Achaval Ferrer; Alexander Valley Vineyards; Almaviva; Arinzano; Austrian Wine; Barnett Vineyards; Becker Vineyards; Bellavista; Bending Branch Winery; Bodegas Hidalgo La Gitana; Brazos Wine; Champagne Collet; Chapel Down; Charles Krug; Clos du Val; Craft + Estate; Crown Point Vineyards; Dalla Terra Winery District; Dashe; Delectatio; Domaine Roy & Fils; Dry Creek Vineyard; DuMol; Ehlers Estate; Emeritus Vineyards; Faustino; Fisher Vineyards; Foley Family Wines; Fredrick Wildman & Sons; Freemark Abbey; Gonzales Byass; Groth Vineyards & Winery; Gruet; Hahn Family Wines; Hartford Family Winery; Hope Family Wines; Hundred Acre; Jax; Joseph Phelps Vineyards; Lange Twins; Lede Family Wines; Left Coast Cellars; Lewis Wines; Mad Fritz; McPherson; Messina Hof Winery & Resort; Mionetto USA; Montagu; Murrieta’s Well; O’Neill Vintners & Distillers; Ontanon; Obsidian Wine Co.; Pahlmeyer Wayfarer; Patz & Hall; Pedernales Cellars; Petaluma Gap Winegrowers Alliance; Premium Port Wines; Quivara Vineyards; R & R Selections; Ramey Wine Cellars; Ranchos de Ontiveros; Revana Family Vineyard; Rex Hill; Siduri; SM Wine Group; Ste. Michelle Wine Estates; Tamber Bey; The Hess Collection; Third Leaf; Torbreck; Trefethen Family Vineyards; Villa Maria; Ventisquero; Vineyard Brands; Vintage Point; William Chris Vineyards; ZD Wines; Zuccardi.
ABOUT TEXSOM
Founded in 2005, the TEXSOM conference was started by Master Sommeliers James Tidwell and Drew Hendricks to help promote professional wine service standards, outline paths for further wine education and certification, and raise public awareness about the professional standards and certifications for sommeliers. Today the conference draws more than 1,300 attendees, of whom more than 800 are sommeliers and other beverage industry professionals. In addition to the conference, the group also manages the TEXSOM International Wine Awards, one of the largest, most respected, and longest-running in the United States.
Alexander Valley Vineyards of Healdsburg, California Wins Top Honors
FORT WORTH, Texas (PRWEB) – The Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT®) is pleased to announce the winners in its 2018 International Award of Excellence in Sustainable Winegrowing competition. The platinum medal goes to Alexander Valley Vineyards (AVV) of Healdsburg, California, based on the winery’s on-going sustainable programs that address the three elements of sustainability: environmental, economic, social – and the Vineyard’s wine taste.
AVV is one of an elite group of wineries recognized as a Bay Area Green Business. They became a member of the California Sustainable Winegrowing Program in 2006 and achieved vineyard certification in 2014. AVV bottled their first wine produced from organic certified grapes in 2008, today the family organically farms over 30 acres and offers two wines from 100% California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) grapes. A second family vineyard will receive CCOF certification in June 2018. Other AVV sustainable initiatives include solar arrays that supply about half of the winery’s power; cover crop plantings to minimize pesticide use and control erosion; drip irrigation for precise water management; 25,000 square feet of underground, naturally cooled caves that reduce the winery’s carbon footprint; and installation of variable speed drives on all winery equipment to decrease energy waste.
The awarded wine was AVV’s, 2014 Organic Cabernet Sauvignon, Single Vineyard, using certified organic grapes.
“Alexander Valley Vineyards’ strong list of sustainable programs and care in winemaking produced an unbeatable application,” said Ed Schneider, BRIT’s president and director. “During the taste portion of the competition, our judges especially noted that the 100% organic varietal was perfectly balanced with fruit and spice to the taste and a testament to the Wetzel’s commitment to sustainable agriculture and family farming.”
AVV is a family-owned and operated winery located in the heart of Sonoma’s Alexander Valley, on the historic property originally settled in the 19th century by Cyrus Alexander, the valley’s namesake. Since 1975 the Wetzel Family has been producing an array of estate wines that reflect the unique character of the property.
“We are honored to receive the BRIT award and the recognition of the practices we have implemented over the decades,” says Harry Wetzel. “As a family run operation, we all believe that it is our responsibility to make this an even better place for future generations.”
Additional BRIT sustainable awards went to:
Gold medals
- E. & J. Gallo Winery, Modesto, California. Submitted 2015 Louis Martini Cabernet Sauvignon. Gallo receives special recognition for its corporate-wide, multi-brand sustainability programs and for the organization’s industry leadership.
- Bodega Catena Zapata, Mendoza, Argentina. Submitted 2014 Catena Malbec.
Silver medal
- Franciscan Estates, St. Helena, California. Submitted 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon.
Bronze medal
- Peach Creek Vineyards, College Station, Texas. Submitted Sassy Lassy, semi-sweet Texas table wine made with Noble grapes.
Competition for BRIT’s 2018 international award began May, 2017, when wineries submitted applications documenting their sustainable programs relating to environmental, economic, and social aspects of grape growing, and wine production along with their wine samples.
When submitting for the competition, wineries provide a self-assessment of their organization’s accomplishments in sustainable winegrowing, winemaking, and ecopreneural/social responsibility practices. They describe their organization’s conservation efforts in the field and in operations: how waste is avoided, how it is reclaimed, and how the winery extends conservation efforts to its customers and community. They also are required to submit a bottle of wine for a tasting by the judging committee.
Because the BRIT award is the only international award of its kind, it is of primary interest to wineries which care deeply about the environment and are taking a leading role in their community/region/country by implementing sustainable practices. Sustainable winegrowing programs are by nature, ongoing, so a key part of each program is its continual improvement process.
As a nonprofit, international plant research and knowledge sharing organization, BRIT offers this award to help raise interest and awareness of the value plants bring to our lives and the need for biodiversity.
Presentation of the platinum award to Alexander Valley Vineyards will be made in Fort Worth on Wednesday, April 11, 2018 during BRIT’s Vine to Table dinner and auction fundraising event.
BRIT’s 2019 sustainable winegrowing competition begins May 1, 2018, with the competition’s Call for Entries news release and the 2019 application is posted on the BRIT website, http://www.BRIT.org/wineaward. The submission deadline is September 1, 2018.
Announcing TEXSOM International Wine Awards 2018 Call for Entries
Dallas, Texas – TEXSOM Co-founders and Master Sommeliers Drew Hendricks and James Tidwell today announced that the TEXSOM International Wine Awards is accepting entries for the 2018 competition to be held February 12-14, 2018 at the Grapevine Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas
The following is a timeline with corresponding entry fees:
Submission Period
October 31 – December 31, 2017
$95 + 4 bottles of wine per entry
Wines must be received by January 1, 2018
Late Submission Period
January 1 – January 31, 2018
$105 + 4 bottles of wine per entry
Wines must be received by February 1, 2018
Late Expedited Submission Period
February 1 – 9, 2018
$145 + 4 bottles of wine per entry
Overnight Shipping Required, in order for processing to be completed for judging
“The TEXSOM International Wine Awards is the preeminent wine competition in the United States,” says Andrew McNamara MS, Vice President of Wine Development at Breakthru Beverage and Chairman – Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas. “TEXSOM International Wine Awards continues to assemble a panel of judges that is unmatched anywhere. Industry leaders, including many Master Sommeliers and Masters of Wine, judge an array of high-quality wines from around the world over the course of two days. Receiving a medal of any kind at TIWA is a boon to suppliers and distributors alike; mentioning it to sommeliers and buyers makes the already great wines that much more attractive.”
“TEXSOM attracts extremely experienced and knowledgeable judges, world-class wines and imposes ironclad integrity in the judging process,” says Debbie Zacharias and Peter Granoff MS, General Partners at Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant and Oxbow Wine & Cheese Merchant. “Many competitions make that claim, but the bar is truly higher here. Wineries and importers often ask us which competitions are the best ones to enter in the U.S. and TEXSOM is always at the top of a very short list.”
“An exciting global perspective is one thing that sets the TEXSOM International Wine Awards apart,” says Catherine Miles, Senior VP, Creative & Marketing Director for Broadbent Selections. “But the main reason a TEXSOM medal shines brighter than many other awards is that TEXSOM is so much more than an awards program. It’s an invigorating experience and an inspiring education that’s become a can’t-miss event for the wine world’s best and brightest.”
“TEXSOM International Wine Awards has been critical in building awareness for Greek wine,” says Sofia Perpera, Director of the Greek Wine Bureau-North America for Wines of Greece. “From the recognition garnered by ratings from world’s top opinion makers, as well as the exposure within the Sommelier community that TEXSOM allows.”
All award-winning wineries are asked to reserve at least three additional bottles of each award-winning wine for possible promotion and feature opportunities, such as inclusion in the Wine Awards hospitality suite at the TEXSOM conference; TEXSOM’s newest venture, the publication Sommelier; and in tastings outside the TEXSOM conference. Award-winning wines are candidates for consideration in TEXSOM seminars, but no guarantees are made regarding an individual wine’s use in seminars. Aside from the two bottles requested by TEXSOM International Wine Awards, restaurant and retail partners might contact award-winning entrants for participation in promotional tastings, dinners, wine list features, etc. Participation in events with restaurant and retail partners is at the discretion of the entrant.
In addition to the activities listed above, the following is a list of benefits for award winners:
- Award-winning wines announced via social media, email messaging, website, press release, publication partners
- The entire list of award-winning wines will be presented online by the presenting sponsor, Texas Monthly
- Listing of all award-winning wines and featured content on select award-winners in Sommelier, TEXSOM’s newest publication for sommeliers, wine buyers, other beverage professionals, and engaged consumers
- Exposure to TEXSOM’s international network of sommeliers and wine buyers with a tasting of medal-winning wines at the TEXSOM conference hospitality suites in August 2018
- Award-winning wines presented at events throughout the country through wine tastings, wine dinners and special events with restaurant and retail partners
- Award-winning wines featured on the TEXSOM International Wine Awards website throughout the calendar year
- Results available through the TEXSOM International Wine Awards searchable online database
- Recognition of the quality of the wines by a group of the best palates in the country, including the judges and Sommelier Panel. The Sommelier Panel is unique to TEXSOM International Wine Awards. The Panel consists of prominent sommeliers from around the country who write expository content following the awarding of medals by judges during the blind tasting
Wineries interested in submitting their wines for judging may visit the TEXSOM International Wine Awards website at http://texsomiwa.com. Further inquiries may be made by emailing enter@texsomiwa.com or by calling 214.886.1665.
ABOUT TEXSOM
Founded in 2005, TEXSOM was started by Master Sommeliers James Tidwell and Drew Hendricks to help promote professional wine service standards, outline paths for further wine education and certification, and raise public awareness about the professional standards and certifications for sommeliers. Today, the conference draws more than 1,000 attendees, of whom more than 800 are sommeliers and other beverage industry professionals. The TEXSOM group purchased the competition now known as the TEXSOM International Wine Awards in April 2014. One of the largest, most respected, and longest-running in the United States, the competition was founded in 1985 by journalist and wine expert Rebecca Murphy.
2017 Whiskies Of The World® Award Winners
Austin, Texas (PRWEB) – Whiskies of the World is delighted to announce the winners of the 2017 Whiskies of the World Awards. Whiskies of the World is known for its industry standard tasting events in Atlanta, Austin, Houston, San Francisco and San Jose. The Whisky Awards is an additional feature that provides brands marketing materials to promote their products. As only 23% of entrants receive gold medals, the results of these awards are extremely meaningful. Additionally, all judges’ notes are made available to each entrant as important data to develop the brand and determine best marketing strategy.
Whiskies are judged on a 100-point basis with a concentration on appearance, aromatics, flavor, mouthfeel and finish. Blind judging was performed by a panel of eighteen Texas tastemakers who are all influential figures in the state’s beverage industry. The panel included: David “Bart” Bartlett – Whisky Guru at Beverage World; Jeff Boley – Beverage Manager Townsend; Jeramy Campbell – Assistant Manager Seven Grand Whisky Bar; Carly Dunavant – Bartender; Aisling Gammill – Lead Bartender Whisler’s; Dennis Gobis – Co-Owner The Roosevelt Room and Eleanor; Mike Groener – CEO Genius Liquids; Jennifer Keyser – Beverage Director Holy Roller; Justin Lavenue – Co-owner The Roosevelt Room and Eleanor; Lana Lindsley – Bulleit Whiskey Ambassador; David Maguire – Co-owner The Austin Shaker; John McEntire – Spirits Consultant Twin Liquors; Florian Minier – Bartender Small Victory; Adrian Montanez – Manager Twin Liquors; Purav Patel – Owner Village Liquors; Mike Raymond – Owner Reserve 101; Ken Seeber – Spirits Consultant Twin Liquors; Kevin Stein – Regional Manager Twin Liquors
“The judges are extremely talented with sensitive palates and work hard to evaluate each product,” explains Douglas Smith, Whiskies of the World Event Director. “The evaluation of whiskies is taken very seriously. Our judges not only taste and make notes, but also discuss and consider many angles. We are proud that our awards reflect the experience and integrity of our excellent judging panel.”
Full results are listed on our website: Awards
The 2017 Best in Show Winner:
Gold: Glendronach 18 Year Old Single Malt Scotch
The 2017 Best in Class Winners:
American Single Malt: Westland American Single Malt Whiskey “American Oak”
Bourbon less than 2 years: Widow Jane Baby Jane Bourbon
Bourbon 2-5 years: Old Forester 1920
Bourbon greater than 5 years: Widow Jane 10 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon
Bourbon NAS: Old Forester Statesman
Canadian: Stalk & Barrel Red Blend
Corn greater than 2 years: Ironroot Hubris Corn Whiskey
Corn less than 2 years: Austonian Whiskey
Flavored Whiskey: R.M. Rose Fire On The Mountain Cinnamon Whiskey
Irish: Knockmore Irish Whiskey
Malt Unpeated: Glencadam 25 Year Old Single Malt Scotch
Malt Unpeated Cask Finish: Glendronach 18 Year Old Single Malt Scotch
Malt Peated: Amrut Fusion
Malt Peated Finished: Five Lions Blended Malt Scotch Whisky Peatside
Rye greater than 2 years: Old Potrero 18th Century Style Whiskey
Rye NAS: Rock Town Arkansas Rye Whiskey
Whiskey: Jim Beam Little Book “The Easy”
2017 Gold Recipients:
American Single Malt < 2 Years: Balcones ‘1′ Texas Single Malt
American Single Malt: Balcones Texas Single Malt Single Barrel
Bourbon 2-5 years:
Amador ‘Ten Barrels’
A.D. Laws Bottled In Bond 4 Grain Straight Bourbon
Balcones Texas Blue Corn Bourbon
Bourbon greater than 5 years: Amador Double Barrel
Irish: The Dubliner 10 year Old
Malt Peated: Amrut Cask Strength Peated
Malt Peated Finished: Amrut Kadhambam
Malt Unpeated Cask Finish: Chapter 7 19 Year Old Highland Blended Malt
Rye less than 2 Years: Lazy Guy 5th Article 1887 Rye Whiskey
Whiskey: Balcones Brimstone
2017 Silver Outstanding Recipients:
American Single Malt: Do Good Cherrywood Smoked Whisky
Bourbon less than 2 years: Giant Texas Bourbon 91 Proof
Bourbon 2-5 years:
West Wind Bourbon
Do Good California Bourbon
Bourbon greater than 5 years: Devils River Bourbon
Bourbon NAS: Rock Town Single Barrel Bourbon
Corn greater than 2 years:
Balcones True Blue 100
A.D. Laws Bottled In Bond Straight Corn Whiskey
Malt Peated:
English Whisky Peated Single Malt
Glenora Ghleann Dubh
Malt Peated Finished:
Kilchoman Sanaig
Malt Unpeated Cask Finish:
Glengoyne 18 Year Old
Glengoyne 21 Year Old
Glendronach 12 Year Old
Malt Unpeated:
Glencadam 10 Year Old
Tipperary Distillery: Watershed
Rye less than 2 Years: Alley 6 Rye Whiskey
Rye greater than 2 years:
A.D Laws BIB Secale Straight Rye Whiskey
James E Pepper 1776 Straight Rye Whiskey
James E Pepper 1776 SRW -Sherry Cask Finish
Unaged: Ole Smoky Blue Flame Moonshine
2017 Silver Recipients:
American Single Malt: Copperworks American Single Malt Whiskey
American Single Malt less than 2 Years: Alley 6 Single Malt Whiskey
Bourbon less than 2 years:
Merica Bourbon Whiskey
Ironroot Harbinger Bourbon
Lazy Guy Side Track Bourbon
Giant Texas Bourbon
Bourbon 2-5 years:
Do Good Nighthawk Bourbon
A.D. Laws Four Grain Straight Bourbon
Breckenridge Sherry Cask Bourbon
R.M. Rose Single Barrel Brand
Bourbon greater than 5 years:
Ben Milam Single Barrel Bourbon
JR Ewing Bourbon Whiskey
Bourbon NAS:
Rock Town Arkansas Bourbon
Woodford Reserve Double Oaked
Old Forester Classic 86 Proof
Canadian:
Stalk & Barrel Blue Blend
WYO Rodeo Whisky
Corn less than 2 years:
Balcones Baby Blue
Lazy Guy Threesome Whiskey
Irish:
The Dubliner Irish Whiskey
Egan’s Vintage Grain
Malt Unpeated Cask Finish:
Glengoyne 15 Year Old
Malt Unpeated:
Glencadam 13 Year Old
Rice:
Ohishi Sherry Cask
Rye greater than 2 years:
Old Potrero Special Cask Finish
Ben Milam Small Batch Rye Whiskey
Henry Clay Straight Rye Whiskey
James E Pepper 1776 Straight Rye Barrel Proof
Rye NAS:
Old Potrero Straight Rye Whiskey
Basil Hayden’s Rye Whiskey
Rock Town Single Barrel Rye Whiskey
Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
Unaged: Lazy Guy Kennesaw Lightning
Corn greater than 2 years: Ironroot Icarus Corn Whiskey
Whiskey:
Alamo Craft Whiskey
Title 21 Whiskey
9 Banded Whiskey
The 2017 Bronze Recipients:
Bourbon less than 2 Years: Alamo Alamo Bourbon
Flavored: Do Good Hopped Flavored Whisky
Ole Smoky Mango Habanero Whiskey
Category Clarification:
Irish: Traditional Irish style which is triple distilled and a blend of Malt and grain whiskies. Malt whiskies from Ireland will not be in this category.
Cask Finished: Either matured in a non-bourbon cask, or finished in a non-bourbon cask or blended with a non-bourbon cask.
Join us for the upcoming Whiskies of the World Expos for a sixth time in Austin on Saturday, September 16th, in Houston on Thursday, September 14th and returning to Atlanta for a fifth time on Saturday, November 4th. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit http://www.whiskiesoftheworld.com. Follow Whiskies of the World on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About Whiskies of the World LLC: Whiskies of the World LLC, an IWSC Group North America event, began in San Francisco, CA in 1998. Under the direction of whisky enthusiast and event director, Douglas Smith, the event has expanded into Texas and Georgia. The IWSC Group is a global leader of alcoholic beverage events, including the prestigious International Wine & Spirit Competition.
