The Spirits Selection by CMB 2025 will be held in Jalisco · Mexico
The State of Jalisco, in Mexico, has been selected to host the 27th edition of the Spirits Selection by CMB, the most renowned and prestigious spirits competition worldwide. The tasting sessions and activities of this important event will take place during the month of September in various cities in the State of Jalisco, such as Guadalajara, the western capital of Mexico, Puerto Vallarta, the most Mexican beach in the Pacific, the Magical Town of Tequila and several of the Magical Towns that make up the Raicilla Route.
Jalisco is a destination recognized worldwide as an epicenter of Mexican folklore and tradition, for being the center of iconic elements of this country such as Mariachi, Charrería and Tequila, which is one of the most internationally recognized spirit. Jalisco is the birthplace of Tequila and Raicilla, two world-famous spirits that proudly bear their Denomination of Origin, which is why this Mexican state will be the ideal setting to host the next edition of Spirits Selection by CMB.
Meeting point for experts, producers and lovers of spirits from all over the world
Jalisco tequila industry represents one of the most important economic pillars of Mexico. With a production of more than 400 million liters in 2024, tequila is not only a symbol of national identity, but also an economic force that generates thousands of jobs and positions Mexico on the international stage. For its part, Raicilla has registered exponential growth in its production and exports, reaching an increase of 307% in its international sales in recent years. These data reflect the rise and projection of Jalisco spirits in global markets.
Jalisco also stands out for its cultural and tourist wealth. Guadalajara, the state capital and epicenter of Western Mexico, has been recognized as one of the most vibrant cities in Latin America. With its fusion of history and modernity, it offers a first-class infrastructure, with world-class hotels, large-capacity fairgrounds and an unmatched gastronomic offer, which complements the experience of spirits lovers.
About Spirits Selection by CMB
Spirits Selection by Concours Mondial de Bruxelles is the leading international event that rewards spirits from around the world. Whisky, brandy, rum, vodka, gin, pisco, grappa, baijiu and many more spirits are evaluated and ranked by a panel of internationally recognized experts. In 2024, more than 2,700 samples were evaluated by 154 tasters from 38 different nationalities.
While the main objective is to highlight the best spirits in the world to guide consumers in their purchasing choices, this competition, which has been held on an itinerant basis since 2006, has also become a promotional tool for the host countries or regions. Taiwan, Brazil, China, Mexico, Chile, Bulgaria, Belgium and Guadeloupe are among the most recent destinations.
Intensive preparation beforehand, lectures on current topics, visits to spirits producers in the host country or region and a dedicated team available 24 hours a day during the competition ensure that participants can spend as much time as possible outside of the tastings exchanging, discovering and debating. Over the years, the Spirits Selection by CMB has built up a truly international community of collaboration and exchange between industry professionals.
The excellent reputation of its judging selection process is one of the key components of the competition’s success. Renowned judges, recognized for their ability to evaluate spirits, are rigorously chosen each year.
The Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, organizer of the event, ensures that the judges enjoy optimal tasting conditions. The wide range of products and high alcohol levels make sensory analysis of spirits a challenge, which is why the number of samples per session is deliberately limited to 35. Spirits Selection by CMB also attaches great importance to the training of its own judges.
Furthermore, since 2004, CMB has been working closely with the research team at the Institute of Statistics at the Catholic University of Louvain to process the results and monitor the profile of each judge.
Spirits Selection by CMB spares no expense when it comes to post-tasting checks. Additional analyses are therefore regularly carried out on products that have won the valuable Concours Mondial de Bruxelles medal. The checks are designed to ensure consumers the highest level of satisfaction with the competition’s medals.
Organizing the competition in a different country each year also enhances the international reach of the event and provides better exposure for award-winning spirits around the world. The choice of host country is not accidental: the organizers are targeting growing markets, both in terms of production and consumption of spirits.
