The Luxury Spirits Masters 2025 results
The Luxury Masters puts the crème de la crème of the spirits world to the test to discover whether their quality matches their prices.
“Despite a challenging macroeconomic context, status spirits have remained remarkably resilient when compared to products in more mainstream price segments,” noted Guy Wolfe, head of status spirits insights at IWSR Drinks Market Analysis, when the data provider shared its status spirits findings this time last year. The most up-to-date figures are yet to be disclosed – but it still painted a, perhaps, surprisingly positive picture for the higher end of the market, despite economic turbulences. Then again, it could be due to consumers who shop in the status spirits price bracket (US$100+) being more affluent and less affected by cost-of-living changes.
“While the above-average wealth of the status spirits buyer means the market is more insulated, recent challenges for status spirits have demonstrated the importance of discipline regarding stock and the value of a wide footprint,” Wolfe added. “Innovation and a laser focus on the consumer will be key to maintaining growth.”
Assess the products
But it’s widely agreed that a high price tag does not correlate to a high-quality product. That’s where The Luxury Masters 2025 comes into play. The aim of the annual blind tasting is to assess the standard of products in the super-premium-and-above segments.
Five panels of judges assembled at The Singer Tavern in London in September. The first panel included Richard Legg, founder of Distilled Knowledge; independent sustainability consultant Antony Moss; and Nicola Carruthers, deputy editor of The Spirits Business, who chaired the group. The second team was chaired by Anne Jones, director of Limestone & Jones, who was joined by Sarah Miller, founder of the Gin A Ding Ding blog. Making up the third group were Matt Chambers and Karen Taylor, who are directors and founders of Whisky For Everyone. The fourth set of judges included Dan Greifer, bar supervisor at London’s Black Parrot, who chaired, and Vicky Ilankovan, executive director of non-profit organisation Equal Measures UK. Forming the final panel was Bryan Rodriguez-Curtis, spirits buyer at Bottle Apostle, who chaired, and Emily Webster, senior PR and marketing manager at The Whisky Exchange.
In the opening Gin – Ultra-Premium heat (£36/US$49 and above) a Master medal was bestowed upon Cygnet 77. The judges praised the product’s “sweet, honeyed aroma; the rest of the gin is harmonious and integrated – lovely silky palate”. A trio of Gold medals – including one for “well-balanced, fresh and vibrant” Renais Grand Cru Cask-Aged Gin – were also awarded in the flight, alongside three Silver medals.
Moss noted: “This was a successful overall flight. Brands are finding diversity in the category and the use of oak was done well.”
Three more Gold medals and one Silver were awarded in the Vodka – Ultra-Premium (£31+) round that followed. The Gold recipients were: “creamy, smooth, very appealing” Król IV Luxury Organic Vodka; “full-bodied on the palate with lemon citrus” Lex by Nemiroff; and “vanilla fudge, super smooth” Vodka 57 Pure Glacier Vodka.
Courvoisier VS collected a Gold medal in the Cognac – VS – Super-Premium round, described as “rich and sumptuous, with hints of orchard fruits, dried prunes, and raisins”.
The following Cognac – VSOP – Super-Premium heat also fared well for Courvoisier, as the brand’s VSOP bottling picked up a Gold award. The judges enjoyed the Cognac’s “dried fruit” aroma, which led to “sweetened candied apple and ripe red fruits” on the palate. More success was enjoyed as the judges moved to the Cognac – XO – Ultra-Premium heat. Rémy Martin XO was one of three Gold winners. The Cognac was “complex and rather good”, commented Legg. The spirit presented “rich raisin and spices, lifted by floral notes”.
JCB Eloquence also collected a Gold medal in the flight, praised for its hints of “orange oil and almost tropical notes on the finish”.
Completing the Gold run in this flight was Courvoisier XO, which showed “plenty of harmonious fruit and a good evolution of flavour”. Stablemate Courvoisier XO Royal received a Silver medal.
Domaines Francis Abecassis gave a positive performance in the Cognac – VS – Single Estate flight, where it secured two Golds and an equal number of Silvers. The Gold medals went to Grands Domaines Cognac VS, with “stewed apples and pears, and a strong finish”, and ABK6 Cognac VS, which begins with “oak but opens up beautifully to brown sugar and stewed fruits”.
Floral development
The brand kicked things up a notch in the following flight: Cognac – VSOP – Single Estate. A top Master award was handed to Rêve Bleu Cognac VSOP, whose aroma had a “lovely juicy white grape character with warming honey”. The palate showed “floral development, a touch of baking spices and a little orange-peel spritz”. Two Silvers (also for Domaines Francis Abecassis products) completed the flight.
In the final Cognac heat, Cognac – XO – Single Estate, a Gold medal went to Grands Domaines Cognac XO, which was full of “rich fruity sweetness, jasmine and honeysuckle, with white peach, and lemon oil”. A Silver rounded off the flight.
From there, the judges looked at brandy, starting with the VS – Super-Premium round. A Gold medal was awarded to “well-rounded, delicious” Alexandrion 9, said to be “like a flavour bomb in the mouth”.
In the XO – Super-Premium brandy sector, a Silver medal was given to “rich and robust” Divin Kvint XO Aged 15 Years.
Scotch whiskies were scrutinised next, beginning with a flight of super-premium single malts. The Glenturret Triple Wood 2025 Release took a coveted Silver, with some “sweet grain and raisin notes”.
The ultra-premium single malts really showed their best wares. Six Master medals were awarded in the flight – five of which went to Scotch whiskies from The Glenmorangie Company.
First up, Glenmorangie Signet impressed with its “hint of tropical fruit, orange, plenty of green apple, toffee and caramel”. “Highly expressive yet elegant” Ardbeg Vintage Y2K 23 Years Old also secured a Master, with “iodine, sea spray and gentle smoke – but nothing overpowering or aggressive. Superb.”
Also deemed to be Master worthy were “smoky, seaweed, herbaceous with delicate sweetness” Ardbeg Traigh Bhan Batch 7 and Ardbeg Traigh Bhan Batch 6, which was “quite meaty in places, intense but perfectly balanced, and well put together”.
Glenmorangie Infinita 18 Years Old also received a Master after demonstrating “a touch of coffee and mocha, beautiful texture, and a good level of autumnal spice”.
Collecting the sixth Master award in this flight was the Scotch Malt Whisky Society for 66.258 – Wood-Smoked Walnut Gâteau. The aroma showcased “cherries and vanilla with an underlying barbecue smoke”, leading to a “well-integrated palate of fruit, woodiness and barbecue smoke”.
Six Gold medals and three Silver awards completed the successful round, leaving much excitement across the panels who sampled the entrants.
Looking at World Whisky – Super-Premium, and a Gold medal was given to Seagram’s Longitude 77 Indian Single Malt Whisky for its “rich, toffee, sweet nose and lots of candied fruit on the palate”.
In the upper price bracket (ultra-premium) for world whisky, Copenhagen Distillery secured a Master medal for Raw No. 5. The judges celebrated the “very light whisper of smoked hay, cured meats, petit pois and crackers” on the nose, leaving them intrigued to discover more. “Juicy citrus fruit, woody warmth and waxy, nutty characteristics –lovely dryness and a background of orchard fruits,” commented Ilankovan. A trio of Gold medals, including one for Indri Diwali Collector’s Edition 2025 – Marsala Cask, with “pleasant fruit and baked plums”, were also enjoyed, plus one Silver winner.
From there, the judges moved to American whiskeys, beginning with Bourbon – Aged up to 7 Years. A Gold medal was handed to Brother’s Bond Bottled-In-Bond Straight Bourbon Whiskey. The judges praised the whiskey’s “grain character and fruit” aromas, which led to “dark sugar, some baking spices and some florality – not your typical Bourbon, but delicious”.
In the American Whiskey – Rye – Ultra-Premium round, Beyoncé’s SirDavis American Whisky took a Gold medal for its “shortbread and biscuit” aromas, with “traditional notes on the palate of white pepper, a light meadow-flower florality. More biscuity notes and caramel follow through on the palate.”
With the whisky heats done and dusted, it was time to see what super-premium-plus rum had to offer. A pair of Gold medals were found in the Gold/Dark – Super-Premium contingent. Zacapa No. 23 was liked for its “stewed compote on top of flan” flavour, while Gold-winning Santa Teresa 1796 had notes of “golden syrup, baking spices, and cola cubes”.
In the Ultra-Premium portion of the category, two Masters were uncovered. The first was awarded to La Hechicera Serie Experimental No.2 – The Banana Experiment. “Ripe fresh banana on the nose,” helped cement its Master medal, along with “a strong, velvety texture and more ripe, fresh banana notes” on the palate.
Master winner Ron Santiago de Cuba 20 Years Old Extra Añejo Gran Reserva left an impression with “notes of jasmine, incense and wood spice” in the aroma, and “balanced richness, spice, roasted kola nut, a touch of capsicum and a touch of sweetness”.
Six Gold medals were also enjoyed – including “balanced, silky smooth” Havana Club Don Navarro II – along with three Silvers.
Agave spirits were next in line to be judged, starting with Tequila – Blanco – Ultra-Premium. Casa Obsidiana Blanco bagged a Gold medal for its “fresh, green and earthy” notes, with “sugary sweetness and green herbal notes” towards the finish.
Its stablemate Casa Obsidiana Reposado also received a Gold medal in the Tequila – Reposado – Ultra-Premium heat, after displaying “some green apple, lots of vanilla and a creamy texture”. Two Silvers were awarded to “oaky and zesty” Patrón El Alto and Casa Malka Reposado, with its “silky mouthfeel and plenty of vanilla and toffee”.
In the final Tequila round, Añejo – Ultra-Premium, “lovely aromatic” Casa Obsidiana Añejo was bestowed with a Gold award. A Silver completed the flight.
The judges switched to mezcal, starting with Mezcal – Joven. A Master accolade was given to Pelo del Perro Espadín Mezcal Artesanal Joven. Tasting notes included “chargrilled green tomato and capsicum on the nose, leading to earthy and smoky notes with a pinch of white pepper, citrus, sugar syrup and a slight ashy note”. Desolas Blanco took a Gold medal in the Mezcal – Blanco round, and Desolas Reposado was given a Master in the Mezcal – Reposado section, for its “bright and citrussy” aroma, which develops on the palate into “elegant spice, a sweet, silky and velvety mouthfeel”.
It was down to the last couple of flights, and in the Liqueur round, a Gold medal was presented to Amaro dell’Etna 120th Anniversary Riserva. “The palate is sweet, thick and juicy with lots of brewed tea,” said Greifer. Finishing the tasting was Low & No, which found a Silver medallist in alcohol-free The Green One by Toby & Co, which had a “nice level of carbonation”, and was “refreshing and well-balanced”.
The judges retasted the Master winners to determine this year’s Luxury Taste Master winner, which was Pelo del Perro Espadín Mezcal Artesanal Joven.
Mezcals and Scotch whiskies were the leaders in this year’s blind tasting, as the medals show. And the takeaway from the day’s tasting was that both variety and quality are abundant at this end of the price spectrum. It’s therefore not too hard to see why the prestige market continues to perform so well – and will hopefully continue to do so in the future.
| Gin – Ultra-Premium | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| Cygnet Distillery | Cygnet 77 | Master |
| Paloseco Spirits | Paloseco One Gin | Gold |
| Berry Bros. & Rudd | No.3 London Dry Gin | Gold |
| Renais Spirits | Renais Grand Cru Cask-Aged Gin | Gold |
| Cygnet Distillery | Cygnet 22 | Silver |
| MG Destilerias | Le Tribute Countryside Luxury Gin | Silver |
| Neo Blue Distillery | ORB | Silver |
| Vodka – Ultra-Premium | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| GB Brandz | Król IV Luxury Organic Vodka | Gold |
| Nemiroff | Lex by Nemiroff | Gold |
| Vodka 57 | Vodka 57 Pure Glacier Vodka | Gold |
| Royal Mash Vodka | Royal Mash Vodka | Silver |
| Cognac – vs – Super-Premium | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| Courvoisier | Courvoisier VS | Gold |
| Cognac – VSOP – Super-Premium | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| Courvoisier | Courvoisier VSOP | Gold |
| Cognac – XO – Ultra-Premium | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| Rémy Martin | Rémy Martin XO | Gold |
| Boisset Collection | JCB Eloquence | Gold |
| Courvoisier | Courvoisier XO | Gold |
| Courvoisier | Courvoisier XO Royal | Silver |
| Cognac – vs – Single Estate | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| Domaines Francis Abecassis | Grands Domaines Cognac VS | Gold |
| Domaines Francis Abecassis | ABK6 Cognac vs | Gold |
| Domaines Francis Abecassis | Leyrat Cognac VS | Silver |
| Domaines Francis Abecassis | Réviseur Cognac VS | Silver |
| Cognac – VSOP – Single Estate | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| Domaines Francis Abecassis | Rêve Bleu Cognac VSOP | Master |
| Domaines Francis Abecassis | Grands Domaines Cognac VSOP | Silver |
| Domaines Francis Abecassis | Leyrat Cognac VSOP | Silver |
| Cognac – XO – Single Estate | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| Domaines Francis Abecassis | Grands Domaines Cognac XO | Gold |
| Domaines Francis Abecassis | Leyrat Cognac XO Elite | Silver |
| Brandy – VS – Super-Premium | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| Alexandrion Saber Distilleries 1789 | Alexandrion 9 | Gold |
| Brandy – XO – Super-Premium | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| CJSC Tiraspol Winery & Distillery Kvint | Divin Kvint XO Age 15 Years | Silver |
| Scotch Whisky – Single Malt – Super-Premium | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| Lalique | The Glenturret Triple Wood 2025 Release | Silver |
| Scotch Whisky – Single Malt – Ultra-Premium | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| Scotch Malt Whisky Society | 66.258 – Wood-Smoked Walnut Gâteau | Master |
| The Glenmorangie Company | Glenmorangie Signet | Master |
| The Glenmorangie Company | Ardbeg Vintage Y2K 23 Years Old | Master |
| The Glenmorangie Company | Ardbeg Traigh Bhan Batch 7 | Master |
| The Glenmorangie Company | Glenmorangie Infinita 18 Years Old | Master |
| The Glenmorangie Company | Ardbeg Traigh Bhan Batch 6 | Master |
| The Glenmorangie Company | Glenmorangie Signet Reserve | Gold |
| The Glenmorangie Company | Ardbeg 25 Years Old | Gold |
| Eden Mill St Andrews | The Art of St Andrews 2025 | Gold |
| The Scotch Malt Whisky Society | 36.228 – The Snaking Coil | Gold |
| The Scotch Malt Whisky Society | 4.396 – Heather Ember | Gold |
| The Scotch Malt Whisky Society | 53.481 – Gastronomic Beachcombing | Gold |
| The Scotch Malt Whisky Society | 64.148 – Apple Wax | Silver |
| Diageo | The Singleton Glen Ord 12 Years Old | Silver |
| Lalique | The Glenturret 15 Years Old 2025 Release | Silver |
| World Whisky – Super-Premium | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| Pernod Ricard India | Seagram’s Longitude 77 Indian Single Malt Whisky | Gold |
| World Whisky – Ultra-Premium | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| Copenhagen Distillery | Raw No. 5 | Master |
| Copenhagen Distillery | Rare No. 4 | Gold |
| Piccadily Agro Industries | Indri Diwali Collector’s Edition 2025 – Marsala Cask | Gold |
| Piccadily Agro Industries | Indri Founder’s Reserve 11 Years Old | Gold |
| Alexandrion Saber Distilleries 1789 | Carpathian Single Malt Whisky Peated Sherry Cask Strength | Silver |
| American Whiskey – Bourbon – Aged up to 7 Years | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| Brother’s Bond Bourbon | Brother’s Bond Bottled-In-Bond Straight Bourbon Whiskey | Gold |
| American Whiskey – Rye – Ultra-Premium | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| SirDavis American Whisky | SirDavis American Whisky | Gold |
| Rum – Gold/Dark – Super Premium | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| Ron Zacapa | Zacapa No. 23 | Gold |
| Ron Santa Teresa | Santa Teresa 1796 | Gold |
| Rum – Gold/Dark – Ultra-Premium | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| La Hechicera Company | La Hechicera Serie Experimental No. 2 – The Banana Experiment | Master |
| Ron Santiago de Cuba | Ron Santiago de Cuba 20 Years Old Extra Añejo Gran Reserva | Master |
| Ron Zacapa | Zacapa Edición Negra | Gold |
| Ron Zacapa | Zacapa XO | Gold |
| Havana Club International | Havana Club Icónica Gran Reserva Añejo 15 Años | Gold |
| Havana Club International | Havana Club Don Navarro II | Gold |
| Ron Santiago de Cuba | Ron Santiago de Cuba Extra Añejo 11 Years Old | Gold |
| La Hechicera Company | La Hechicera Serie Experimental No. 1 – The Muscat Experiment | Gold |
| Ron Santiago de Cuba | Ron Santiago de Cuba Extra Añejo 12 Years Old | Silver |
| La Hechicera Company | La Hechicera Reserva Familiar | Silver |
| Havana Club International | Havana Club 11 Years Old | Silver |
| Tequila – Blanco – Ultra-Premium | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| Boisset Collection | Casa Obsidiana Blanco | Gold |
| Tequila – Reposado – Ultra-Premium | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| Boisset Collection | Casa Obsidiana Reposado | Gold |
| Patrón Tequila | Patrón El Alto | Silver |
| Casa Malka | Casa Malka Reposado | Silver |
| Tequila – Añejo – Ultra-Premium | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| Boisset Collection | Casa Obsidiana Añejo | Gold |
| Hacien Tequila | Hacien Tequila Añejo Cristalino | Silver |
| Mezcal – Joven | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| Pelo del Perro | Espadín Mezcal Artesanal Joven | Master & Taste Master |
| Pelo del Perro | Madrecuishe Mezcal Artesanal Joven | Gold |
| Mezcal – Blanco | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| Desolas | Desolas Blanco | Gold |
| Mezcal – Reposado | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| Desolas | Desolas Reposado | Master |
| Liqueur | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| Amaro dell’Etna | 120th Anniversary Riserva | Gold |
| Low & No | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| Toby & Co | The Green One by Toby & Co | Silver |
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