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Forbes
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
SF World Spirits Competition Crowns The World's Top Blanco Tequila
The Blanco Tequila finalists from the 2025 SFWSC Five Tequilas are finalists for the World's Best Blanco Tequila at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The SFWSC is among the world's largest and most prestigious spirit judging events. Consumers and the beverage industry closely follow its results. The Top Shelf 2025 Awards Gala, a highly anticipated whiskey industry event, will announce the winner on November 9 at Hotel Nikko in San Francisco. Below are brief backgrounds and tasting notes on the finalists. The Tequila is crafted using traditional methods: stone/brick ovens for cooking, roller mill extraction, fermentation in stainless steel tanks without fibers, and double distillation in stainless pot stills with copper coils. The Tequila is rested for 15 days in stainless steel tanks before bottling to ensure a smooth palate. On the nose, the Tequila offers aromas of cooked agave, citrus, herbal notes, and a hint of savory character. It's smooth and creamy on the palate, showcasing cooked and green agave, black pepper, subtle caramel, and a trace of earthiness. The finish is long and slightly sweet, with lingering spice notes. Cutwater's Tequila is produced by Orendain, one of Mexico's well-known and historic family distillers. The label features a hand-drawn skull of a Rayador, a Black Skimmer sea bird, which reflects its maritime-inspired branding. Cutwater's Tequilas have been perennial medalists in international spirit competitions. The Tequila presents cooked agave notes of caramel and butterscotch, alongside herbaceous hints of raw agave and cut grass on the nose. The palate exhibits pronounced sweet and caramel flavors of cooked agave. The finish is long and sweet, featuring lingering caramel and herbaceous notes. An Australian-owned brand, Sesión Tequila is produced in Mexico under the supervision of master distiller Francisco Quijano. The Tequila is light and fresh on the nose, with subtle cooked agave, caramel, and spice notes. It's sweet and herbaceous, featuring citrus, both cooked and raw agave, green pepper, and mint. The finish is long, with lingering white pepper notes. Blanco Tequila shots with salt and lime slices Don Vicente Tequila is made at the El Pandillo Distillery in Jesús María in the Jalisco Highlands. Renowned Master Distiller Felipe Camarena crafts it. This high-proof Tequila showcases traditional and innovative production methods, resulting in a robust and flavorful spirit. With an ABV of 54%, it is just under the maximum of 55% ABV allowed for bottling Tequila. The Tequila is aromatic and fruity on the nose, with a crisp, wet stone minerality. It features citrus zest, fresh apple, cooked agave notes of caramel and butterscotch, and herbaceous hints of raw agave. It's earthy and herbaceous on the palate, showcasing damp compost, wet moss/forest floor, chocolate, nuts, and assorted herbal and fruity notes. The finish is smooth, sweet, and fruity, with lingering notes of cooked agave. The Tequila is produced from piñas sourced from the Lowlands (Tequila Valley) and Los Altos (Jalisco Highlands) regions. The Tequila claims to be additive-free, although the CRT doesn't recognize or certify this designation. The Tequila has a fresh and crisp aroma, featuring a slight minerality, both cooked and green agave notes, some earthiness, and hints of tropical fruit and vanilla. The cooked agave notes are more prominent on the palate, accompanied by citrus and tropical fruits, a touch of anise/licorice, and a mild pepperiness. The finish is long and sweet, with lingering citrus, spice notes, and a hint of black pepper. These Blanco Tequilas each present a distinct expression of agave craftsmanship, showcasing their respective distilleries' diverse production and sourcing methods. All five are exceptional and work equally well served neat or as a cocktail base. If you enjoy Blanco Tequila, these five finalists are worth exploring.
Forbes
24-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
The Top Añejo Tequila, According To The SF World Spirits Competition
The Añejo Tequila finalists from the 2025 SFWSC Photo, courtesy Tasting Alliance/San Francisco World Spirits Competition Four Tequilas have been selected as finalists for the World's Best Añejo Tequila at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The SFWSC is among the most prestigious spirit judging events in the world. Both consumers and the beverage industry closely follow its results. The Top Shelf 2025 Awards Gala, a highly anticipated event in the Tequila industry, will announce the winner on November 9 at Hotel Nikko in San Francisco. Below are brief backgrounds and tasting notes for the finalists. This Texas-based company produces its Tequila at Casa Maestri's Tequila Valley Distillery in the city of Tequila. It's crafted from a blend of Highland and Lowland agave and aged for over 14 months in ex-bourbon American oak barrels. The nose presents prominent cooked agave aromas of caramel and vanilla, accompanied by a touch of seasoned oak. The palate is both sweet and spicy, highlighting additional caramel, vanilla, oak, cinnamon, and black pepper spices. The finish is lengthy and smooth, leaving behind persistent sweet and spicy notes. Cierto Tequila is an ultra-premium Tequila brand created by Master Distiller Enrique Fonseca at La Tequileña in Tequila. It is known for utilizing mature, estate-grown Highland agave and traditional production methods. Cierto is valued for its smooth, complex flavor profile and asserts that it is free of additives. The brand offers two main lines. The Private Collection emphasizes refined elegance and accessibility across Blanco, Reposado, Añejo, and Extra Añejo expressions. The Reserve Collection is a longer-aged luxury tier designed to highlight depth and richness, appealing to connoisseurs. Both lines are perennial medalists in international spirit competitions, positioning Cierto as a benchmark for modern artisanal Tequila. The Tequila is aged for 18 months in French Limousin oak casks. The nose presents subtle hints of cooked agave, vanilla, caramel, and butterscotch. It's smooth and creamy on the palate, showcasing caramel, vanilla, milk chocolate, coffee, cooked agave, and seasoned oak. The finish is long and sweet, with lingering notes of butterscotch, vanilla, chocolate, and a hint of pepper. A field of Agave tequilana, commonly called blue agave. In the background is the famous Volcán de Tequila Getty Pantalones Tequila is an organic, 100% blue agave Tequila co-founded by celebrity couple Matthew and Camila McConaughey. It is produced at Tequiler Tap in Amatitan in the Jalisco Highlands. According to the company, it is certified USDA organic and made without additives. The brand offers Blanco, Reposado, and Añejo expressions, each produced using traditional methods. Aging occurs in ex-bourbon American oak barrels. The Añejo Tequila is aged for 15 months. The Tequila presents prominent cooked agave notes of butterscotch and brown sugar on the nose, complemented by vanilla aromas. It's smooth and velvety on the palate, showcasing more cooked agave notes of creamy butterscotch, brown sugar, a somewhat candied sweetness, butter, and a slight herbal/vegetal note. The finish is long and sweet, with lingering caramel and subtle vanilla notes. Hotel California Tequila is a premium Tequila brand inspired by the like-named legendary Baja California hotel. It is produced at Hacienda Capellania in Jalisco's Southern Los Altos region. The Tequila is aged in both French and American oak barrels. The Tequila is aromatic and complex on the nose, featuring prominent woody aromas and subtle dark chocolate, ripe peach, and dried apricot notes. The seasoned oak aromas are even more pronounced on the palate, complemented by vanilla, caramel, chocolate, and prune flavors. The finish is long and sweet, with lingering caramel, vanilla, and chocolate notes. Each Añejo Tequila highlights the artistry and dedication involved in crafting exceptional spirits. Whether you prefer Pantalones' sweet and velvety notes, the complex, woody character of Hotel California, the sophisticated layered complexity of Cierto, or the sweet and spicy flavor of De La Gente, a unique experience awaits you in every bottle.
Forbes
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Best Tennessee Whiskey Named By SF World Spirits Competition
The three finalists for World's Best Tennessee Whiskey at the 2025 SFWSC Three Tennessee whiskeys are finalists in their category at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The SFWSC is the world's largest and most prestigious judging of American whiskey. Below are brief backgrounds and tasting notes on the finalists. The Top Shelf 2025 Awards Gala, a highly anticipated whiskey industry event, will announce the winner on November 9 at Hotel Nikko in San Francisco. Roaming Man is a premium, small-batch, no-age-statement whiskey produced by Sugarlands Distilling Company in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. It follows the traditional Lincoln County Process of filtering the whiskey through maple wood charcoal. Unlike mass-market Tennessee whiskey, Roaming Man is bottled as a cask-strength, limited-edition release, typically between 110 and 120 proof, offering a unique and intriguing twist on the classic Tennessee whiskey. Pronounced aromas of charred oak, caramelized banana, vanilla bean, and fresh-baked cornbread are featured on the nose. It's robust and creamy on the palate, showcasing intense molasses, honeycomb, toasted almonds, toffee, and cold smoke flavors, underscored by a subtle peppery spice. The finish is long and sweet, with lingering oak, dark caramel, vanilla, and smoky notes. Roaming Man is a powerful, full-bodied Tennessee whiskey, offering a more concentrated and flavorful expression of the style. The SFWSC Judging Panel described the whiskey as expressing 'aromas of vanilla and tobacco leaves, along with maple candy and corn pudding. The palate features similar flavors and red Thai chili, kumquat, and molasses notes. The finish is long, slightly sweet, with lingering pepper and oak wood notes.' Uncle Nearest 1856 Premium Aged Whiskey pays tribute to Nathan "Nearest" Green, the formerly enslaved master distiller who taught Jack Daniel the art of whiskey-making. This whiskey, sourced, blended, and bottled in Tennessee, with a future goal of transitioning entirely to estate-distilled whiskey, is a testament to Tennessee's rich whiskey heritage. The source of the whiskey has not been disclosed, but it has long been rumored to be George Dickel. 1856 is a premium offering, bottled at 100 proof and typically aged around 8 years. It's rich and aromatic on the nose, featuring ripe apples, brown sugar, and cinnamon notes surrounded by the cold charcoal smoke of the Lincoln County Process. 1856 is smooth and flavorful on the palate, showcasing caramel cream, toasted oak, nutmeg, and baked apricot flavors, around a well-integrated, structured oak backbone. The finish is long, slightly smoky, sweet, and spicy, with lingering vanilla bean, clove, and brown butter notes. Uncle Nearest 1856 is an elegant, meditative whiskey, honoring Tennessee heritage, offering a smooth, flavorful dram. The SFWSC Judging Panel described the whiskey as featuring 'peppery aromas with caramel and vanilla notes, some anise/licorice, and maple candy. It's robust on the palate, with caramel, toasted oak, candied citrus, and rawhide leather notes. The finish is long and sweet with lingering spice, vanilla, and oak wood notes.' A glass of Tennessee whiskey on ice Old Dominick Bonded Tennessee Whiskey, produced at the Old Dominick Distillery in Memphis, Tennessee, is a historic brand reborn in 2017 after nearly a century's dormancy. The whiskey, part of the distillery's Bottled-in-Bond series, meets the bottled-in-bond standards: distilled at a single distillery, in a single season, aged at least four years, and bottled at precisely 100 proof. Old Dominick uses a high-rye mash bill and the traditional Tennessee charcoal filtration process, ensuring a robust and flavorful whiskey. The nose opens with aromas of rye toast, caramel, cinnamon, clove, charred oak, and a hint of baked pear. The palate presents nuanced layers of caramelized sugar, spiced baked pear, cracked black pepper, roasted nuts, and rye spices. The rye spice notes complement the Tennessee whiskey sweetness, creating a sweet and spicy character. The finish is medium-long and sweet, with lingering notes of oak, vanilla, and a subtle herbal note. Old Dominick Bonded is a robust, flavorful Tennessee whiskey, balancing sweetness and spice. The SFWSC Judging Panel described the whiskey as featuring 'aromas of milk chocolate, rye bread toast, cinnamon, and caramel. The palate is sweet and spicy, with baked apple and pear, roasted nuts, cinnamon, clove, and a hint of nutmeg. The finish is long, sweet, and spicy with lingering notes of vanilla and caramel.' These three Tennessee whiskeys from the 2025 SFWSC are all over proof, presenting a more intensely flavored, concentrated version of the typical Tennessee whiskey profile. The results are exceptionally intense, smooth, flavorful, easy-drinking whiskeys, expanding Tennessee whiskey's aroma and flavor profile. These expressions are outstanding and well worth trying if you are a fan of Tennessee whiskey.
Forbes
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
The Best Cask Finished Bourbon Crowned By The SF World Spirits Competition
The finalists in the Special Barrel Finished Bourbon category from the 2025 SFWSC Five whiskeys are the Special Barrel-Finished Bourbon finalists at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The SFWSC is the world's largest and most prestigious judging of American whiskey. Below are brief backgrounds and tasting notes on the finalists. The Top Shelf 2025 Awards Gala, a highly anticipated whiskey industry event, will announce the winner on November 9 at Hotel Nikko in San Francisco. This bourbon comes from the Proof & Wood collective, a whiskey project known for sourcing and blending high-quality barrels. Fox & Oden focuses on American whiskey with bold, rugged character, and the Double Oaked edition enhances its straight bourbon by giving it a second aging in new charred oak barrels. Bottled at 100 proof, it's designed to deepen flavor and complexity. The nose reveals a rich mix of toasted vanilla, caramel corn, dark cocoa, and spiced oak. It's thick and warming on the palate, with layers of burnt sugar, toasted marshmallow, roasted nuts, and charred wood spice. The finish is long and slightly smoky, with lingering notes of dark chocolate and baking spice. It's a bold, hearty bourbon that showcases the double oak influence beautifully. The SFWSC Judging Panel described the bourbon as featuring 'aromas of caramel, vanilla, and seasoned oak are followed by a candied sweetness, nuts, oak, and chocolate. The finish is long, sweet, and spicy, with lingering dark chocolate, caramel, and vanilla notes.' Joseph Magnus is an award-winning blend of straight bourbons finished in three different types of casks: Oloroso Sherry, Pedro Ximénez Sherry, and Cognac barrels. The result is a complex, luxurious spirit that merges classic bourbon richness with layers of fruit and spice. Bottled at 100 proof, it's a rich, elegant pour. The nose features dried figs, dark cherries, polished oak, sweet pipe tobacco, and old leather aromas. The palate is lush and mouth-coating, exhibiting flavors of raisin bread, caramelized sugar, dark chocolate, blackberries, and oak spices. The finish is long, sweet, and fruity, with lingering chocolate-dipped cherries and warm baking spice notes. Joseph Magnus Triple Cask is a luxury sipping bourbon that showcases the art of barrel finishing with finesse. The SFWSC Judging Panel described the whiskey as expressing 'floral and fruity aromas follow a rich Cognac note. The palate features golden raisin, vanilla, honey, chocolate, and caramel flavors. The finish is rich, medium length, and slightly dry with lingering notes of dried fruit and dark chocolate.' Whiskey Tree, a newer distillery aiming to bring bold flavor to classic American whiskey styles, produces this craft bourbon. Their High Rye Bourbon leans heavily on rye grain in the mash bill, likely around 30–35% rye, and is bottled at about 100–105 proof, depending on the batch. It's vibrant and spicy on the nose, with aromas of cinnamon stick, brown sugar, cracked pepper, and orchard fruits. The palate is lively and robust, layering sweet vanilla, caramel apple, toasted rye bread, and pronounced clove and pepper spices. The finish is long and spicy, with lingering cinnamon and seasoned oak notes. Whiskey Tree's High Rye Bourbon is a zesty, flavorful pour for those who enjoy spice-forward profiles without overwhelming heat. The SFWSC Judging Panel described the whiskey as expressing 'persistent spicy notes surround rich caramel, vanilla, and ripe apple aromas. The palate features caramel apple, rye toast, vanilla, cinnamon, clove, and black pepper. The finish is long and spicy with lingering cinnamon and clove notes.' A stack of whiskey barrels This Mizunara finished bourbon is a fascinating experimental bottling from Starlight Distillery in Indiana, a craft producer known for its creative barrel finishes. This bourbon begins as traditional straight bourbon before being finished in rare Japanese Mizunara oak casks, imparting exotic spice and sandalwood notes. Bottled around 110 proof, it presents an exotic Sandalwood-dominant aromatic profile. The nose offers sandalwood incense, coconut cream, floral honey, dried apricot, and light toffee. The palate is uniquely creamy and smooth yet spicy, with flavors of white chocolate, toasted coconut, plum, and fragrant oak. The finish is delicate, with lingering spice notes of cardamom and hints of sweet cedar. Starlight's Mizunara Finish is a refined, elegant, aromatic bourbon that feels worldly and distinctive — a rare bridge between Japanese and American whiskey styles. The SFWSC Judging Panel described the whisky as featuring 'sandalwood and coconut aromas on the nose, along with floral and fruity notes. The palate is smooth and creamy, featuring dried apricot, caramel, vanilla, and white chocolate. The finish is long and creamy, with lingering sandalwood, stone fruit, and light spicy notes.' This bottling is part of the Penelope Bourbon innovation series. It features their signature four-grain bourbon mash bill of corn, wheat, rye, and malted barley finished in heavy-toast oak barrels for additional richness. The grain proportions vary by expression. Bottled typically between 92 and 100 proof, this expression emphasizes sweetness and warmth without overwhelming char. The nose features aromas of toasted marshmallow, butterscotch, vanilla frosting, and a subtle note of roasted pecans. The palate is creamy and rich, delivering flavors of melted caramel, shortbread cookies, cinnamon sugar, and a hint of orange zest. The finish is smooth, sweet, and slightly nutty, with lingering oak spice and buttered toffee notes. Penelope's Double Oak Toasted Bourbon is dessert-like and crowd-pleasing, perfect for an after-dinner sip or a celebratory toast. The SFWSC Judging Panel described the whiskey as showcasing 'roasted marshmallows, caramel, and vanilla aromas are featured on the nose. The palate features candied orange zest, caramel, vanilla, cinnamon, and oak wood spices. The finish is long and creamy, with lingering caramel and cinnamon notes.' These five Special Barrel-Finished Bourbons from the 2025 SFWSC feature different cask finishes, with many showcasing the benefit of a double oak maturation. The results both expand the aroma and flavor profile of bourbon while at the same time doubling down and magnifying the core DNA of bourbon. These five expressions are outstanding among the world's best cask finished bourbons. If you love bourbon, you should try them all. More From Forbes
