Diageo Brands Triumph At 10th Annual San Francisco World Spirits Competition

NORWALK, Conn., April 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Diageo brands were recognized across the board for their excellence at the 10th annual San Francisco World Spirits Competition, winning a grand total of 110 medals, 40 of which were gold or double gold medals. This year's San Francisco World Spirits Competition was the largest event in its history with 30 judges gathered at the Hotel Nikko in downtown San Francisco to reward spirits excellence by evaluating 1024 different spirits from 57 countries.

Whisk(e)y was the standout category for Diageo with an impressive 41 medals in total, including 14 double gold medals. Most notably, Bushmills was named the '"Best of Show Irish Whiskey" and Seagrams VO received the prestigious "Best of Show Canadian Whisky" award. Whether scotch, Irish or Canadian whisk(e)y, Diageo whisk(e)y brands saw multiple medals per brand. For example, the Bushmills family won an impressive six awards, all gold standard or above, including a Double Gold Medal for Black Bush Irish whiskey, while Johnnie Walker and Crown Royal each received six medals.

Diageo brands also performed very well in the liqueur, gin, tequila, rum and vodka categories, with most brands receiving multiple medals. Godiva and Baileys liqueurs won four medals a piece, including the highest accolade of "Best of Show liqueurs" and a double gold medal for Godiva White Chocolate liqueur. Additionally, as a testament to the high standard of Diageo brands, several double gold medals were awarded across the core spirits categories to Baileys Original Irish Cream liqueur, Gordon's gin, Jose Cuervo Tradicional Reposado tequila, Don Julio Anejo tequila and Pampero Aniversario rum. Smirnoff vodka, the world's largest selling premium spirit by volume, received 22 medals ranging from bronze to gold. Smirnoff's extensive range of flavored variants impressed the judges, and Smirnoff Raspberry was awarded a double gold medal.