Season’s best: The SB Spring Blind Tasting 2026 results
As the weather warms up in the Northern Hemisphere, we look at the best spirits with which to greet the sunshine.
Brighter days are ahead in the Northern Hemisphere, with the clocks changing, flowers set to bloom and more sunshine. It’s a welcome change in the UK, which has experienced a record-breaking wet start to 2026. With a brighter outlook on the horizon, drinkers will be ditching the layers and heading out to enjoy some sunshine in a pub garden. The start of spring can also signal a change in drinking patterns and trends, providing the perfect opportunity for spirits producers to consider new innovations or campaigns.
With the new season comes a fresh array of products, many of which were judged in our latest competition, The SB Spring Blind Tasting 2026.
Held in London’s Shoreditch Arms last month, the contest’s panel was led by Melita Kiely, editor-in-chief of The Spirits Business, and chair of The Global Spirits Masters Competitions (The GSMC). She was joined by: Matt Chambers, co-founder of Whisky For Everyone; Sara Jane Eichler, founder of Negroni Club UK; Ruchira Neotia, drinks consultant and founder of Ruchira’s Table; and David T Smith, spirits writer, consultant and co-founder of the Craft Distilling Expo.
Kicking off the competition was a flight of Vodkas, with Golds given to “crowd-pleaser” Bols Marine, with a hint of “sweet citrus”, and Smirnoff No.21, which had “elegant cereal notes and a light peppery feel”.
After Vodka came Gin, where a duo of Golds and a pair of Silvers were dished out. The first Gold went to Chestnut Aged Gin, which was “very floral, with some woody spice and coriander”, while the second was bestowed upon Gin Wellinghouse Premium – a “versatile” gin with “herbaceous botanicals and gentle spice”.
Moving on to the Cane Spirit/Cachaça, and the first Master of the day was awarded. The top award went to Cachaça Extra Premium Carvalho Europeu 12 Anos Dom Tápparo.
Neotia detected: “Rummy pineapple nose cut with sweet lemon and flaky almond pastry. Apricot and lemon tart on the palate. A stony mineral-laced finish. Exquisite, with none of the cachaça bitterness that sometimes manifests on the finish.”
In the Tequila round, Don Levi Tequila was awarded a Silver.
The Master standard continued in the next round, Agave Spirits, where one Master and two Golds were given, all to Indian agave spirit Pistola.
The brand’s Pistola Extra Añejo scored the highest, lauded for its notes of “light vanilla, cocoa powder, gentle oak spice. There’s a hint of black tea too, and chocolate-covered hazelnuts. It’s complex and sippable but could also work great in cocktails.”
Stablemates Pistola Añejo and Pistola Reposado went home with Golds, with the latter enjoyed for its “touch of coffee cake on the palate” and cooked agave.
Sotol impresses
A lone Sotol entrant saw a Gold go to Casa Lotos Sotol Blanco, which was praised for its “soft smoke on the nose with some creaminess and excellent texture”.
A Gold was also given out in the Calvados round to Père Magloire VSOP, which had “tonnes of baked apple and brown sugar on the nose”.
One rum also proved it was Master-worthy: Providencia Light Rum – Aged 1 Year.
Kiely said: “For 75% ABV, the nose is balanced. This is warm at 75% but very well-made alcohol. Neat, it’s creamy, toffee, fruity, and nutty. Water opens up the aroma, some stone fruits and grassy elements. Caramel sweetness on the palate, cooked apples, tarte Tatin, camomile tea. Very complex, versatile – impressive.”
Three Golds were awarded in the Rum heat. Ron Viejo de Caldas León Dormido Doble Roble offered an aroma of “dark sugar and desiccated coconut”. Dug Marketing secured a pair of Golds for its Tepuy Destino Rum and Tepuy Monumento Rum.
A strong showing in a tasting of American whiskeys led to two Masters and three Golds, all of which were awarded to Brother’s Bond Bourbon.
The first Master went to Brother’s Bond American Blended Rye Whiskey. Smith was impressed: “Chewy rye whiskey nose, with red fruit and dark cereal. Oily and chewy with some apple notes. A good fun dram with good mixing potential.” The brand’s Bottled‐In‐Bond Straight Bourbon Whiskey (50% ABV) also garnered high praise from the judges.
“Caramel and baking spices on nose, gingerbread and desiccated coconut, bitter orange oils with lovely fresh vanilla pod and creamed coconut, developing wood spices come through later, well integrated high ABV,” said Chambers of the Master winner.
Golds were also given to three Brother’s Bond whiskeys: Representative Grain Straight Bourbon, its core Straight Bourbon Whiskey; and the Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey. The latter, at 58% ABV, was enjoyed for its “layered sweet spice blend and extraordinary balance – despite the high proof”.
Moving away from American whiskeys, the judges then sampled some whiskies from around the world. In the World Whisky flight, a Gold was given to Argument – All Grains from Sweden’s Agitator Distillery. One judge noted its “dried grass and nice bittersweet herbal notes with a hint of caramel and evolving milk chocolate”.
Liqueurs shine
The largest flight of the day, Liqueurs, produced two Master winners: Soplica Pistachio, and Lazzaroni Panettone Cream Liqueur. Eichler said of Soplica Pistachio: “Sweet nutty and inviting on the nose, lovely creamy pistachio and milky white chocolate on the palate with a hint of salt and a rich nutty finish.”
Meanwhile, Lazzaroni Panettone Cream garnered a high commendation from Smith: “Fruit and butter sponge comes through, really capture the flavour of the panettone with the dried fruit too, simply superb. Genuinely surprised how much of the panettone flavour comes through on the palate. Wow!”
Three Golds were also awarded to expressions from Soplica, including Staropolska Original, which had an aroma of “vanilla and bitter orange” and “tangy orange and bitter green herbals on the palate”.
The flight concluded with four Silvers including one for Port Louiis Premium Herbal Liqueur.
The penultimate flight of our seasonal tasting, which tested ready-to-drink (RTD) products, led to a Gold for Smirnoff Ice. Judges enjoyed its “still-lemonade flavour” and “good carbonation”.
The competition ended with a Gold and two Silvers in a tasting of no-and-low products. Taking home Gold was Pernod Ricard’s Ramazzotti, which one judge described as having notes of “bitter orange, vanilla and a hint of peppery spice”.
After the competition, the judges reflected on the high standard of products they had sampled, noting several standout categories. For Eichler, liqueurs were a highlight. “They were next level on flavour profile. A lot of the time they tend to be synthetic, but these tasted natural.” Chambers also noted “quality across the board” in the American whiskey flight.
The tasting is also one of the more comprehensive competitions in The GMSC calendar, as Smith noted: “I’d say the real fun thing about the spring tasting is that you get to try a whole range of different products, and some spirits styles get to shine in the most unlikely places.”
| Vodka | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| CEDC International | Bols Marine | Gold |
| Diageo | Smirnoff No.21 | Gold |
| Gin | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| Agitator Distillery | Chestnut Aged Gin | Gold |
| Rola & Co | Gin Wellinghouse Premium | Gold |
| Orang Tua | Empire Gin | Silver |
| Vogis | Vogis Wild Cherry Gin | Silver |
| Cane Spirit/Cachaça | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| Dom Tápparo | Cachaça Extra Premium Carvalho Europeu 12 Anos Dom Tápparo | Master |
| Tequila | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| Don Levi Tequila | Don Levi Tequila | Silver |
| Agave Spirit | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| Maya Pistola | Pistola Extra Añejo | Master |
| Maya Pistola | Pistola Añejo | Gold |
| Maya Pistola | Pistola Reposado | Gold |
| Sotol | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| Thompson Beverages | Casa Lotos Sotol Blanco | Gold |
| Calvados | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| Spirit France Diffusion | Père Magloire VSOP | Gold |
| Rum | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| Providencia | Providencia Light Rum – Aged 1 Year | Master |
| Industria Licorera de Caldas | Ron Viejo de Caldas León Dormido Doble Roble | Gold |
| Dug Marketing | Tepuy Destino Rum | Gold |
| Dug Marketing | Tepuy Monumento Rum | Gold |
| 327 XO | 327 XO | Silver |
| American Whiskey | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| Brother’s Bond Bourbon | American Blended Rye Whiskey | Master |
| Brother’s Bond Bourbon | Bottled-In-Bond Straight Bourbon Whiskey | Master |
| Brother’s Bond Bourbon | Regenerative Grain Straight Bourbon Whiskey | Gold |
| Brother’s Bond Bourbon | Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey | Gold |
| Brother’s Bond Bourbon | Straight Bourbon Whiskey | Gold |
| World Whisky | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| Agitator Distillery | Argument – All Grains | Gold |
| Orang Tua | Keris Whisky | Silver |
| Agitator Distillery | The Swedish Malt | Silver |
| Liqueur | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| Soplica | Soplica Pistacchio | Master |
| Paolo Lazzaroni & Figli | Lazzaroni Panettone Cream Liqueur | Master |
| Soplica | Soplica Coffee | Gold |
| Soplica | Soplica Staropolska Cherry | Gold |
| Soplica | Soplica Staropolska Original | Gold |
| Soplica | Soplica Dragonfruit Melon | Silver |
| Soplica | Soplica Cactus Watermelon | Silver |
| Soplica | Soplica Lemon-Raspberry | Silver |
| House of Lords Beverages | Port Louiis Premium Herbal Liqueur | Silver |
| RTD | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| Diageo | Smirnoff Ice | Gold |
| Low/No | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| Pernod Ricard | Ramazzotti | Gold |
| Caleño Drinks | Caleño Dark & Spicy | Silver |
| Pernod Ricard | Lillet Blanc 0% | Silver |
Related news
Award winners: The Asian Spirits Masters 2026
