Diageo Whisk(e)y brands continued to triumph, earning a total of 43 medals in the Whisk(e)y category, including ten double gold medals. Johnnie Walker dominated with eight overall medals, including a double gold. While Bulleit Bourbon, Orphan Barrel and the soon-to-be-launched The Hilhaven Lodge Straight American Whiskey also brought home double gold medals, Diageo scotches fared remarkably well, earning seven of the highly-coveted medals. A longstanding leader in the category, Diageo is passionate about Scotch and is known for making some of the very best whisky that Scotland can produce. Diageo is proud to have generations of craftspeople in their coppersmiths, cooperage, distilleries and warehouses who are carrying on their family traditions in whisky making, and sharing their skills, experience and enthusiasm with the next generation.
"The San Francisco Spirits Competition continues to elevate industry standards year after year and it is exciting to see the hard work of our craftspeople recognized at this level," commented Deirdre Mahlan, President, Diageo North America. "While it's particularly rewarding to consider the achievements of our whiskey brands, we are also deeply proud that our liquids earned honors across categories, including tequila, vodka, rum, gin, liqueurs, mezcal and cachaça."
A full breakdown of Diageo’s winning brands at the 2016 San Francisco World Spirits Competition is available on request, and all of the double gold and gold medal winners can be found below.
Double Gold:
Bulleit Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Caol Ila 12 Year Old
Glenkinchie 12 Year Old
Johnnie Walker Blue Label
Lagavulin 16 Year Old
Oban Little Bay
Orphan Barrel 21 Year Old Rhetoric Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Port Dundas 18 Year Old
Smoky Goat Blended Scotch
The Hilhaven Lodge Straight American Whiskey
Gold:
Baileys Pumpkin Spice Cream Liqueur
Booth’s Finest Dry Gin Cask Mellowed
Buchanan's 12 Year Old Deluxe
Bulleit Barrel Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Clynelish 14 Year Old
Cragganmore 12 Year Old
Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye Whisky
Dalwhinnie 15 Year Old
Johnnie Walker 15 Year Green Label
Johnnie Walker Black Label
Johnnie Walker Gold Label
Mezcal Union El Viejo Mezcal
Oban 14 Year Old
Ypióca Cinco Chaves Cachaça
"As Alcohol Responsibility Month, April’s a great time to learn more about the importance of enjoying these award-winning brands responsibly," said Guy Smith, EVP, Diageo North America. "For more information on responsible drinking, visit Diageo's newly-revamped global drinking resource DRINKiQ.com and responsibility.org."
About The San Francisco World Spirits Competition
The San Francisco World Spirits Competition, the largest, most influential international spirits competition in America, is judged by a prestigious panel of nationally recognized spirits experts. Judging is based on a blind, consensual procedure, ensuring competitive integrity as it remains the nation's most respected spirits competition. For more information about the competition visit https://www.sfspiritscomp.com/.
