Baijiu is at once the most consumed spirit in the world, and the most foreign to spirit lovers outside of China. The intrigue that surrounds it is palpable, and the intense flavors can be deliciously compelling, even at high prices. Moutai, the infamous sauce flavored baijiu, has no problem selling for $160 per 375ml bottle. Unique, pungent, and with a high score of 96 Points, it’s a benchmark spirit.
The rye whiskey category has been steadily growing over the past few years. In 2018, Ultimate Spirit Challenge evaluated over 30 ryes, the vast majority scoring 90 Points or above. This resurgence in rye is bringing with it a bigger range of quality and craft spirits, and consumers are willing to pay for it. While rye has largely been considered a value driven category in the past, some of the prices we are seeing on newer bottlings may mean serious competition for other established whiskey categories like Scotch and bourbon.
It seems like there’s a new brand of Mezcal entering the United States every week! The opportunity to have your spirits blind tasted alongside other established brands by world class spirits judges has its benefits. Los Vecinos Del Campo submitted two mezcales to the 2018 Ultimate Spirits Challenge and both earned high scores of 94 Points, with the Espadin also winning a Great Value award.
In the world of flavored rum, there is one that stands out: Plantation Pineapple. With the high score of 95 Points and a Chairman’s Trophy at Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2018 this rum impresses the USC judges year after year. Made by both infusing and distilling with pineapples the flavor is rich and layered throughout.