27th Spirits Selection by CMB Opens in the Heart of Mexico’s Agave Country
The 27th edition of the Spirits Selection by CMB opens today in Jalisco, Mexico, the birthplace of Tequila and Raicilla, with a number of samples close to its all-time record for the second year in a row.
Over three days of competition, from September 8 to 10, a total of 2,598 spirits from 70 countries and representing 64 categories will be blind-tasted by 140 international judges from 45 nationalities.
This year, the competition is experiencing remarkable global enthusiasm. No fewer than 18 countries not only broke but far surpassed their previous records, with entries increasing by more than 50%. Among them are India, Poland, Serbia, Peru, Panama, Japan, South Korea, Hungary, Croatia, the Dominican Republic, Germany, Venezuela, and of course Mexico. This growth confirms the competition’s role as a major international showcase for the spirits industry.
6 new spirits categories
The 2025 edition also welcomes 6 new categories, reflecting the richness and diversity of spirits traditions worldwide: Viche/Biche from Colombia, Feni made from cashew nuts and coconut in India, Zivania from Cyprus, German whisky, Mahua from India, and Sotol from Mexico. These additions highlight emblematic products deeply rooted in their terroirs and perfectly align with the competition’s mission to celebrate and promote spirits from around the world.
The results of the 2025 edition will be announced on October 1st at www.spiritsselection.com.
Jalisco: between Mexican tradition and global agave leadership
Choosing Jalisco as the host region was no coincidence. This Mexican state is internationally recognized as the birthplace of the country’s most emblematic spirits, Tequila and Raicilla, both protected by Designation of Origin. With Guadalajara as its capital, Puerto Vallarta on the Pacific coast, and the town of Tequila as a symbol, Jalisco embodies Mexican folklore and traditions. The tequila industry produces over 400 million liters annually, generating thousands of jobs and reinforcing Mexico’s leadership in the global agave spirits market. Raicilla, for its part, is experiencing exponential growth, with international sales increasing by more than 300% in recent years.
About Spirits Selection by CMB
The Spirits Selection by Concours Mondial de Bruxelles is an international itinerant competition where spirits from all over the world are blind-tasted by a panel of experts carefully selected for their ability to assess spirits. The competition’s reputation for excellence in the selection of its judges is one of the pillars of its success.
The Concours Mondial de Bruxelles ensures optimal tasting conditions: the number of samples per session is limited to 35 to maintain the accuracy of sensory analysis given the high alcohol levels. Its mission is to guide consumers worldwide by rewarding products of irreproachable quality.
Since 2006, the event has traveled each year to a new host country, from Taiwan to Brazil, via China, Chile, Bulgaria, Belgium, Mexico, and Guadeloupe, offering unique visibility to producing regions and their distillers.
Pictures Flicker : https://www.flickr.com/photos/concoursmondial/albums/72177720328688713
Press contact
Anne de Bidlot
anne.debidlot@vinopres.com
