2013 Ultimate Spirits Challenge Results ULTIMATE SPIRITS CHALLENGE 2013 March 11–15, 2013 ASTOR CENTER, NEW YORK CITY For 2013 there are 33 Chairman’s Trophies awarded, representing the best of the best; Finalists in each section are also identified. In addition to the score, products are distinguished with the following Accolades, as a guide to consumers: 95-100 Extraordinary, Ultimate Recommendation 90-94 Excellent, Highly Recommended 85-89 Very Good, Strong Recommendation 80-84 Good, Recommended A note on the icons: Tasting Note: composite judges' tasting notes for products which scored 85 and up. Roll over icon to view. Great Value: indicates products with a favorable relationship between their price and final score. Purchase Now: a selection of products that achieved high scores which can be ordered directly from Astor Wines & Spirits, a leading New York retailer. Clicking on the icon will take you directly to that product's page on Astor's web site, where you can place your order for delivery. Click icon to view. Product Image: to assist you with visual identification, we've included an image for each product evaluated. (Please note that age statements, vintages or label may vary slightly from the specific product evaluated but it represents a helpful portrayal of the brand.) Click icon to view. APERITIF Award Score Product Accolade Chairman's Trophy 92 Lillet Jean de Lillet 2009 Aperitif France, 17% Excellent, abv, $39.99 Highly Recommended Finalist 90 Aperol Aperitif Italy, 11% abv, $22.00 Excellent, Highly Recommended 89 Casoni '1814' Aperitif Italy, 15% abv, $18.00 Very Good, Strong Recommendation VODKA Unflavored Vodka Award Score Product Accolade Chairman's Trophy 94 Tahoe Blue Vodka United States, 40% abv, Excellent, $29.99 Highly Recommended Finalist 93 American Harvest Organic Spirit Vodka United Excellent, States, 40% abv, $23.99 Highly Recommended Finalist 93 Boru Vodka Ireland, 40% abv, $18.00 Excellent, Highly Recommended Finalist 93 Fuzzy's Ultra Premium Vodka United States, Excellent, 40% abv, $23.99 Highly Recommended Finalist 93 Khortytsa Ultimate Vodka Ukraine, 40% abv, Excellent, $13.99 Highly Recommended Finalist 93 Khortytsa Platinum Vodka Ukraine, 40% abv, Excellent, $13.99 Highly Recommended 92 Chopin Wheat Vodka Poland, 40% abv, $29.99 Excellent, Highly Recommended 92 EPIC Classic Vodka France, 40% abv, $12.99 Excellent, Highly Recommended 92 Luksusowa Vodka Poland, 40% abv, $15.00 Excellent, Highly Recommended 92 Purity Vodka Sweden, 40% abv, $34.99 Excellent, Highly Recommended 92 UV Vodka United States, 40% abv, $12.99 Excellent, Highly Recommended 91 Aylesbury Duck Soft White Winter Wheat Vodka Excellent, Canada, 40% abv, $29.99 Highly Recommended 91 Chopin Potato Vodka Poland, 40% abv, $29.99 Excellent, Highly Recommended 91 Cinco Five Star Vodka United States, 40% abv, Excellent, $22.99 Highly Recommended 91 Eristoff Vodka France, 37.5% abv, £13.00 Excellent, Highly Recommended 91 Finlandia Classic Vodka Finland, 40% abv, Excellent, $17.99 Highly Recommended 91 Platinka Original Vodka Belarus, 40% abv, Excellent, $19.99 Highly Recommended 91 Poland's Select Vodka Poland, 40% abv, $17.99 Excellent, Highly Recommended 91 Shpilka Vodka Russia, 35% abv, $22.99 Excellent, Highly Recommended 90 Breckenridge Vodka United States, 40% abv, Excellent, $27.00 Highly Recommended 90 Broken Shed Whey Vodka New Zealand, 40% Excellent, abv, $34.99 Highly Recommended 90 Grand Argent Vodka France, 40% abv, $12.99 Excellent, Highly Recommended 90 I-Spirit Vodka Italy, 40% abv, $30.00 Excellent, Highly Recommended 90 Vesica Vodka Poland, 40% abv, $12.99 Excellent, Highly Recommended 89 ELYX Vodka Sweden, 42% abv, $39.99 Very Good, Strong Recommendation 89 Pearl Vodka Canada, 40% abv, $12.99 Very Good, Strong Recommendation 89 Punzoné Organic Vodka Italy, 40% abv, $42.99 Very Good, Strong Recommendation 89 Reyka Vodka Iceland, 40% abv, $22.99 Very Good, Strong Recommendation 88 Belvedere Unfiltered Vodka Poland, 40% abv, Very Good, $37.99 Strong Recommendation 88 Belvedere Vodka Poland, 40% abv, $32.99 Very Good, Strong Recommendation 88 Door County Distillery Luminous Vodka United Very Good, States, 42% abv, $29.99 Strong Recommendation 88 Skinnygirl Bare Naked Vodka United States, 30% Very Good, abv, $21.99 Strong Recommendation 88 Slovenia Vodka Slovenia, 40% abv, $34.99 Very Good, Strong Recommendation 86 Chopin Rye Vodka Poland, 40% abv, $29.99 Very Good, Strong Recommendation 86 Prairie Organic Vodka United States, 40% abv, Very Good, $24.99 Strong Recommendation 85 Spud Potato Vodka Poland, 40% abv, $22.99 Very Good, Strong Recommendation 84 Black Momma Vodka United States, 40% abv, Good, $32.99 Recommended 84 New Amsterdam Vodka United States, 40% abv, Good, $14.99 Recommended 82 High Rise Vodka United States, 40% abv, $12.99 Good, Recommended VODKA Flavored Vodka Award Score Product Accolade Chairman's Trophy 95 HOPHEAD Pot Stilled Hop Flavored Vodka Extraordinary, United States, 45% abv, $29.99 Ultimate Recommendation 89 Finlandia Raspberry Flavored Vodka Finland, Very Good, 37.5% abv, $17.99 Strong Recommendation 89 Spud Ginger Lemongrass Flavored Vodka Very Good, Poland, 35% abv, $22.99 Strong Recommendation 89 Viche Pitia No. 7 Carraway Flavored Vodka Very Good, France, 58% abv, €75.00 , seeking US Importer Strong Recommendation 88 Belvedere Pink Grapefruit Flavored Vodka Very Good, Poland, 40% abv, $39.99 Strong Recommendation 88 Finlandia Grapefruit Flavored Vodka Finland, Very Good, 37.5% abv, $17.99 Strong Recommendation 88 Finlandia Tangerine Flavored Vodka Finland, Very Good, 37.5% abv, $17.99 Strong Recommendation 87 Belvedere Black Raspberry Flavored Vodka Very Good, Poland, 40% abv, $39.99 Strong Recommendation 87 Crater Lake Sweet Ginger Flavored Vodka United Very Good, States, 35% abv, $24.99 Strong Recommendation 87 Skinnygirl Cucumber Flavored Vodka United Very Good, States, 30% abv, $21.99 Strong Recommendation 86 Naked Jay Gooey Buns Flavored Vodka United Very Good, States, 30% abv, $12.99 Strong Recommendation 85 Belvedere Citrus Flavored Vodka Poland, 40% Very Good, abv, $39.99 Strong Recommendation 85 Belvedere Bloody Mary Flavored Vodka Poland, Very Good, 40% abv, $39.99 Strong Recommendation 85 Finlandia Mango Flavored Vodka Finland, 37.5% Very Good, abv, $17.99 Strong Recommendation 85 Pearl Cucumber Flavored Vodka Canada, 35% Very Good, abv, $12.99 Strong Recommendation 85 SKYY Infusions Wild Strawberry Flavored Vodka Very Good, United States, 35% abv, $18.49 Strong Recommendation 84 SKYY Infusions Citrus Flavored Vodka United Good, States, 35% abv, $18.49 Recommended 84 UV Citrus Flavored Vodka United States, 30% Good, abv, $12.99 Recommended 84 WAVE Chocolate Covered Pretzel Flavored Good, Vodka United States, 30% abv, $8.99 Recommended 83 SKYY Infusions Moscato Flavored Vodka United Good, States, 35% abv, $18.49 Recommended 83 Viche Pitia No. 30 Lemon on Milk Flavored Good, Vodka France, 43% abv, €75.00 , seeking US Recommended Importer 82 Cold River Blueberry Flavored Vodka United Good, States, 40% abv, $36.99 Recommended 82 High Rise Citrus Flavored Vodka United States, Good, 35% abv, $12.99 Recommended 80 Finlandia Redberry Flavored Vodka Finland, 40% Good, abv, $17.99 Recommended 80 High Rise Cherry Flavored Vodka United States, Good, 35% abv, $12.99 Recommended AQUAVIT Chairman's Trophy Awarded for Consistent Excellence Award Score Product Accolade Chairman's Trophy 96 Linie Aquavit Norway, 41.5% abv, $26.99 Extraordinary, Ultimate Recommendation GIN Award Score Product Accolade Chairman's Trophy 96 Fords Gin United Kingdom, 45% abv, $34.99 Extraordinary, Ultimate Recommendation Finalist 95 Door County Distillery Ridges Lighthouse Gin Extraordinary, United States, 47% abv, $19.99 Ultimate Recommendation Finalist 95 Fifty Pounds London Dry Gin England, 40% abv, Extraordinary, $32.99 Ultimate Recommendation Finalist 95 Plymouth Gin United Kingdom, 41.2% abv, Extraordinary, $30.00 Ultimate Recommendation Finalist 95 Tanqueray London Dry Gin United Kingdom, Extraordinary, 47.3% abv, $19.99 Ultimate Recommendation Finalist 94 Beefeater London Dry Gin United Kingdom, 47% Excellent, abv, $20.00 Highly Recommended Finalist 94 Plymouth Navy Strength Gin United Kingdom, Excellent, 57% abv, $35.00 Highly Recommended 93 Caorunn Small Batch Scottish Gin Scotland, Excellent, 41.8% abv, $34.99 Highly Recommended 93 Tanqueray TEN London Dry Gin United Kingdom, Excellent, 47.3% abv, $29.99 Highly Recommended 92 Ransom Old Tom Gin United States, 44% abv, Excellent, $36.00 Highly Recommended 91 Beefeater 24 London Dry Gin United Kingdom, Excellent, 45% abv, $30.00 Highly Recommended 91 Oxley Gin England, 47% abv, $50.00 Excellent, Highly Recommended 91 The Botanist Islay Dry Gin Scotland, 46% abv, Excellent, $34.95 Highly Recommended 90 BLOOM London Dry Gin United Kingdom, 40% Excellent, abv, $27.99 Highly Recommended 90 Bombay Sapphire East London Dry Gin United Excellent, Kingdom, 42% abv, $29.99 Highly Recommended 89 Greenall's London Dry Gin United Kingdom, 40% Very Good, abv, $14.99 Strong Recommendation 88 Rives Special Gin Spain, 40% abv, €25.00 , Very Good, seeking US Importer Strong Recommendation 87 Berkeley Square London Dry Gin United Very Good, Kingdom, 40% abv, $55.00 Strong Recommendation 87 Bombay Sapphire London Dry Gin United Very Good, Kingdom, 47% abv, $32.00 Strong Recommendation 87 Rives London Gin Spain, 37.5% abv, €12.00 , Very Good, seeking US Importer Strong Recommendation 86 Cold River Traditional Gin United States, 47% Very Good, abv, $26.99 Strong Recommendation