Results Announced For 2022 Ultimate Spirits Challenge

The global spirits competition, Ultimate Spirits Challenge, recently released the results of the 2022 edition.

In 2022, the USC saw its 13th consecutive year of record submissions, with entries coming from more than 50 spirit-producing nations.

The judging, held through May and early June, named 57 Chairman’s Trophy winners, 274 Finalists, 446 Great Values, and 143 Tried & True Award winners. The Challenge took place at the custom-designed Ultimate Beverage Challenge (UBC) Evaluation Center, located in Hawthorne, New York.

Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 17-Year-Old Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey was among the 2022 Chairman’s Trophy Winners. (image via Heaven Hill)

UBC co-founder and judging director, F. Paul Pacult, said in a prepared statement, “Aside from being the largest USC ever, this year’s Challenge was likewise the most global, with an impressive array of quality distillates from places as far away from New York as China, Australia, Ecuador, India, and Chile.”

He said that nearly all categories saw healthy gains, most notably gin, ready-to-drink cocktails, mezcal, rum, tequila, rum, vodka, and all whiskey and brandy categories.

Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2022 Chairman’s Trophy Winners

AMARO

Nonino Amaro Riserva

APERITIF/APERITIVO

• Bache Gabrielsen Very Old Pineau des Charentes

BAIJIU

• Yushan Taiwan Superior 12 Years Old Kaoliang

BRANDY

• American: BrandyLab California Brandy
• Armagnac: Château de Laubade Cask Strength 1994 Bas Armagnac
• Calvados: Christian Drouin Les Millésimés 1982 Pays d’Auge
• Cognac: Pierre Vallet Single Cask
• Pisco: Tres Erres Reservado

GIN & GENEVER

• Gin: Gordon’s Traveler’s Edition London Dry
• Genever: Notaris Bartender’s Choice Jerry Thomas Rome Edition

HARD SELTZER

• High Noon Sun Sips Pineapple Vodka & Soda

LIQUEUR

• Berry/Fruit: Matsui Brandy Umeshu Fruit
• Citrus/Triple Sec: Cointreau
• Chocolate: Faretti Biscotti Chocolate
• Cream/Dairy: Carolans Cold Brew
• Herbal/Mint/Spice/Botanical: Sorel

MEZCAL

• Vago Ensamble en Barro

MIXER

• Fever-Tree Ginger Ale

READY-TO-DRINK COCKTAIL

• Gin: Le Barteleur Hanky Panky
• Rum: Koloa Sparkling Mango Hawaiian Rum Cocktail
• Tequila: Cazadores Paloma
• Vodka: Boyd & Blair Blood Orange Cosmo
• Whiskey: Social Hour Harvest Whiskey Sour Made with George Dickel

RUM

• Dark/Gold: Plantation Xaymaca Special Dry Pot Still
• Flavored: Plantation Cut & Dry Coconut
• Rhum Agricole: Baie de Trésors Plein Soleil Blanc
• Over-Proof: ImpEx Collection Long Pond 2007 14 Years Old
• White/Silver: Plantation 3 Stars

SHOCHU

• iichiko Frasco

TEQUILA, 100% AGAVE

• Blanco/Plata: El Tesoro
• Reposado: Don Fulano
• Añejo: Tequila Ocho
• Extra Añejo: Cierto Reserve Collection

VERMOUTH

• Dry: La Quintinye Royal Extra Dry
• Sweet: La Quintinye Royal Rouge

VODKA

• Unflavored: Belvedere Smogóry Forest Single Estate Rye
• Flavored: 23rd Street Riverland Rose

WHISKY – CANADA

• WhistlePig The Boss Hog VIII LapuLapu’s Pacific Straight Rye

WHISKEY – IRELAND

• Blended: J.J. Corry The Gael
• Single Pot Still: Redbreast 21 Years Old
• Single Malt: Knappogue Castle 21 Years Old

WHISKY – SCOTLAND

• Blended: Dewar’s Double Double 32 Years Old
• Blended Malt: The Scotch Malt Whisky Society Batch #13 Tabanco Time 11 Years Old
• Single Malt-Highland: Glenmorangie Truffle Oak Reserve 26 Years Old
• Single Malt-Island: Highland Park Viking Honour 12 Years Old
• Single Malt-Islay: Ardbeg Uigedail
• Single Malt-Speyside: Mortlach Cowie’s Blue Seal 20 Years Old

WHISKEY – USA

• Bottled-In-Bond: Old Fitzgerald Spring 2022 Edition 17 Years Old
• Bourbon: Eagle Rare 17 Years Old
• Rye: Smooth Ambler Founders’ Cask Strength Series
• Single Barrel: Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel
• Single Malt: Courage & Conviction Cuvée Single Cask, Cask No. 1266
• Tennessee: Jack Daniel’s 10 Years Old
• Wheat: Bainbridge Battle Point Two Islands Islay Cask
• Other: Barrell Whiskey Private Release DJA1 Blend 1 Finished in a St. Agrestis Brooklyn Amaro Cask

WHISK(E)Y – WORLD

• Japanese: Matsui The Kurayoshi Sakura Cask Japanese Single Malt
• World: Seven Seals The Age of Pisces Oloroso Sherry Wood Finish Single Malt

Judging consists of analysis through multiple panels, then all products are rated on the 100-point scale by spirits industry judges including buyers, journalists, educators, authors, and bar owners. Spirits scoring 85+ points receive a detailed tasting note. All spirits scoring 80+ points receive an individual results page, which provides all downloadable marketing material.

You can view the complete results at www.ultimate-beverage.com/usc2022results.