NEW ORLEANS, LA (July 25, 2024): The New Orleans Spirits Competition (NOSC) presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation (TOTCF) is pleased to announce the 2024 “Spirits of the Year” winners from its third annual competition. Additionally, the prestigious Distillery of the Year award was unveiled today at Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans.
Founded in 2022, the New Orleans Spirits Competition is an international spirits competition that celebrates and recognizes best-in-class spirits from producers around the world. Held during Tales of the Cocktail, NOSC showcased a live judging across all of its spirits categories, both domestic and international, including whiskey, gin, brandy, baijiu, vodka, rum, agave spirits, liqueurs and non-alcoholic. More than 439 registrants entered the competition, which were reviewed by a panel of industry professionals. NOSC is proud to partner with Imbibe Magazine as the competition’s official 2024 Media Partner.
In celebrating the Distillery of the Year and Spirits of the Year, NOSC is pleased to announce the following winners in each class:
2024 NOSC Distillery of the Year
- Distillery of the Year: Kanosuke Distillery
2024 NOSC Spirits of the Year Winners
- Agave Spirit of the Year: Tequila Blanco by Cutwater Spirits
- Baijiu of the Year: Ming River Sichuan Baijiu by Luzhou Laojiao
- Brandy of the Year: Yebiga ”Bela” by Tok D.o.o
- Gin of the Year: Distillery of Modern Art, Nouveau Gin by Distillery of Modern Art
- Liqueur of the Year: January Spirits Genepy by January Spirits
- Rum of the Year: Shakara Rum by Shakara
- Specialty Spirit of the Year: Death in the Afternoon Absinthe by Key West Trading Co.
- Tie for Vodka of the Year: Connoisseur 51 Reserve Organic Vodka by Purity Distillery
- Tie for Vodka of the Year: The Community Spirit Vodka by The Community Spirit Vodka
- American Whiskey of the Year: Widow Jane Lucky 13 Bourbon Whiskey by Samson & Surrey
- World Whisky of the Year: Ledaig 10 Year Old by Tobermory Distillery
- RTD of the Year: Automatic Jones Earl Grey Negroni by The Family Jones
- No & Low Elixir of the Year: Fluère Bitter by Lucas Bols USA
Additionally, NOSC is pleased to share the 2024 “Best of Category” winners. These awards recognize the top-rated spirit entered in each category, such as Gin: Best New American Gin, Tequila: Best Tequila Reposado, and Liqueur: Best Herbal Liqueur.
2024 NOSC “Best of Category” Winners
Winners for the “Best of Category” can be viewed HERE
2024 NOSC Packaging Award Winners
Packaging Excellence Awards for the New Orleans Spirits Competition can be viewed HERE
2024 NOSC Final Medalists
Medalists for the New Orleans Spirits Competition can be viewed HERE
About The Judging Process
Judges were seated in four-person panels and served flights of spirits without identifying information other than the class of spirit and proof. Spirits were then rated individually by each judge, with a top score of 100. Scores from each panel were then averaged. After the medals were decided, the top finishers across each category were selected for Best of Category recognition.
Spirits of the Year were selected in several rounds of public blind tasting on Monday, July 22 and Tuesday, July 23 in New Orleans at Tales of the Cocktail. The finalists had been determined by a preliminary round held in June, after which the six highest-scoring spirits in Gin, Rum, Liqueur, American Whiskey, World Whisky and Agave Spirits advanced to the final round. Spirits of the Year were determined by the judges marking their top three in order. These votes determine the best-of-class awards listed above.
New Orleans Spirits Competition Judges 2024
- Abigail Gullo, Creative Director of International House Hotel, Host of Drink & Learn Podcast
- Brett Pontoni, Specialty Spirits Buyer for Binny’s Beverage Depot
- Bridget Albert, Founder of the National Charity Foundation of the United States Bartenders’ Guild
- Chantal Tseng, Bar-Sommelier; US Sherry Week Ambassador
- Clay Risen, Spirits Writer, Author of “American Rye: A Guide to the Nation’s Original Spirit”
- Clyde Davis Jr., Owner of 75 Proof Beverage Solutions
- Dale Degroff, DeGroff’s Spirits, Partner & Owner of DeGroff’s Amaro, DeGroff’s Bitter Aperitivo
- Danny Ronen, Founder & CEO of DC Spirits
- Elayne Duff, Director of Advocacy for Samson and Surrey
- Emma Janzen , Spirits & Cocktail Writer; Midwest Academy Chair World’s 50 Best Bars, Author of Mezcal: The History, Craft and Cocktails of the World’s Ultimate Artisanal Spirit
- Flavien Desoblin, Owner of Brandy Library & Copper & Oak
- Franky Marshall, Bartender, Educator & Consultant
- Garnett Phillip, Owner: The Rogers Garden & Rum Bar Brooklyn
- Geoffrey Wilson, Leadership Staff at Turning Tables New Orleans
- H. Joseph Ehrmann, Proprietor of ELIXIR
- Henry Preiss, President of Preiss Imports
- Jeff Berry, Tiki & Rum Expert; Author of Potions of the Caribbean & Beachbum Barry’s Taboo Table
- Kate Gerwin, Owner of Happy Accidents
- Keli Rivers, Senior Beam Suntory Gin Brand Ambassador
- Laura Cullen, Founder of Liberty Consulting
- Lauren Patz, Head Distiller at Redwood Empire Whiskey
- Lisa Wicker, Master Distiller
- Lynn House, National Spirits Specialist & Portfolio Mixologist at Heaven Hill Brands
- Lynnette Marrero, Partner & Chief Mixologist at Delola Beverages; Liquid Creative Director of Aplos; Co-Creator of Speed Rack
- Martin Cate, Owner of Smuggler’s Cove San Francisco
- Matthew Rowley, Culinary Historian, Spirits & Arts Writer, James Beard Award Finalist
- Monique Huston, Vice President Spirits Portfolio at Winebow
- Natasha Bahrami, Owner of The Gin Room, James Beard Award Semi-Finalist
- Paul Clarke, Editor in Chief of Imbibe Magazine
- Tiffanie Barriere, Educator & Consultant; Member of the Tales of the Cocktail Grants Committee, James Beard Beverage Advisory Board, Member of the Atlanta chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier
- Tracie Franklin, Founder of Get Spirited Consulting
- Stephen Beal, International Drinks Expert
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ABOUT NEW ORLEANS SPIRITS COMPETITION:
Founded in 2022 by Managing Partner Andrew Faulkner, Head Judge Wayne Curtis, and Director of Operations Matthew Sharpe, the New Orleans Spirits Competition is an international spirits competition bringing wider recognition to fine spirits from top-flight producers across the globe. NOSC was created because New Orleans, a world-class beverage and culinary destination, deserves a world-class spirits competition. The judging takes place in partnership with Tales of the Cocktail®, with more than three dozen prominent members of the spirits community serving as judges and assessing the quality of the spirits based on a strict set of criteria. All spirits are delivered blind to tasting panels, ensuring integrity and honesty.
For more information on New Orleans Spirits Competition please visit New Orleans Spirits Competition’s website, email [email protected], and follow along on social media: @nolaspiritscomp, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
ABOUT TALES OF THE COCKTAIL FOUNDATION:
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation is a non-profit organization that aims to advance the global hospitality industry and create a lasting impact in our host communities. Tales of the Cocktail Foundation is the global leader in spirits education and a platform to tackle issues facing the industry. The pillars of the Foundation are to Educate, Advance, and Support the hospitality industry through programs that benefit individuals and organizations in the community and to make a lasting impact in the communities that host our events.
For more information on Tales of the Cocktail please visit the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation website, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook
ABOUT IMBIBE MAGAZINE
Imbibe (@imbibe/imbibemagazine.com) is a multi-platform drinks destination combining an award-winning print and digital magazine, website, newsletter, podcast, books, and events, including the annual global charitable initiative, Negroni Week. Imbibe celebrates drinks as a distinct culinary category, exploring the people, places, cultures and flavors that make the world of drinks so fascinating. With wide-ranging recipes, reviews, how-tos, interviews, and stories, Imbibe is the go-to guide to drinks, from coffee to cocktails.
Media Inquiries:
Foxglove Communications
Andrea Jackson Ott, [email protected], 323.270.0048
Julia Hollings, [email protected], 504.202.7566
