2021 Spirits Selection: the results
Press release
Brussels, 3 November 2021
The competition took place from 21 to 24 October in Brussels. Three types of medals were awarded – Grand Gold Medals, Gold Medals and Silver Medals. Once again, the competition proved to be a bellwether for the latest trends in the spirits world.
After the competition, the grand gold medal-winners are tasted a second time by all of the panel chairs who deliberate before awarding the ‘Revelation’ trophies to innovative products that match present-day consumer expectations. The Revelations are particularly representative of current trends. This year, twelve products were selected for their indisputable quality:
- Grappa Invecchiata Blend 18 Cavallina Bianca
- Cierto Tequila Reserve Collection – Reposado
- Père Magloire VSOP
- Mezcal Cómplice de Pasión Tobalá
- Middas Reserva dos Proprietários 6 years
- Cachaça Imigrante Ouro – 5 Anos
- Admiral Rodney Officer’s release 2
- Shanguo 52% vol
- Mujeres Almolonga de Tixtla, Guerrero
- De Cort Oude Pajotse Jenever
- Cognac Delpech-Fougerat VSOP
- Cachaça Matuta Single Blend 3.5 Years
As is customary, there was a specific focus on organic products. This year, the Organic Revelation trophy was awarded to the French pear brandy: Poire Williams BIO Bertrand.
“Showing excellent balance and substantial typicity, the aromas and flavours of this Williams pear brandy are clear and intense, lifted by a touch of minerality. An elegant and refined Poire Williams” (a summary of tasting notes)
Facts & figures from the 2021 competition
France (including its overseas territories), China and Brazil are the top 3 countries with the highest number of medals. As a percentage of total entry numbers, Brazil and Peru hold the top two spots, followed by France.
Rums made from pure sugar cane juice, namely agricultural rums and cachaças, were particularly popular with the panel, with nearly 41 % of products winning awards. These results mirror the current zeitgeist as consumers are increasingly reaching for rum, a category that is undeniably on-trend. Other noteworthy categories for the scores they achieved were Cognac (44%) and Pisco (41%).
Guadeloupe, which is set to host the next competition in June 2022, also garnered very positive results, with 45% of entries awarded.
About the competition
Spirits Selection by Concours Mondial de Bruxelles is an international touring competition where spirits are entered by producers to be judged by a panel of experts. Our experienced judges come from around the world to taste competing spirits with a single-minded purpose, and that is to select spirits of irreproachable quality with no biases stemming from the label or a category’s prestige. The competition is one of the leading events of its kind worldwide.
Press contact:
Charles Piron
Charles.piron@vinopres.com
Tel : +32 (0) 2 533 27 65
