International Whisky Competition
The International Whisky Competition is an event that takes place annually in Chicago in which whiskies are blind tasted and rated by a professional tasting panel. The results are used to produce tasting notes for an International Whisky Guide.[1]
History[edit]
The International Whisky Competition[2] was founded in 2009 by Sylvain Allard and Michael Petrucci. In 2016 the results began being used to produce an International Whisky Guide.
Event[edit]
There are up to 60 categories depending on the whisky type, with gold, silver, and bronze awards for each. Whiskies are sampled individually and judges are given 5 minutes to blind taste, judge, and score each whisky. A 100 point scoring system is used which was adapted from the wine industry. The rating system uses the following four criteria:[3]
- Sight
- Colors (0 points)
- Visual appeal (5 points)
- Nose
- Intensity and complexity (15 points)
- Distinctiveness of aromas (10 points)
- Balance of aromas (10 points)
- Taste-Mouth Feel
- Palate and balance (10 points)
- Alcohol, body and complexity (10 points)
- Distinctiveness of flavors (10 points)
- Balance between flavors (10 points)
- Finish
- Length and finish (10 points)
- Quality of finish (10 points)
Awards given in the competition[edit]
- Whisky of the Year
- Master Distiller/Blender of the Year
- Distillery of the Year
- Best Blended Whisky (All Categories)
- Best New Release
- Best Single Malt Whisk(e)y
- Best Rye Whiskey
- Best World Whisk(e)y
- Best Peated Whisk(e)y
- Best Grain Whisk(e)y
- Best Value Whisk(e)y (for whiskies under $30)
- Brand Ambassador of the Year
- Blogger of the Year
- Best Flavored Whisk(e)y
- 8 Country and continent awards
- 15 Scotch whisky awards
- 4 Irish whiskey awards
- 19 United States whiskey awards
The complete list can be seen on the competition website.[4]
Judges[edit]
The present panel consists of ten experts.[5] In 2014, Michael Petrucci stepped down from the competition, and in 2015 Sebastien Gavillet took over as head of the tasting panel, restructuring the competition and implemented a new tasting methodology. Starting in 2016, entry samples began being archived for referencing.[6]
External links[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "New International Whisky Guide 2016 Will Change The Way You See Whiskey".[permanent dead link] WTHR Indiana News Leader. Retrieved March 3, 2016
- ^ "INTERNATIONAL WHISKY COMPETITION Trademark of Allard, Sylvain Serial Number: 85297282 :: Trademarkia Trademarks". trademark.trademarkia.com.
- ^ "These 30 whiskeys just took gold at an international spirits competition". Portia Crowe, Business Insider UK. Retrieved May 7, 2015
- ^ "2016 RESULTS". INTERNATIONAL WHISKY COMPETITION®.
- ^ "IWC TASTING PANEL". INTERNATIONAL WHISKY COMPETITION®.
- ^ "Looking behind the International Whiskey judging curtain". 6 June 2016. Whiskey Wash. June 6 2016. Retrieved March 1 2017