Results

The 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition in Review

The 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition was held at One Market Restaurant in San Francisco from April 1st through April 20th. The 2021 Competition was another record-breaking year with more than 3,800 entries from all corners of the world.

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BEST IN SHOW

Mezcal Amarás Cupreata
Mexico
Alcohol: 40%, Retail Price: $60
Glen Scotia 25 Year Old Single Malt Scotch
Scotland
Alcohol: 48.8%, Retail Price: $
Choya Umeshu Craft Fruit
Japan
Alcohol: 15%, Retail Price: $
Tacama Demonio de Los Andes Acholado Pisco
Peru
Alcohol: 40.0%, Retail Price: $12

BEST OF CLASS

Best Vodka

Original Vodka

Absolut

Sweden

Alcohol: 40%

Retail price: $21

Best Aquavit

Original Aquavit

OP Anderson

Sweden

Alcohol: 40%

Retail price: $39

Best London Dry Gin

London Dry Gin

Henstone Distillery

United Kingdom

Best Gin

Alcohol: 44.9%

Retail price: $39

Best Regular Gin

Gin

Asbury Park Distilling

USA

Alcohol: 43%

Retail price: $30

Best Flavored Gin

Lavender & Juniper Gin

Collective Arts Distilling

Canada

Alcohol: 43.5%

Retail price:

Best Genever

Bartender's Choice Genever

Notaris

The Netherlands

Alcohol: 47%

Retail price: $65

Best Other White Spirit

Okolehao

Ola Brew

Hawaii

Alcohol: 38%

Retail price:

Best Thai Rice Shochu

Shirayuri Awaori

Ikehara

Okinawa

Best Shochu

Alcohol: 44%

Retail price: $98

Best Sauce Aroma Baijiu

Z Year of the Zodiac Memorial Baijiu

Yidushaofang

China

Best Baijiu

Alcohol: 53%

Retail price:

Best Silver/Gold Tequila

Tequila Blanco Criollo

Calle 23

Mexico

Best Tequila

Alcohol: 49.3%

Retail price: $88

Best Reposado Tequila

Reserve Collection Reposado Tequila

Cierto

Mexico

Alcohol: 40%

Retail price: $40

Best Añejo Tequila

Añejo Tequila

El Tesoro

Mexico

Alcohol: 40%

Retail price: $85

Best Extra Añejo Tequila

Extra Añejo Tequila

El Tesoro

Mexico

Alcohol: 40%

Retail price: $150

Best Mezcal

Cupreata

Mezcal Amarás

Mexico

Best in Show White

Alcohol: 40%

Retail price: $60

Best Dark/Gold Rum

Gran Reserva Rum

Zaya

Trinidad & Tobago

Alcohol: 40%

Retail price: $30

Best Extra-Aged Rum

8 Year Old Rum

Appleton Estate

Jamaica

Alcohol: 43%

Retail price:

Best Small Batch Bourbon - 6 to 10 Years

10 Year Old Heavy Char Bourbon

Parker's Heritage Collection

Kentucky, USA

Best Small Batch Bourbon

Alcohol: 60%

Retail price: $120

Best Straight Bourbon

Bottled in Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon

1792

Kentucky, USA

Alcohol: 50%

Retail price: $36

Best Small Batch Bourbon - Up to 5 Years

Private Release BA1C

Barrell

Kentucky, USA

Alcohol: 57.33%

Retail price: $110

Best Small Batch Bourbon - 11 Years & Older

14 Year Old Bourbon

Blue Run

Kentucky, USA

Alcohol: 56.5%

Retail price: $199

Best Single Barrel Bourbon - Up to 10 Years

Single Barrel

Henry McKenna

Kentucky, USA

Best Single Barrel Bourbon

Alcohol: 50%

Retail price: $50

Best Special Barrel-Finished Bourbon

Chateau de la Baude

Bardstown Bourbon Company

Indiana, USA

Alcohol: 59.2%

Retail price: $130

Best Craft Distiller Whiskey

John Shaw Single Malt Mesquite Smoked Whisky

Canyon Diablo Spirits

Arizona

Alcohol: 45%

Retail price: $45

Best Tennessee Whiskey

1820 Premium Single Barrel Whiskey

Uncle Nearest

Tennessee, USA

Alcohol: 58.55%

Retail price: $120

Best Rye Whiskey

The Boss Hog VII- Magellan's Atlantic

WhistlePig

Vermont, Canada

Alcohol: 52.6%

Retail price: $499

Best Canadian Whisky

Chronicles 43 Year Old Whisky

Canadian Club

Canada

Alcohol: 45%

Retail price: $232

Best Other Single Malt Whisky

Solist Oloroso Sherry Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky

Kavalan

Taiwan

Alcohol: 59.4%

Retail price: $225

Best Single Grain Whisk(e)y

Yama Mizunara Cask Single Grain Whiskey

Bainbridge

USA

Alcohol: 45%

Retail price: $525

Best Other Whisky

5 Year Old Whisky

Three Ships

South Africa

Alcohol: 43%

Retail price:

Best American Blended Whiskey

Whiskey War Barrel Proof

High Bank Distillery

Ohio, USA

Alcohol: 58.2%

Retail price: $50

Best Flavored Whiskey

S'mores Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey

Ugly Dog

Michigan, USA

Alcohol: 35%

Retail price: $25

Best Blended Irish Whiskey

The Legendary Dark Irish Whiskey

Silkie

Ireland

Alcohol: 46%

Retail price: $43

Best Single Malt Irish Whiskey

Hook Head Edition 1.1 Single Malt Irish Whisky

Waterford

Ireland

Best Irish Whiskey

Alcohol: 50%

Retail price: $95

Best Blended Scotch - Up to 15 Years

Caribbean Smooth Blended Scotch

Dewar's

Scotland

Best Blended Scotch

Alcohol: 40%

Retail price: $22

Best Blended Scotch - No Age Statement

Glasgow Blend Scotch

Compass Box

Scotland

Alcohol: 43%

Retail price: $40

Best Blended Scotch - 16 Years & Older

Double Double 27 Year Old Blended Scotch

Dewar's

Scotland

Best Blended Scotch

Alcohol: 46

Retail price: $90

Best Distillers’ Single Malt Scotch – Up to 12 Years

8 Year Old Single Malt Scotch

Lagavulin

Islay, Scotland

Alcohol: 48%

Retail price: $75

Best Distillers’ Single Malt Scotch – 20 Years and Older

25 Year Old Single Malt Scotch

Glen Scotia

Campbeltown, Scotland

Alcohol: 48.8%

Retail price:

Best Distillers’ Single Malt Scotch – No Age Statement

Cask Strength

Highland Park

Orkney, Scotland

Alcohol: 63.3%

Retail price:

Best Independent Merchant Single Malt Scotch

Cask 46.104 Turn Me Inside Out

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society

United Kingdom

Alcohol: 57.2%

Retail price: $120

Best Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

21 Year Old Lum Reek Blended Malt Scotch

MacNair's

Scotland

Alcohol: 48%

Retail price: $175

Best Pisco

Demonio de Los Andes Acholado Pisco

Tacama

Peru

Best in Show Brandy

Alcohol: 40%

Retail price: $12

Best Cognac VSOP or Equivalent

VSOP Borderies Single Estate

Camus

France

Alcohol: 40%

Retail price: $67

Best Cognac Extra-Aged/Vintage

Tradition Rare

GAUTIER

Cognac, France

Alcohol: 40%

Retail price:

Best Fruit Liqueur

Craft Fruit

Choya Umeshu

Japan

Best in Show Liqueur

Alcohol: 15%

Retail price:

Best Apéritif

Vermouth

Astobiza

Spain

Best Vermouth

Alcohol: 155%

Retail price: $33

Best Pre-Mixed Cocktail

Whiskey Mule

Cutwater Spirits

USA

Alcohol: 7%

Retail price:

Best Cream/Dairy Liqueur

Pecan Praline Whisky & Cream Liqueur

Select Club

Canada

Alcohol: 17%

Retail price: $28

Best American Grape Brandy

Fat Thumb Brandy

Argonaut

USA

Alcohol: 43%

Retail price: $50

Best Apple Brandy

Apple Brandy

Ocean Hill

USA

Alcohol: 45%

Retail price: $40

Best Armagnac

Cask Strength Vintage 1986 Armagnac

Château de Laubade

France

Alcohol: 48.5%

Retail price: $250

Best Barley Shochu

Kintaro

Nishiyoshida

Shochu

Alcohol: 24%

Retail price:

Best Barrel-Aged Gin

Yellow Gin

Sorgin

France

Alcohol: 42.3%

Retail price:

Best Coffee Liqueur

Single Origin Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur

The Edwards Potato Vodka Company

United Kingdom

Alcohol: 20%

Retail price: $25

Best Cognac XO or Equivalent

Cognac XO Borderies Family Reserve Single Estate

Camus

France

Alcohol: 40%

Retail price: $232

Best Corn Whiskey

Original Whiskey

Stillhouse

USA

Alcohol: 40%

Retail price: $20

Best Distillers’ Single Malt Scotch – 13 to 19 Years

18 Year Old Single Malt Scotch

Talisker

Scotland

Alcohol: 46%

Retail price: $180

Best Flavored Rum

Ron Colón Salvadoreño Coffee Infused

Ron Colón Salvadoreño

The Netherlands

Alcohol: 40.5%

Retail price: $30

Best Flavored Vodka

Rosa Vodka

Rosa Vodka

USA

Alcohol: 40%

Retail price: $30

Best Hard Seltzer

Zero Sugar Seltzer Black Cherry

Smirnoff

USA

Alcohol: 4.5%

Retail price:

Best Herbal/Botanical Liqueur

Chaparral

Brucato Amaro

USA

Alcohol: 46%

Retail price: $35

Best Italian Grape Brandy

Tre Botti

Vecchia Romagna

Italy

Alcohol: 40.8%

Retail price:

Best Japanese Whisky

Pure Malt Whisky The Kurayoshi 18 Years

Matsui

Japan

Alcohol: 50%

Retail price: $220

Best Navy Strength Gin

Black Powder Gin

Tanglin

Singapore

Alcohol: 58%

Retail price: $51

Best Light Aroma Baijiu

Intimate Friend Hand-Craft Sorghum Liquor

Jiangji Distillery

China

Alcohol: 52%

Retail price: $39

Best Non-Alcoholic

Italian Spritz

Lyre's

Australia

Alcohol: 0%

Retail price: $36

Best Other Agave Spirit

Raicilla 100% Agave Maximiliana

Perra Suerte

Mexico

Alcohol: 38%

Retail price: $97

Best Other Liqueur

Verde Chile Poblano Liqueur

Ancho Reyes

Mexico

Alcohol: 40%

Retail price: $30

Best Ouzo/Raki

Ou7o (Ouzo)

Vittorio Spirits

Austrailia

Alcohol: 40%

Retail price: $43

Best Over-Proof Rum

Private Release B617

Barrell

USA

Alcohol: 65.25%

Retail price: $110

Best Pure Pot Still Irish Whiskey

Very Rare Dair Ghaelach Knockrath Forest

Midleton

Ireland

Alcohol: 56.5%

Retail price: $375

Best Rice Aroma Baijiu

Rice Bran Wine 43% Alc

Cardinal Tien Junior College of Healthcare and Management

Taiwan

Alcohol: 43%

Retail price: $35

Best Rice Shochu

Yatsushiro Shiranuigura Hakusui Kome Genteishu

Mercian

Japan

Alcohol: 39%

Retail price:

Best Single Barrel Bourbon - 11 Years & Older

13.5 Single Barrel Bourbon

Blue Run

Kentucky, USA

Alcohol: 65%

Retail price: $229

Best Soju

Jinmaek53

Jinmaek

Korea

Alcohol: 53%

Retail price: $79

Best Sotol/Bacanora/Comiteca

Bacanora Silver

IZO

Mexico

Alcohol: 44%

Retail price: $68

Best Strong Aroma Baijiu

Qinghua 20 Baijiu

Jinshengjiu

China

Alcohol: 52%

Retail price:

Best Sweet Potato Shochu

Arawaza Sakurajima

Hombo Shuzo

Japan

Alcohol: 25%

Retail price: $8

Best Wheat Whiskey

Two Islands Islay Cask Barrel Proof Wheat Whiskey

Bainbridge

USA

Alcohol: 54%

Retail price: $110

Best White Rum

White Rum

Hidden Harbor

Pennsylvania, USA

Best Rum

Alcohol: 50%

Retail price: $35

Best Spanish Grape Brandy & Brandy de Jerez

Brandy

Cardenal Mendoza

Spain

Brandy de Jerez

Alcohol: 40%

Retail price: $40

The 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition in Review