BELGIUM

KeyPharm Laboratories, Belgien, 8020 Oostkamp, Siemenslaan 11, +32-50-289230, www.theherbalist.bio
Classification: World-Spirits Award Participant 2019
Silver: The Herbalist

CHINA

Kweichow Moutai, Frankreich, 16100 Cognac, 29 rue Marguerite de Navarre, +33-545-322828, www.camus.fr
Classification: World-Spirits Award Participant 2019
Gold: KWEICHOW MOUTAI - Legendary China Collection, Edition Dufu

Gin: Soaring for the fourth year

Just as it should be, shortly after the registration deadline for the WSA 2019, we were already overbooked. Our gut feeling was that the zenith of 2018 with 80 products had been far exceeded. However, once the products had been entered into our database for tasting, came the (not so) sobering news that over 90 gins had been entered. Looking at the last four years, the trajectory of this legendary juniper drink has been simply amazing. For us it meant nearly two whole days of ‘gin work’. But what has changed? The New Western Style Gins are clearly trending, with producers hoping to hit the mark when it comes to contemporary taste and fully explore the playground of gin making. But what does that mean for WSA tasting?

Photos from the Award Celebration 2018 in Distillery Hubertus Vallendar at Kail/Mosel (Germany). 19 x Awards and Spirits of the Year as well as 11 x Distilleries of the Year - that's the brand-new result.

It is not until the Award-giving Ceremony that WSA participants learn about the complete results and be surprised with a possible win of the bonus title "Distillery of the Year" or even the "World-Spirits Award".

Award-Celebration 22. März 2018, 16.00 Uhr:

Brennerei Hubertus Vallendar GmbH & Co KG
Hubertus Vallendar
Hauptstraße 11
56829 Kail, Germany
Tel.: +49-2672-913552, Fax: +49-2672-913554
www.vallendar.de

8x8 is our formula for magic. Eight tasters will taste about 450 samples over the course of eight days. We often receive inquiries from top tasters whether they can work with us. However, regardless of credential, all our jury have to undergo the WSA trainings. Just as an airline trains its pilots, we also train our tasters. Each year, a 3-day fine-tuning session is held in June as part of the WSA Academy to ensure our jury stay up-to-date and competent in performing the best possible assessment for products we receive from around the world.

In order for the judge panel of eight to be "served" in a way that they can work alongside the important assessment parameters most accurately possible, all products must be analyzed for its added sugar content. It is important to know whether a product is made with or without added sugar. This does not affect the product, but the information is important for the overall assessment. Dr. Robert Leubolt and his assistant Sissy have been the team of specialists that we rely on for many years.

The “World Spirits Guide 2020” has been published – indispensable for friends of spirits from all around the world. The main focus of the content is:
• Hit list of all award-winning products of the WSA 2019
• Distillery classifications
• 106 distillery portraits of the best spirits worldwide
• Tips and trends

Photos from the Award Celebration 2017 in Asbach Distillery at Rüdesheim am Rhein (Germany). Distillers win 14 x Awards, 15 x Spirits of the Year and 10 x Distilleries of the Year worldwide.

The superstars at the World Spirits Award 2019 once again come from Germany, Austria and Switzerland: 14 x Awards, 16 Spirits of the Year as well as 10 x Distilleries of the Year – that’s the brand-new result.

It is great to see that the World Spirits Award is in such demand. For the second year running, over 50 samples could not be tasted because they were submitted after the official deadline for registration. Our full house is certainly also a testimony to the esteem and quality of this unique worldwide spirits award and classification.

The "World Spirits Award" is known among connoisseurs as the highest quality spirits award in the world. The contents and topics are presented on the website www.world-spirits.com. You can find results of the competitions from the past 10 years by utilizing the special tools WSA Spirits-Finder and the WSA Spirits-Calculator. These features are - like many other interesting channels - accessible via registration on our official website.

Two years ago we commissioned Wolfgang Egarter from IT-Solutions to program these tools as an app for IOS devices. The result is impressive and can be downloaded for free via the App Store.

The "Master of World Spirits" will be offered this year again. Take advantage of this rare opportunity as it only takes place every three years. Of course, the "Basic Class" as well as the "Master Class" and the "Sniff Class" will be hosted in June as well. Please note that the deadline for registration is 1 March and the participation fee must be paid by then, participation is unfortunately otherwise not possible.

After the tasting weekends in January, the participants will be notified of their results and they may order medal stickers for their products or conclude license agreements with us, which are primarily for direct advertise on the bottle or as part of the packaging. Participants are welcome to advertise with our brand on all media platforms for free to promote their products with their participation in the WSA.

It is often a mystery to most people exactly what goes on behind the scenes at the "World-Spirits award," but take a peek backstage, and you'd see Wolfram, Barbara and Joanne work continuously throughout the year on the organization and execution of the World-Spirits Award as well as the "World-Spirits Academy" sensory training courses. And that doesn't even include the massive collaboration with the jury, chemist, writer, graphic designer, translators, consultant, production companies for medals, classification boards, medal stickers, diplomas, shipping companies, freight forwarders, import and customs duties, and four IT companies that work around the clock for the maintenance of database, the website and the presentation on the Internet. All in all: an unbelievable amount of labor, creativity and unfortunately, cost as well.

On Wednesday, October 4, for those keen to learn a thing or two about distilling can look over the shoulders of Wolfram Ortner during the process of a "Spirit Still" (the making of a higher and purer alcohol also referred to as High Wines) from a Sauvignon Blanc distillation. From 7.00 (GMT +2 summertime) to 8.00 PM, you get to be a part of the production process -- cutting the head, heart and tail. The highlight will be the master introducing his brand-new electronic control panel. Ask questions via live chat in German or English, and get an answer right away. In the future, further topics on "distilling" and "sensoric training" with master distiller Wolfram Ortner will be available at www.world-spirits.com and www.wob.at. Details (content and dates) can be found on the websites mentioned.

The World Spirits Award is known amongst experts as being the highest quality spirits award in the world. You now have the possibility to access the results directly, all the way back to 2008, using the WSA Spirits Finder. The WSA app (in German and English) has the following functions, which are available free of charge:

• WSA Spirits Finder
• WSA Spirits Calculator
• WSA Website

Detailed information on the approx. 3,500 spirits - from A for Asbach Uralt to Z for Zwack Unicum: producers around the globe, from manufacture to industry (with direct links to the websites), products ranging from absinthe, Armagnac and Moutai to tequila and plum distillates (some with photos). You can select distilleries, restrict your search to medals or WSA years, choose a special brand or a special product, and much more. The basis for this high quality data pool are the results of the professional jury at the annual World Spirits Award. The app also includes verbal descriptions of brand-name products and the exact number of points they received (maximum 100 WOB points), and thus offers profound information on the price/performance ratio.

The Spirits Calculator is primarily designed for the catering and hotel sector, but can also be used by private individuals and professionals to calculate prices. It is basically a pocket calculator with modern technology and functions, which, in just a few steps, enables the calculation of spirits per portion - at the bar, in the restaurant, in the café or wherever else you might be. It doesn't matter in which country you want to calculate your spirits - this service tool includes all the important parameters. The core function is the absolute calculation and not the percentage calculation of spirits. You can also enter the net income per portion and in doing so, as well as the costs such as service charges and VAT, you can also receive a customer-friendly price, which you can also print.

In addition, as a registered user you will also have access to the protected area on the World Spirits website, where you can find information from the spirits world which is hidden from non-users.
The WSA motto is "Simply the Best in Spirits"! And, with the new WSA app, you will become part of the community, who are sure to benefit from our life's work in "spirits" and be a "spiritual" step ahead.

Have fun on your journey through the world of spirits!
Yours,
Wolfram Ortner