About Ultimate Spirits Challenge
Ultimate Spirits Challenge
March 5–9, 2012
Astor Center, New York City
- Mission: To ascertain which spirits brands taste the best when matched up against their categorical peers as evaluated in multiple stages by qualified experts in a tightly controlled and conducive environment. The purpose of USC is to systemically cull from the pack and reward those distilled beverages which in the collective and numerically arrived at opinion of the judges standout in their respective categories, showing uncommon quality.
- Chairman of Judging: F. Paul Pacult: educator/author/journalist,
publisher of F. Paul Pacult’s Spirit Journal & founding partner of Beverage Alcohol Resource (BAR). - Co-Chairman of Judging: Sean Ludford: editor of BevX on-line newsletter.
Ultimate Spirits Challenge Judging Format – How It Works
Panels of highly qualified experts blind taste/evaluate flights of distilled spirits by classifications within major spirits categories, employing a custom-created, multistage format. Judges record their findings on a worksheet on which they score each product on the 100-point scale.
Multiple 3-person panels of judges are formed. The products from each category that score 90 or more undergo another level of evaluation by UBC panels of experts to arrive at the best products from each greater category. Final scores are derived from the cumulative total in order to allow each product multiple chances to shine. Each category will have a coveted “Chairman’s Trophy” winner selected from the Finalists.
The spirits are served under ideal clinical conditions at proper temperatures. For instance, vodkas are served chilled (40-45 degrees Fahrenheit) to enhance how they taste properly chilled. Whiskeys, served at room temperature, are judged first neat and then with the addition of clean mineral water when appropriate and then scored both ways.
Ultimate Spirits Challenge Scoring Procedures
Products whose aggregate scores are from 95-100 are cited with “Category Benchmark/Ultimate Recommendation”; those with aggregate scores of 90-94 will be cited with the designation “Excellent/Highly Recommended”; those with aggregate scores between 85-89 will be cited with the designation “Very Good/Strongly Recommended”; and those with aggregate scores between 80-84 will be cited as “Good/Recommended”.