Third Annual TAG Global Spirits Awards Winners Announced

Tony Abou-Ganim and Esteemed Panel Announce Award Winners and Reveal New Evaluation Process Prioritizing Judging Transparency

LAS VEGAS (May 2, 2024) – TAG Global Spirit Awards is proud to announce the 2024 Best in Show recipients. The 2024 awards mark a new chapter in the TAG Global Spirit Awards evolution. More than a score and a medal — TAG Global Spirits offers a comprehensive assessment of the world’s greatest spirits. We are evaluating products on more than a dozen aspects and providing a professional tasting note.

“TAG is not like the others,” says TAG Global Spirit Awards Executive Director Sean Ludford. “TAG offers the brands, industry, and the consumers a comprehensive evaluation. Unlike other competitions, TAG evaluations provide context to our expert assessment. It’s more than just a number score. The evaluation provides information on how to serve a product, cocktail recommendations, the product’s x-factor. This year’s judges took specific time to taste the distinguishing attributes making a product stand-out from another. Finally, we grade each product on a five-point scale of Sapidity — from the Latin Sapidus – to have and express flavor, taste, and be savory.”

This year, TAG uncovered 56 Best in Show brands, 99 Finalists and 86 Best Buys. The Finalist and Best Buy designations are both new to the 2024 awards.

TAG Global Spirit Awards 2024 Best in Show (listed alphabetically):

• Alpine Distilling AngeVert Aperitif, 95
• AMNA Tequila Cristalino Añejo, 100% Agave Tequila, 92
• Ardbeg Wee Beastie 5 Years Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 95
• Barrelsmith Manhattan (RTD), 95
• BHAKTA 1928 Global Blend, 95
• BHAKTA 1984 Armagnac, 95
• Bunnahabhain 12 Years Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 95
• Burdekin Distillers Edition — Wild Child Rum, 92
• Burdekin Virgin Cane Spirit Rum, 91
• Cabo Wabo Reposado, 100% Agave Tequila, 95
• Carolans Original Irish Cream, 94
• Cedar Ridge Double Barrel Bourbon Whiskey, 96
• Coit Spirits Cape Rooibos Tea Gin, 96
• Collingwood Double Barrel Canadian Blended Whisky, 95
• Croft Croft Pink & Tonic (RTD), 95
• Cutwater Spirits Lime Margarita (RTD), 91
• Cutwater Spirits Lime Ranch Water (RTD), 91
• Cutwater Spirits Spicy Bloody Mary (RTD), 91
• Cutwater Spirits Tiki Rum Hurricane (RTD), 91
• Deanston Virgin Oak Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 93
• Deep Eddy Ruby Red Flavored Vodka, 95
• Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka + Tea (RTD), 92
• Dos Hombres Joven, 100% Tobalá Mezcal, 96
• Dos Maderas 5 + 3 Double Aged Rum, 95
• Glen Grant 2022 Release 21 Years Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 96
• iichiko Silhouette Honkaku Shochu, 92
• Imperial 12 Years Old Blended Scotch Whisky, 94
• Kai Lychee (RTD), 91
• Kōloa Kaua’i Reserve Cask Strength Single-Barrel Aged 5 Years Old Rum, 95
• La Madrina Acholado Pisco, 95
• Limoncello di Capri Limoncello, 95
• Meili Vodka, 95
• iddle West Spirits Four Grain — Single Barrel, Cask Strength Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 96
• Middle West Spirits Single Barrel, Cask Strength Straight Wheat Whiskey, 95
• Ming River Sichuan Baijiu, 92
• Monkey Shoulder Blended Scotch Whisky, 93
• Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Fall 2023 8 Years Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon, 95
• Parker’s Heritage 17th Edition — Cask Strength 10 Years Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon, 96
• Pikesville Straight Rye Whiskey, 97
• Planteray Stiggins’ Fancy Pineapple Flavored Rum, 90
• Rancho La Gloria Chocolate Martini (RTD), 91
• Rémy Martin Tercet Cognac Fine Champagne, 95
• Siete Leguas Añejo, 100% Agave Tequila, 96
• Siete Leguas D’Antano Extra Añejo, 100% Agave Tequila, 96
• Tequila Ocho Plata, 100% Agave Tequila, 96
• The Busker Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey, 93
• The Roaster’s Daughter Espresso Martini (RTD), 92
• Tullamore D.E.W. Special Reserve 12 Years Old Blended Irish Whiskey, 95
• Uncle Nearest 1856 Premium Aged American Whiskey, 95
• Uncle Nearest Single Barrel – Batch 101 Tennessee Whiskey, 95
• ecchio Amaro del Capo Amaro, 94
• Via Carota Craft Cocktails Classic Negroni (RTD), 92
• Via Carota Craft Cocktails Signature Martini (RTD), 92
• Vincenzi Bicerin Chocolate and Peppermint Cream Liqueur, 94
• Waterford Whiskey The Waterford Cuvée: Koffi Single Malt Irish Whiskey, 95
• Whiskey Del Bac Ode to Islay Single Malt American Whiskey, 96
• Yamatoichi Makiba no Yume Genshu Shochu, 92

Full results and more information on this year’s program can be found on the TAG’s website. Medals, digital files and other marketing communications materials are available to award winners, all information for obtaining these materials is on the results page.

This year’s current list of judges and topline credentials includes:

• Tony Abou-Ganim, Author of The Modern Mixologist: Contemporary Classic Cocktails & Vodka Distilled; founding
• Julio Bermejo, Beverage Manager at Tommy’s Mexican Restaurant and highly regarded expert on tequila; founding judge of TAG Global Spirits Awards
• David Grapshi, accomplished international spirits supplier and distributor and owner of Agave Forte; founding judge of TAG Global Spirits Awards
• Sean Ludford, seasoned professional with a diverse background, including roles in restaurants, a prestigious wine and spirit retailer, importer/distributor and Founder of BevX.com; founding judge of TAG Global Spirits Awards
• Max A. Solano, Whisky & Spirits Educator, and Founder of Bar Chef Productions
• Charlotte Voisey, Global Head of Ambassadors for William Grant & Sons
• Jake Davenport, Certified Sommelier, Cicerone, Sake Professional, Specialist of Spirits, and Shochu Advisor, and currently Assistant Mixologist at Wynn Las Vegas
• Dale DeGroff, King Cocktail and The Museum of the American Cocktail
• Lynn House, National Spirits Specialist and Portfolio Mixologist for Heaven Hill Brands
• Francesco Lafranconi, world-renowned mixologist, spirits industry educator and, icon of cocktail culture, and Senior Vice President of Beverage and Hospitality Culture for Carver Road Capital Hospitality Firm
• Bridget Albert, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits Sr. Director of External Communications, award-winning mixologist and co-author of Market-Fresh Mixology and Life, Love, Happiness & Cocktails
• Kyle McHugh, hospitality industry veteran, beverage consultant, educator, and founder of The Boozehound

To ensure authenticity, the TAG Awards commissioned the Ultimate Universal Spirits Glass, ideal for showcasing spirits exactly as the producer intended them to be tasted. TAG Global Spirits delivers more to our entrants, the brands they represent, as well as the industry professionals and consumers who value the opinions of the world’s most experienced competition crew.

For more information and to stay up to date, please visit www.tagspiritsawards.com and follow on Instagram @tagspiritsawards.

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