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Top 10 award-winning spirits in travel retail

Shoppers are spoilt for choice in travel retail with an abundance of high-quality spirits available at every price point. We present a selection of award-winning bottlings from our recent blind-tasting competition.

SB presents award-winning expressions available in travel retail

Last month, The Spirits Business held its annual Travel Retail Masters, where an experienced panel of judges put some of the finest offerings available in duty free through their paces.

Looking across multiple categories, from gin to Scotch whisky, rum to liqueurs, with entrants from producers of all scales, the competition saw a number of expressions awarded Master and Gold medals for their superior quality.

The individual scores of each entrant have not been revealed, however these are 10 of the highest rated medallists in the competition – listed in no particular order.

Our judges have given each expression listed here the seal of approval for offering excellent quality within their respective categories.

Click through to the following pages to view the top 10 award-winning expressions from this year’s Travel Retail Masters.

Edinburgh Gin Rhubarb & Ginger Liqueur

Price: £15 (US$18.50)

The “fresh and lively” Edinburgh Gin Rhubarb & Ginger Liqueur scored a Master medal in the Liqueurs round.

Produced by Ian Macleod Distillers, the expression is bottled at 20% ABV and is made with spring-crop rhubarb, oriental ginger and classic Edinburgh Gin.

It is recommended served in a Bramble, over ice, topped with Prosecco, or mixed with ginger ale and garnished with fresh ginger and a lime twist.

Earlier this year, Edinburgh Gin expanded its rhubarb and ginger-flavoured spirits range with the launch of a full-strength gin (40% ABV).

The Dubliner 10 Year Old Irish Whiskey

Price: £49 (US$60)

In the Irish Whiskey round, a Master went to The Dubliner 10 Year Old Irish Whiskey. “I tried to move on to the next whiskey, but I kept thinking about this one,” said one judge.

Another member of the panel added: “I loved the marzipan flavour. It was so rich and bold at the same time as being sweet and smooth.”

The Quintessential Brands-owned expression was distilled in copper pot stills and matured in oak casks that previously held Kentucky Bourbon.

The Nines Citrus

Price: £18 (US$22)

The “sweet and acidic” The Nines Citrus was one of five Master medallists in the Liqueurs round.

The 35% ABV expression is said to boast the added flavour of oranges and lemons blended with herbs and spices to reveal an “exotic taste and velvety aroma”.

It is recommended served over ice, mixed with orange juice or served in cocktails.

Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky

Price: £39 (US$48)

Looking across world whiskies, a Master was bestowed upon Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky from the UK’s Cotswolds Distillery.

“I loved the fruity nose and wine‐like character on the palate,” enthused one judge.

Another judge added: “When you smell something this good you pray it carries through to the taste, and this does. It’s one you want to take away and settle into an armchair with.”

The expression claims to be the first whisky distilled in the Cotswolds area. The expression uses 100% locally-grown, floor-malted barley and is matured in first-fill ex-Bourbon barrels and reconditioned red wine casks.

Costwolds Single Malt Whisky also grabbed the competition’s top accolade of Taste Master after receiving the highest vote by some margin.

Bloom Strawberry Gin Liqueur

Price: £16 (US$20)

The “warm and natural” Bloom Strawberry Gin Liqueur secured a Master medal in the Liqueurs flight. Bottled at 25% ABV, the expression is made with fresh, macerated strawberries.

Created by master distiller Joanne Moore, the expression is part of the Bloom range, which includes Bloom London Dry Gin, Bloom Jasmine & Rose Pink Gin and Bloom Lemon and Elderflower Gin Liqueur.

Fettercairn Aged 12 Years Pedro Ximénez Sherry Cask Edition

Price: £60 (US$74) per one-litre

Fettercairn Aged 12 Years Pedro Ximénez Sherry Cask Edition (40% ABV) obtained a Master medal in the Scotch Whisky Single Malt Travel Retail Exclusive flight for its “absolutely gorgeous” nose of “ripe bananas and caramel”.

It has been aged in American white oak ex-Bourbon barrels, and finished in Pedro Ximénez Sherry casks to “enhance Fettercairn’s signature tropical fruit notes with an added layer of sweet complexity”.

Fettercairn’s travel retail-exclusive single malt range was recently expanded with the launch of a 16-year-old and 23-year-old.

Glenmorangie 19 Year Old

Price: £110 (US$135.50)

The Glenmorangie Company secured two Master medals in a flight of travel retail-exclusive single malt Scotch whiskies for its Glenmorangie The Accord and Glenmorangie 19 Year Old.

The “light and elegant” Glenmorangie 19 Year Old was said to have “pronounced tropical notes”.

Bottled at 43% ABV, the whisky has been aged in American white oak ex-Bourbon casks.

Edinburgh Gin Orange Blossom & Mandarin

Price: £15 (US$18.50) per 500ml

Grabbing a Master medal in the Liqueurs round was the “crisp and zesty” Edinburgh Gin Orange Blossom & Mandarin Liqueur.

Orange blossom and mandarin are infused with the flagship Edinburgh Gin to make the 20% ABV gin liqueur.

The expression is recommended served with Valencian orange tonic water, or soda water, and garnished with an orange twist and served over ice.

Skinny Moo Toffee Popcorn

Price: £16 (US$20)

The “buttery and delicious” Skinny Moo Toffee Popcorn also stormed to success in the Liqueurs round, grabbing a Master medal.

“It’s so rare that liqueurs get the recognition they deserve, but this definitely deserved a Master,” one judge said of the expression.

Released this summer, the Skinny Moo range is a low-calorie range of country cream liqueurs. The Toffee Popcorn and Peanut Butter variants contain 55 calories per 25ml serve. Both expressions have an ABV of 12%.

La Hechicera

Price: £45 (US$55)

In the Rum round, “ridiculously smooth” Colombian rum brand La Hechicera won a Gold medal, with judges praising its balance of “caramel and fruit flavours” that led to a “pleasant dry finish”.

La Hechicera means ‘enchantress’ in Spanish and is blended from spirit matured for between 12 and 21 years in white oak.

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