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Forbes
4 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Top Scotch Whisky Winners From The 2025 SF World Spirits Competition
The 2025 SFWSC Finalists in the Single Malt Scotch Whisky 20 Years & Older category Photo, courtesy Tasting Alliance/San Francisco World Spirits Competition The San Francisco World Spirits Competition, a cornerstone in the world of Scotch Whisky, is one of the most extensive and prestigious judging events. Whisky enthusiasts and the beverage industry closely follow its results, as they often set the standard for excellence in the industry. The Top Shelf 2025 Awards Gala, a highly anticipated event in the whiskey industry, will announce the winners on November 9 at Hotel Nikko in San Francisco. Here are the finalists! From a diverse pool of several hundred entries, the distinguished panel of judges, comprising some 60 in total, has selected a range of finalists. These include five blended, four blended malts, and 20 single malt Scotch whiskies, each with its unique character and flavor profile. From these finalists will emerge the coveted title of World's Best Blended Scotch Whisky, Best Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, and Best Single Malt Scotch Whisky, and ultimately the highest prize of all: World's Best Scotch Whisky. The variety and quality of these finalists are sure to pique your interest. The 2025 SFWSC Blended Scotch Whisky Finalists in the No Age Statement category. Photo, courtesy Tasting Alliance/San Francisco World Spirits Competition Blended Scotch is a mix of grain whisky and single malt whisky. The Scotch Whisky Association, the industry's regulatory body, does not specify the proportions in the blend. Generally speaking, the higher the proportion of single malt in the blend, the more flavorful the whisky tends to be. The single malt portion of a blended whisky can range from as little as 10% to as much as 50% of the final blend. Under SWA rules, a no-age-statement whisky does not disclose the age of the youngest component of the blend. However, under SWA regulations, a whisky must be aged for a minimum of three years before it can carry the designation Scotch Whisky. Hence, a NAS whisky is guaranteed to be at least 3 years old. Most NAS whiskies are considerably older than the minimum three-year aging requirement. For a brief background and detailed tasting notes of the Blended Scotch Whisky finalists from the 2025 SFWSC, see SF World Spirits Competition Reveals Top Blended Scotch Whisky. The Finalists in the Blended Malt Scotch Whisky category at the 2025 SFWSC Photo, courtesy Tasting Alliance/San Francisco World Spirits Competition Blended malt is a mix of single malt Scotch whiskies. Unlike a single malt, which is a malt whisky from a single distillery, blended malts are a mix of malt whiskies from more than one distillery. The practice harkens back to the early days of the Scotch whisky industry when independent blenders created their whiskies by mixing single malt whisky from several distilleries. For background and detailed tasting notes on each of the Blended Malt Scotch Whisky finalists, see SF World Spirits Competition Reveals Top Blended Scotch Whisky. SFWSC 2025 Single Malt Scotch 13 to 19 Years Finalists Photo, courtesy Tasting Alliance/San Francisco World Spirits Competition Single malt Scotch whisky is a single malt from a single distillery. Each expression is typically a blend of different single malts from that distillery. The age statement listed on the bottle is the youngest component of that particular blend of single malts. Hence, 18-year-old Scotch whisky is not the 12-year-old expression aged for an additional six years, but rather a blend of single malt whiskies from that distillery, the youngest component of which is at least 18 years old. For a background and detailed tasting noteson these single malt Scotch whiskies, see SF World Spirits Competition Names Top Single Malt Scotch Whisky For a background and detailed tasting notes on these ultra-aged, single malt Scotch whiskies, see Best Ultra-Aged Scotch Whisky, According To The SF World Spirits Competition. These Scotch whiskies are among the very best, the crème de la crème of Scottish whisky. They are all outstanding, each reflective of the region and terroir that produced them. Some are historical names, while others are new distilleries, specialty bottlers, or once-silent distilleries that have been reborn. All are worth tasting, and if you like them, add a bottle or two to your Scotch whisky collection.
Forbes
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
The World's Best White Rums, According To The SF World Spirits Competition
The Unaged Rum Finalists From The 2025 SFWSC Photo, courtesy Tasting Alliance/San Francisco World Spirits Competition Five rums are finalists for the World's Best Unaged Rum at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The SFWSC is one of the world's most prestigious spirit judging events, and both consumers and the beverage industry closely follow its results. Below are brief backgrounds and tasting notes for the finalists. Burdekin Rum is a small-batch, Australian craft, Jamaica-style rum distilled in Queensland. The Coral Sea Strength edition is a high-proof unaged rum. It's made from molasses, distilled on a pot still, and designed to highlight the raw, estery potential of Queensland sugarcane. The rum is fruity and briny on the nose, featuring green banana, overripe pineapple, molasses funk, and a hint of coastal salinity. It's robust and full-bodied on the palate, with a rich oily mouthfeel. It exhibits layers of tropical fruit, white pepper, herbaceous and grassy notes, and burnt sugar. The finish is long and fruity, with lingering notes of fermented or oxidized fruit, a hint of minerality, and a funky, estery tang. Oak House Distillery, based in Gainesville, Georgia, produces Silver Rum from 100% molasses. Distilled in small batches, it's crafted to be a mixable, slightly fruity white rum with a subtle flavor profile and minimal burn, ideal for rum-based cocktails. The rum is ester-forward and aromatic on the nose, featuring vanilla sugar, coconut cream, honey, tropical fruits, especially banana, and digestive biscuits. It's smooth and balanced on the palate, expressing molasses and candied/marshmallow sweetness, almond and tropical fruit. The finish is long and slightly sweet, with lingering notes of earth and fruit. Dark and Stormy Rum Cocktail with Lime and Ginger Beer getty Based in Washington, D.C., Cotton & Reed produces this pot-stilled white rum using a wild yeast fermentation of grade-A molasses. According to the company, 'the rum is designed to capture fermentation complexity' and showcases the distillery's signature estery, bold character. The rum is herbaceous and estery, featuring Rhum Agricole-style notes of fresh and oxidized apple, ripe plantain, lemongrass, and funky, overripe melon. It's aromatic and slightly estery, with a funky note on the palate, exhibiting brown sugar, citrus, pineapple, and a hint of earthy funk. The finish is medium-length, with lingering fruit notes and a touch of wet stone minerality. Ten To One is a Caribbean rum brand founded by Marc Farrell. The brand has been a perennial medalist in international spirit competitions. This expression is a blend of Dominican Republic and Jamaican rums. It's non-chill filtered, unaged, with no added sugar or additives, and showcases a combination of Jamaican funk and Dominican smoothness in a versatile, premium white rum. The rum is aromatic and fruity on the nose, featuring tropical fruit with hints of pineapple, lychee, lemon peel, and fresh-cut grass, layered over persistent but subtle molasses aromas. On the palate, it's lightly funky, with a layered complexity exhibiting guava, white pepper, coconut, and citrus zest flavors. The finish is dry and crisp, with a slightly peppery backdrop and lingering fruit notes. Planteray (formerly Plantation) 3 Stars is a blend of unaged and lightly aged rums from Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad. It's charcoal filtered to maintain a clear appearance. Each island contributes a unique component: fruitiness from Barbados, funk from Jamaica, and crisp lightness from Trinidad. The rum is very aromatic on the nose, featuring banana peel, vanilla, citrus oil, and a hint of herbaceous grassiness. It has a light to medium body on the palate, showcasing notes of brown sugar, apple, tropical fruit, white chocolate, and a hint of funky esters from the Jamaican component. The finish is long and crisp, with lingering fruity and spicy notes. White rums are typically used as a cocktail base, but these rums offer a degree of layered and nuanced complexity that would make them equally adaptable for cocktails or enjoyed straight up. Stylistically, they run the gamut from traditional, column-distilled molasses-based rum to more Rhum Agricole-style rums, featuring a range of flavors from fruity to Jamaican-style funk. If you're a rum enthusiast, there's bound to be a rum here that you'll enjoy.
Forbes
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
The World's Best Straight Bourbon, According To The 2025 SF World Spirits Competition
The finalists in the Straight Bourbon category from the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition Photo, courtesy The Tasting Alliance The San Francisco World Spirits Competition has announced the results of its 2025 bourbon judging. The Competition is the world's largest and most prestigious judging of American whiskey, and its accolades are considered among the most authoritative. Below are brief backgrounds and tasting notes on the five finalists in the Straight Bourbon category. The Top Shelf 2025 Awards Gala , a highly anticipated event in the whiskey industry, will announce the winner on November 9 at Hotel Nikko in San Francisco. The 16-Year-Old Grand Dad is a special release from Jim Beam's Clermont distillery honoring the legacy of Basil Hayden Sr. It's inspired by the Distillery's original whiskey, first bottled in 1882. This exceptional, ultra-aged, high-rye bourbon, based on a mash bill of 63% corn, 27% rye, and 10% malted barley, was bottled at 100 proof. On the nose, it features leather, pipe tobacco, dark cherries, and seasoned oak aromas, with a hint of cocoa. The palate is chewy and spicy, with molasses, clove, toffee, stone fruit, and spiced/candied orange zest flavors, driven by the spicy rye content. The finish is long, sweet, and flavorful, with charred/seasoned oak, vanilla, and black pepper impressions. This is one of the legendary high-rye bourbons, beautifully balancing the complexity of extended aging with sweetness and vibrant rye spice. The SFWSC Judging Panel described the bourbon as expressing: 'Aromas of dust, earth, orchard fruit, and leather. The palate features fruit, Bananas Foster, cookies and cream, wood spice, and hints of cocoa. The finish is sweet, balanced, and long with lingering brown sugar and rye spice notes.' This expression comes from a rare barrel, sourced by the World Whiskey Society and bottled under the legendary gunfighter's name. It was distilled in Kentucky, aged 15 years, and bottled at 104 proof. The source of the whiskey is not disclosed. The nose delivers dense waves of brown sugar, baked apple, polished wood, and dried figs, all touched by a faint cigar box aroma. The bourbon is richly layered on the palate, showing toffee, nutmeg, honeycomb, and aged leather notes, rounded by vanilla bean and maple syrup. The finish is exceptionally long, with lingering sweet oak spice, crème brûlée, and a final earthy note of tobacco. This luxurious bourbon is built for slow savoring and a deep appreciation of mature whiskey character. The SFWSC Judging Panel described the bourbon as showcasing: 'Aromas of toasted bread followed by flavors of vanilla and snickerdoodle, and a long nutmeg-laced finish.' Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C924, 64.5% ABV, 750 ml. $75 This bourbon is Heaven Hill's September 2024 release in its acclaimed Barrel Proof series. Bottled at cask strength, a massive 133.6 proof and aged for 12 years, C924 is one of the boldest expressions in the series. Its nose features a layered complexity of molasses, burnt sugar, cinnamon stick, roasted pecans, and a faint hint of cold campfire smoke. It's robust and intense on the palate, offering rich flavors of dark caramel, black cherries, espresso, charred oak, and spiced honey. The finish is long, drying, and smoky, with lingering notes of dark chocolate and licorice/anise. C924 is a powerhouse of flavor, ideal for enthusiasts who appreciate robust, intensely oaky bourbon. The SFWSC Judging Panel described the bourbon as expressing: Intense aromas of dark sugar and spices enveloped in a persistent smoky note. It's rich and robust with caramel, cherry syrup, coffee, and rye spice notes on the palate. The finish is long and balanced, with lingering fruit and seasoned wood notes. Bourbon Aging in Kentucky RIck House getty Eagle Rare 17-Year-Old Straight Bourbon, 50.5% ABV, 750 ml. $150 Eagle Rare is one of the crown jewels of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection. Distilled from Buffalo Trace's low-rye Mashbill #1 and bottled at 101 proof, it showcases extraordinary balance, complexity, and depth after 17 years of aging. On the nose, it offers a mosaic of old leather, antique wood, dark cherry compote, caramelized pecans, delicate floral undertones, and a hint of wax. The palate is smooth and complex, expressing layers of vanilla custard, rich toffee, baked apple pie, and subtle toasted almond notes, all wrapped in seasoned oak. The finish is long and dry, revealing lingering nutmeg, leather, and spiced chocolate flavors. This masterful, polished bourbon exemplifies the refinement possible with extended aging under optimal conditions. The SFWSC Judging Panel described the bourbon as exhibiting: 'Pronounced fruity and caramel notes on the nose. It's smooth and spicy on the palate, featuring creamy vanilla, orchard fruit, oak spices, and caramel flavors. The finish is long and fruity with lingering spicy notes.' Ray's Kentucky Straight Bourbon 45% ABV, 750 ml. $35 This whiskey is a small-batch release from Boundary Oak Distillery in Radcliff, Kentucky, bottled at 90 proof. At a retail list price of $35, it is also one of the great values among the top bourbons from the SFWSC. On the nose, it is youthful, slightly spirity but balanced, showing sweet corn, vanilla, fresh oak, and apple aromas. The palate is light and approachable, featuring honey, light caramel, white pepper, and green apple flavors. The finish is medium-short, with lingering seasoned oak and vanilla sweetness. This is an easy-drinking bourbon, well-suited for casual sipping or mixing into cocktails. It makes a perfect aperitif. The SFWSC Judging Panel described the bourbon as exhibiting: 'Aromas of vanilla, sweet oak, coconut, and honey. The palate features cooked cereal with brown sugar and oak. The finish is sweet and medium-length, chewy and waxy.' The 2025 SFWSC Straight Bourbon finalists present a broad array of styles from aged, robust expressions to lighter, more elegant styles. Pricewise, their list prices range from $399 to as little as $35, although the higher-priced expressions are probably available at lower prices. They illustrate the enormous diversity found in contemporary bourbons. These five expressions are among the world's best bourbons and are worth trying.
Forbes
06-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
25th SF World Spirits Competition Showcases Top Whiskey Trends
Sweepstakes Round Judging at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Photo, courtesy The Tasting Alliance The San Francisco World Spirits Competition has completed its 25th year. The Competition is the largest in North America and the world's most extensive judging of American whiskeys. Recently, we sat down with Amanda Blue, President of the Tasting Alliance, the organization that sponsors the SFWSC, Maddee McDowell, its Executive Vice President, and Steve Beal, Chair of Judges, for their thoughts on the state of the spirit industry and the results of the 2025 competition. According to Amanda Blue, the headwinds currently sweeping the wine and spirits industry also reverberate in the competition space. She noted: 'We fully expected that we would see fewer entries this year. With the uncertainty surrounding potential tariffs, it doesn't make much sense for a foreign brand to enter an American competition when you are unclear whether you can ship products at a competitive price. We planned on a reduction of 20% in the number of entries for budgeting purposes, and we were gratified that we could do better than what we forecasted with more than 5,000 entries.' She went on to add: 'Not surprisingly, the most noticeable decline was among foreign brands. On the other hand, we had submissions from over 70 countries this year: more countries than ever. Perhaps more importantly, we had virtually the same number of entries, over 500, in the bourbon categories.' 'The SFWSC is the most extensive judging of American whiskey in the world, and we were very pleased that, notwithstanding all of the turmoil in the industry, we had an excellent showing of American whiskey expressions. Over 1,600 whiskey expressions were judged, two-thirds American, underscoring our position as the world's most important American whiskey competition!' Judging the Final "Sweeps Round" at the 2025 SFWSC Photo, courtesy The Tasting Alliance Speaking of whiskey, Steve Beal noted' 'The quality of American whiskeys in general, and bourbon in particular, keeps improving. Part of that continuing quality improvement is the growing maturity of the craft sector, but part of it is the culture of experimentation that now dominates the industry. This culture is no longer limited to just the craft sector. Even the legacy whiskey producers are now committed to expanding the aroma and taste boundaries of what they produce, whether with innovative grains and mash bills, different distillation techniques, or new maturation and cask finishing strategies.' One of the functions of the SFWSC is that it often highlights emerging trends. According to Blue, one of the most significant whiskey trends is the steady expansion of whiskey categories. American single malts and American blended whiskeys are now substantial categories. Ten years ago, noted Blue, 'these categories simply didn't exist'. Beal also pointed out that proofs keep getting higher as distillers look to capture and present more flavorful whiskeys. 'Even the big distillers noted Beal are 'increasingly bottling cask strength and overproof expressions.' 'Sometimes it seems that the standard 80 proof is increasingly the exception rather than the rule'. Maddee McDowell pointed out that the competition saw noticeable increases in the number of entries for Asian Spirits, principally Baijiu, Shochu, and Soju, as well as Non-Alcoholic Spirits, Special Barrel Finished Bourbons, Mezcals, and International Single Malt Whiskey. Blue also pointed out that the gin category showed considerable activity. She noted that: 'The gin market is increasingly regional rather than international. That's true for all white spirits. Given their comparatively lower cost, most domestic gin and vodka producers have difficulty being competitive in foreign markets. Many of our top-rated gins and vodkas are unavailable overseas and rarely, if ever, get judged in international competitions. That makes the SFWSC gin and vodka judging one of the most important in the US.' Not surprisingly, McDowell added, there was a significant shakeout in the RTD sector. 'Overall, the category is still booming and is one of the few categories showing positive growth, both spirit and wine-based RTDs. However, there were too many brands in a growing but hypercompetitive market, and it was inevitable that many producers would exit the industry.' Overall, the SFWSC remains the largest spirit competition in America and easily the world's most authoritative judging of American whiskeys, notwithstanding the turmoil in the beverage industry. Consumers aren't going to stop enjoying alcoholic beverages, noted Blue, adding: 'The industry will bounce back; we're managing for the other side of the trough. We will be ready and waiting when the spirits industry recovers!' The results from the 2025 SFWSC, including the world's largest American whiskey judging will be released starting the week of May 5th. Stay tuned for our exclusive coverage of the world's top spirits.
Forbes
22-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Tariffs Are Already Hurting Tequila Producers And Importers
Talk of tariffs has already destabilized the tequila industry. If the tariffs go into effect, some experts predict the economic harm won't be limited to agave farmers and tequila producers. When it comes to tequila and tariffs, talk has not been cheap. In March, the Trump administration briefly instated a 25% tariff on Mexico. Though it was soon temporarily suspended, this move and discussions around future tariffs have already had a negative impact on the tequila industry. Amanda Blue, president of the Tasting Alliance, which runs the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and several other popular spirits competitions, says many tequila producers she interacts with are not happy. 'There's a mass amount of uncertainty and a lot of general resentment towards American leadership,' she says. Tequila and other types of mezcal are the second-best-selling spirit in the U.S. according to the Distilled Spirits Council. The Council's annual report noted that in 2024, tequila and mezcal sales were up 2.9% and totaled $6.7 billion — only vodka sold more. However, since President Donald Trump's tariff proposals gained serious traction, many tequila producers have canceled expansion plans and product launches and are rethinking marketing strategies. Andrew Muhammad, an economics professor at the Institute of Agriculture at the University of Tennessee, believes its possible some tequila producers might focus on distributing their products outside of the U.S. 'Companies need stability in supply chains, and they need stability in trade policy,' he says. 'This type of uncertainty that says at any given moment your product can face not just tariffs, but tariffs out of nowhere at the whim of leadership, it makes you say, 'Well, the European market is stable, and maybe their customers will be willing to pay this extra price for transport.' Near Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico —- Wall of different tequila bottles at Mister Tequila tasting gallery —- Image by © Holger Leue/Corbis 'If tariffs are imposed immediately, we'll likely see a price reaction on the shelves. We could be talking about increases of up to 10 percent for tequila in an extreme case,' Laura Noguera a tequila expert and judge who lives in Mexico City. She adds, consumers in the U.S. may also have fewer tequila and mezcal varieties to choose from. 'Tariffs could affect the quantity and competitiveness of tequila exported to the United States, the main market for this spirit, and many brands would be affected, especially artisanal and low-production tequilas.' Talk of more significant U.S. tariffs is not just disrupting tequila. Blue has heard from global spirits producer who have now decided to skip attempting distribution to the U.S. 'They are trying to refocus their efforts on other countries where it's easier to deal with the distribution system and not as expensive,' she says. Tequila producers might employ a similar strategy long-term, but it's a less palatable move for them in the interim. 'There's not a real appetite yet for tequila in Europe,' Blue says. 'America really is the market that they need to break into, so they're really stuck in a hard place.' Sales of tequila at bars, restaurants and liquor stores could be impacted by proposed tariffs on the spirit. Consumers and producers in Mexico are not the only ones who will be impacted. Based on a 25% tariff rate that Trump initially proposed, Muhammad estimates that tequila importers will lose $800 million in trade. This number doesn't even take into account potential losses faced by middleman distributors, bars and restaurants. 'So there's a lot of economic value-added activity that we will also lose that's not captured in just the trade loss,' Muhammed says. The Trump administration has claimed the tariffs will generate revenue for the U.S. government, but Muhammed's research suggests these gains will not outweigh the costs to businesses and consumers in general. Tequila is a particularly unusual item to receive significant tariffs because it cannot be produced in the U.S. and can only be made in select regions of Mexico. 'The whole point of tariffs is to encourage domestic production,' Muhammed says. 'One of the things I think we often lose sight of is imports are a function of our consumption exceeding what we're able to produce, as well as a function of our taste exceeding what we're able to produce.'
