Results of this competition carry somewhat more weight than many of the so-called Awards Gang-Bangs out there because this one has a better pedigree. To quote them, “the USC employs the most innovative and exacting evaluation methods and insists on using the finest methodology for evaluation to produce the fairest, most unbiased results. USC results are meaningful, understandable and useful to both the trade and consumers.”

Let’s get right to the Chariman’s Trophy Winners and Finalists in the Whisk(e)y categories and save the other gory details for later:

Whiskey – USA

Chairman’s Trophy-Bourbon: George T. Stagg 17 Years Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Chairman’s Trophy-Rye: Sazerac Straight 18 Years Old Rye Whiskey

Finalist: Benjamin Prichards Double Barreled Bourbon 9 Years Old American Whiskey

Finalist: Eagle Rare Single Barrel 10 Years Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Finalist: Old Forester Birthday Vintage-Dated 12 Years Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Finalist: Pappy Van Winkle #8 20 Years Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Finalist:  Parker's Heritage Collection Wheated Bourbon 10 Years Old American Whiskey

Finalist:  Russell's Reserve 10 Years Old Bourbon

Finalist: Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Straight 6 Years Old Rye Whiskey

Finalist: Whistlepig 10 Years Old Rye Whiskey

Finalist: Wild Turkey Tradition 15 Years Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Whiskey - Ireland

Chairman’s Trophy-Blended: Michael Collins Blended Irish Whiskey

Chairman’s Trophy-Single Malt: Tyrconnell Madeira Finish 10 Years Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey

Finalist: Jameson 18 Years Old Blended Irish Whiskey

Finalist: Jameson Gold Blended Irish Whiskey

Finalist: Kilbeggan 15 Years Old Blended Irish Whiskey

Finalist: Midleton Very Rare Blended Irish Whiskey

Finalist: Redbreast 15 Years Old Irish Pot Still Whiskey

Finalist: Slane Castle Blended Irish Whiskey

Finalist: The Wild Geese Soldiers & Heroes Single Malt Irish Whiskey

Whisky - Scotland

Chairman’s Trophy-Single Malt-Cask Strength: Aberlour a'bunadh Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Chairman’s Trophy-Single Malt-Speyside: The Balvenie Peated Cask 17 Years Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Chairman’s Trophy-Single Malt-Islands: Highland Park 18 Years Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Chairman’s Trophy-Single Malt-Islay: Lagavulin Distillers Edition Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Chairman’s Trophy-Blended: Dewar's 18 Years Old Blended Scotch Whisky

Finalist: Aberlour 18 Years Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Finalist: The Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14 Years Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Finalist: Caol Ila Unpeated 10 Years Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Finalist:  Glenfiddich 18 Years Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Finalist: Glen Garioch 12 Years Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Finalist: The Glenlivet 18 Years Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Finalist: Glenmorangie Nectar D'Or 12 Years Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Finalist: Highland Park 25 Years Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Finalist: Oban 14 Years Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Finalist: Royal Salute Blended Scotch Whisky

Whisky - Canada

Chairman’s Trophy-Canadian: Canadian Mist Black Diamond Canadian Blended Whisky

Finalist: Caribou Crossing Single Barrel Canadian Blended Whisky

Ultimate Beverage Challenge’s (UBC) second annual Ultimate Spirits Challenge was held at Astor Center on March 1-4, 2011. Nearly 600 entries from scores of companies and nations were entered, with 27 USC Chairman’s Trophy honors awarded to the highest scoring spirits in their category. Finalist status was awarded on a category by category basis to the top performing products.

Following multiple stages of competitive judging over the course of four days, Ultimate Spirits Challenge Chairman’s Trophy winners were arrived at based on their aggregate score on the 100-point scale. The judges were led by Judging Chairman F. Paul Pacult and Assistant Judging Chairman Sean Ludford and included Eric Alperin, Jacques Bezuidenhout, Tad Carducci, James Conley, Dale DeGroff, Doug Frost, Jim Meehan, Robert Plotkin, Julie Reiner, Jack Robertiello, Steve Olson,  Andy Seymour, Aisha Sharpe, Willy Shine,  Jennifer Simonetti-Bryan and David Wondrich.

The top scoring products were awarded the Chairman’s Trophy. Finalist status was awarded based on: 1) the number of entries in each category and 2) how well the products scored within the category.  The Scotch Whisky category was, in particular, filled with great spirits. Therefore, Sean Ludford and I decided we had to award five Trophies for Scotch.  Across all spirit categories, however, the quality level was impressive.

Other categories besides Whisk(e)y that were judged were: Vodka, Gin, Tequila, Mezcal, Rum, Brandy, Cognac, Armagnac, Calvados, Liqueurs and Aperitifs.

Complete competition results as well as numerical rankings can be found here.