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Glittering prizes: highlighting the 2024 Taste Masters

In each of The Global Spirits Masters Competitions that take place throughout the year, a Taste Master winner is chosen. We raise a glass to the outstanding products that took home the top awards in 2024.

Taste-Masters-2024
We look back at the 2024 cohort of Taste Master and Best In Class winners

Scoring a sought-after Master medal in The Global Spirits Masters Competitions (GSMC) is no easy feat. To then go head to head against the top-scoring entrants to win the ultimate Taste Master accolade is even tougher.

Only the highest-quality spirits stand a chance of being crowned Taste Master. At the end of each blind tasting, the Master medal-winning entries are retasted by all of the judges. Their task – which is harder than it may appear – is to pick the best in class from the day.

“With so many choices on physical and virtual shelves these days, a reputable medal can do wonders to help brands stand out in a saturated market,” said Melita Kiely, editor-in-chief of The Spirits Business, and chair of The GSMC.

“It’s fantastic to see so many brands, spanning such a breadth of spirits styles, production regions and price points, showcase their best wares, and even more rewarding to know they have been recognised by an esteemed, independent panel of experts.”

Below, we highlight the 2024 cohort of Taste Master and Best in Class winners, and look at each product in more detail.


Adnams-Smidgin
Photo credit: Anthony Cullen

Adnams Smidgin Dry Gin

Low-Alcohol Taste Master

Clocking in at 50% ABV, Adnams Smidgin might not seem like a suitable strength for the title of Low & No Taste Master.

However, this gin requires just a 2.5ml pour mixed with 200ml of tonic water to make a full-flavoured gin and tonic – significantly reducing the final alcohol strength to 0.6% ABV.

During The Low & No Masters 2024 blind tasting, the product was described as having an “attractive nose, with juniper to the fore and good balance. Tonnes of rich juniper – mixes well with tonic. Good robust flavour, and classic G&T profile.”


Everleaf ForestEverleaf

No-Alcohol Taste Master

After securing a Master medal in the Non-Alcoholic Apéritif round of The Low & No Masters, “delicious” Everleaf Forest went on to claim the Taste Master title.

Everleaf Forest is a bittersweet blend of sustainably sourced botanical distillates and extracts, designed to capture tastes of the forest. Botanicals used to make Everleaf Forest include saffron, vanilla, honeyed orange, and blossom.

It is recommended in a serve of one part Everleaf Forest and three parts light tonic or ginger ale, with lots of ice and an orange wheel to garnish.

The judges praised the product’s “nice depth of flavour and bitterness”.


Tequila Don Julio Alma MielDon Julio Alma Miel

Tequila & Mezcal Taste Master

Taking home the most prestigious award in The Tequila & Mezcal Masters was Don Julio Alma Miel.

The Tequila was celebrated for its “lovely rich agave, grassy character, rich toffee, honey and vanilla notes from the wood – very sippable”.

Made with oven-roasted agave nectar, the ultra-premium expression is priced at RRP US$99.99 per 750ml bottle. Both añejo and blanco Tequilas are blended to create Alma Miel. The añejo portion of the blend is aged for a minimum of 14 months, then finished in Crémant du Limoux wine casks. The blanco is distilled with oven-roasted agave honey.


Barceló Imperial Premium Blend 40th AnniversaryBarcelo Imperiales

Rum Taste Master

Forty years in the making, the Rum Taste Master blends rum aged in American oak and French oak barrels, with varying toast levels.

The 43% ABV rum was created to celebrate the 40th birthday of Barceló Imperial.

What secured Barceló Imperial Premium Blend 40th Anniversary with the top accolade was, according to the judges, its “rich texture, a touch of strawberry, coconut and stone fruit with good complexity and good alcohol integration”.

Barceló recommends this rum alongside fine cigars, aged cheeses, elegant desserts, dark chocolate, and select cuts of red meat.


Franklin-Sons-Black-OliveFranklin & Sons Rosemary & Black Olive Tonic Water

Tonic & Mixer Taste Master

With its savoury profile, Franklin & Sons suggests serving its Rosemary & Black Olive Tonic Water with reposado Tequila, ruby Port, and herbaceous gins.

The tonic water was praised by the judges during The Tonic & Mixer Masters 2024, during which it secured the coveted Master medal – and also netted the even more highly sought-after Taste Master accolade. The judging panel particularly enjoyed the expression’s “savoury nose with rosemary and olive, some citrus and bitterness, good fizz – ticks all the boxes”.

Franklin & Sons Rosemary & Black Olive Tonic Water retails for around £20 per 24 pack of 200ml bottles.


Martell XOMartell-XO-Cognac

Cognac Taste Master

“Very elegantly made” – that was how the judges described Taste Master-winning Martell XO. The Pernod Ricard-owned Cognac secured its award following success in the XO – Ultra-Premium flight, which looked at bottlings priced at £101 and above. Additional tasting notes highlighted by the judges included “cinnamon buns and oak spice”.

Martell XO combines eaux-de-vie from the Grande Champagne cru in Cognac, France, and the Borderies cru. The Cognac clocks in at 40% ABV.

The brand recommends enjoying Martell XO neat, with ice, or a splash of water.


Tanduay-Overproof-RumTanduay Overproof Rum

Asian Spirits Taste Master

Philippine rum Tanduay Overproof was the cream of the crop in The Asian Spirits Masters 2024.

The judges enjoyed the balance and flavour offered by this high-strength bottling, which sits at 50.5% ABV. “Complexity and elegance” is how the judges described the medal winner, which impressed with its “gentle vanilla and muscovado sugar” aromas, which led to “oak spice and layers of fruit”.

Tanduay Distillers is the oldest subsidiary in the Lucio Tan Group.


january top storiesThe Single Cask Mortlach #255, First-Fill Oloroso Quarter Cask

Scotch Whisky Taste Master

An indie bottling of Mortlach by The Single Cask found success in the Single Cask flight of The Scotch Whisky Masters 2024.

The judges bestowed a Master medal upon The Single Cask Mortlach #255, First-Fill Oloroso Quarter Cask for being “rich and expressive, with intense dried fruit and spice yet plenty of concentration and texture to support it. Long finish and elegant alcohol.”

Sourced from the Speyside-based distillery in Scotland, the whisky was aged for nine years in a first-fill ex-oloroso quarter cask. The whisky sits at 59.8% ABV. Only 132 700ml bottles were created.


Doc Holliday 7 YearsDoc Holliday 7YR

American Whiskey Taste Master

“Superbly classic nose,” enthused the judges during The American Whiskey Masters 2024. On the palate, Doc Holliday 7 Years presented “zesty orange and building spices, caramel, with minty, herbal hints in the background”, culminating in the coveted Taste Master award.

The seven-year-old Bourbon is made from a mash bill of 75% corn, 21% rye and 4% malted barley. It has an ABV of 58.3%.

The name ‘Doc Holliday’ honours John Henry Holliday, an American gambler, gunfighter, and dentist, hence the ‘Doc’. The whiskey brand is part of the World Whiskey Society’s collections.


GodawanGodawan Century

World Whisky Taste Master

Diageo India introduced Godawan Century in 2023, a bespoke 100-bottle batch of limited edition single malt Indian whisky. The whisky was double matured in American ex-Bourbon barrels and European oak casks,  stored at 38°C in Alwar, in the northern Indian state of Rajasthan. It was distilled from Indian  six-row barley.

Tasting notes from The World Whisky Masters, during which Godawan Century collected the Taste Master award, included “strong honey notes on the aroma, sweet spice and a great finish. Complex malt and fruit.”

Godawan Century (46% ABV) pays homage to the great Indian bustard, commonly known as ‘godawan’, a bird once frequently seen throughout India, but one whose numbers were dwindling to just over 100 when the whisky was launched.


Kavalan-Podium-WhiskyKavalan Podium Single Malt Whisky

World Whisky Taste Master

The judges were so impressed by the standard in The World Whisky Masters, and keen to recognise more than one region, that the Taste Master title was jointly awarded to Taiwanese Kavalan Podium Single Malt Whisky.

“Juicy and fresh but with some developing woody spice and tannin,” said the judges. “Toffee and runny honey, white pepper and peach with some caramelised pineapple.”

The whisky is matured in handpicked virgin American oak casks and refill casks, before being bottled at 46% ABV.

Kavalan pitches the whisky as one that would pair well with Taiwanese, Thai and Japanese dishes.


Bushmills 30 Years OldBushmills-30yo-whiskey

Irish Whiskey Taste Master

Three decades of patience and craftsmanship went into creating Bushmills 30 Years Old, which reaped the rewards during The Irish Whiskey Masters 2024, scooping the Taste Master title.

The whiskey was matured in Bourbon barrels and Sherry butts for 14 years before being finished in first-fill Pedro Ximénez casks for 16 years. It was first unveiled at the opening of Bushmills’ £37 million (US$46m) Causeway Distillery in 2023. Non-chill-filtered, the single malt whiskey carries an ABV of 46%.

Praise given during the tasting included: “Wonderful complexity, rich aged liquid that brings so much flavour. Incredibly well-rounded.”

The whiskey carries an RRP of £1,990 (€2,000/ US$2,360) per 750ml bottle.


Ukiyo Japanese Rice Vodka

Vodka Taste Master

How many vodkas have you tried that are made from rice? Vodka Taste Master Ukiyo Japanese Rice Vodka made a lasting impression on the judges for being “very indicative of rice character”.

The vodka was found to be “fruity and dry, rather like shochu, and cleanly distilled”. Created in Chiba in Japan, the Ukiyo spirits brand aims to celebrate traditional Japanese distilling.

The word ‘ukiyo’ refers to a state of mind of living in the moment, and detaching from life’s struggles.

Ukiyo Japanese Rice Vodka is distilled three times in small batches in traditional pot stills.


Glenmorangie 16 Years Old The TributeGlenmorangie-Tribute-16YO

Travel Retail Taste Master

What makes this award-winning whisky unique is it is Glenmorangie’s only lightly peated expression.

Made from a combination of peated and non-peated malted barley, Glenmorangie The Tribute was aged entirely in American ex-Bourbon casks – also noteworthy from a company that has heavily experimented with cask finishes over the years. The Highland Scotch whisky sits at 43% ABV.

“Rich, exciting and engaging nose,” applauded the judges. “Leather and oats with ground coffee. Flavours of modest smoke on the palate, which are well-balanced. Gentle citrus, vanilla, toffee, warming woody spice notes.”


Takamaka Le Clos Napa LazTakamaka-Le-Clos-Napa

Luxury Taste Master

Seychelles-based Takamaka Rum received high praise when the judges put super-premium-and-above spirits to the taste test. The Luxury Taste Master winner is a limited edition rum made entirely with non-hybrid sugarcane varieties, which are sourced from local farmers.

Takamaka Le Clos Napa Laz sits at 53.4% ABV, and is free from additives and added sugar, and is bottled without being charcoal-filtered or chill-filtered.

“Wow, exceptional for the category,” enthused the judges after sampling Takamaka Le Clos Napa Laz in the Rum: White – Ultra-Premium flight. “Fragrant and fruity without vigorous esters. Palate is full of grapefruit, Muscat and coconut water.”


Hernö Navy Strength GinHernö Navy Strength

Gin Taste Master

“Full-bodied” high-ABV gin Hernö Navy Strength is no stranger to the Taste Masters hall of fame.

The Swedish gin impresses year on year –  and once again it collected the top award in the biggest blind tasting in The Global Spirits Masters Competitions series: The Gin Masters. Hernö Navy Strength Gin is made from the same distilled gin as Hernö Dry Gin (which sits at 40.5% ABV).

The Taste Master was praised for its “great integration of alcohol”, which is no easy feat at 57% ABV.

Additional tasting notes enjoyed by the judges included “vanilla, coriander seed, big citrus and spice, with a long finish”.


The Drinks Bureau Spicy MargaritaDrinks Bureau Spicy Margarita RTD

Pre-Mixed, RTD & Hard Seltzer Taste Master

Clocking in at 10% ABV and available in 150ml cans, The Drinks Bureau Spicy Margarita packs a delicious punch.

Crafted from Tequila, lime, chilli, and agave syrup, the ready-to-drink cocktail is also available in 1.5-litre boxes, which provide 10 servings. Once open, the cocktail will last for four weeks without needing to be refrigerated.

The judges were thoroughly impressed by the quality of the serve, and noted: “Agave comes through with lime and a little bit of savoury spice. Accessible with nice complexity, just a touch of smoke, but still bright and fresh.”


Koskenkorva RhubarbKoskenkorva-Rhubarb

Liqueur Taste Master

Nordic drinks company Anora Group took home the top award for Koskenkorva Rhubarb in The Liqueur Masters 2024.

The liqueur reminded the judges of rhubarb-and-custard sweets, conjuring fond memories. “Nostalgic, confected – but fun,” the judges enthused. “Palate brings vibrant jammy rhubarb, lovely and delicious, quite fresh and authentic rhubarb towards the finish – does exactly what it says. Lovely acidity and good balance.”

The liqueur also benefits from subtle pomegranate undertones, and boasts a blush- pink hue. Koskenkorva Rhubarb is bottled at 21% ABV.


Strawbar-OriginStrawbar Origin

Speciality Spirits Taste Master

The Speciality Spirits Masters often highlights products many have not come across before. But making itself known during the 2024 competition was Taste Master Strawbar Origin.

Strawbar Origin is an eaux-de-vie created from single-origin strawberries grown in Florina, Greece. The wild strawberries are sorted and hand-washed one by one before being double distilled. The spirit is bottled at 40% ABV.

In their tasting notes, the judges detected “fresh strawberry” on the nose, with more “jammy notes” coming through on the palate towards the finish. “Classic eaux-de-vie character,” the judges said.


Le Philtre organic vodkaLe Philtre Vodka

Design & Packaging – Best in Class

They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but this is not enough to secure brands a medal in The Design & Packaging Masters. Entrants must show their functionality and sustainable credentials to be in with the chance of an award.

Proving packaging can be both eco-friendly and beautiful was French brand Le Philtre Vodka. Taking the Best in Class award in 2024, Le Philtre Vodka is made by recovering recycled glass waste. Glass production residues – often neglected due to their atypical colours – are recycled into the bottles. As such, the bottles boast vibrant blue and green shades, and no two bottles are quite the same – unusual to see in the spirits world.

The judges celebrated Le Philtre for “defining the future for bottle designs and packaging” – an impressive feat indeed.

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