By The Producers of SommCon®
SommCon’s® Concours d’Spirits presented by The SOMM Journal is an impartial competition of domestic and international spirits judged by sommeliers during SommCon’s West Coast conference in San Diego, California. The inaugural competition was held November 14 at the InterContinental hotel and judged by an expert panel of world-renowned leaders in the wine and spirits industry.
Winning a Concours d’Spirits medal means the spirit was chosen as a representative of its category by sommeliers whose palates are at the height of their field.
Here are the 2019 rankings:
SommCon® is proud to announce the medal award winners of the inaugural Concours d’Spirits with Silver, Gold, Double Gold, and The SOMM Journal Award of Excellence medals.
The 2019 Concours d’Spirits medal winners include:
Award of Excellence
Chatham Imports | Crop Cucumber Vodka
E &. J. Gallo Winery | New Amsterdam Gin (Silver)
Heritage Distilling Co. | Brown Sugar Bourbon
Legends Spirits | Duke Grand Cru Founder’s Reserve
Legends Spirits | La Adelita Añejo Tequila
Double Gold Medal
E &. J. Gallo Winery | E. & J. XO Brandy
E&. J. Gallo Winery | Familia Camarena Añejo Tequila
Haas Brothers | Panamá–Pacific Rum 23-Year
J.J. Pfister Distilling Company | J.J. Pfister London Dry Capitol Gin
Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic Spirit Co. | Lyre’s Vermouth Rosso
Gold Medal
Brown Forman Corporation | Slane Irish Whiskey
Chatham Imports | Farmer’s Botanical Small Batch Organic Gin
E &. J. Gallo Winery | E & J VSOP Brandy
E &. J. Gallo Winery | Argonaut Saloon Strength Brandy
E &. J. Gallo Winery | Familia Camarena Reposado Tequila
E &. J. Gallo Winery | High Noon Sun Sips – Grapefruit
Haas Brothers | Panamá–Pacific Rum 9-Year
Haas Brothers | ArteNOM Selección de 1579 Blanco Tequila
Haas Brothers | Fuenteseca Cosecha Blanco 3-year
MGP Ingredients | George Remus Repeal Reserve Bourbon
MGP Ingredients | Rossville Union Barrel Proof Straight Rye Whiskey
Silver Medal
Chatham Imports | Martí Auténtico Plata Single Estate Rum 3-year
Chatham Imports | Martí Auténtico Dorado Single Estate Rum 3-year
Duggans Distillers | Asbach Privat Brandy 8-Year
E &. J. Gallo Winery | Argonaut Fat Thumb Brandy
E &. J. Gallo Winery | Familia Camarena Silver Tequila
E &. J. Gallo Winery | High Noon Sun Sips – Pineapple
E &. J. Gallo Winery | High Noon Sun Sips – Black Cherry
E &. J. Gallo Winery | New Amsterdam Vodka
E &. J. Gallo Winery | New Amsterdam Vodka 100 Proof
E &. J. Gallo Winery | New Amsterdam Original Gin
E &. J. Gallo Winery | E. & J. VS Brandy
Haas Brothers | Don Amado Resposado Mezcal
Haas Brothers | Tequila Purasangre Blanco Fuerte
Heritage Distilling Co. | Heritage Brown Sugar Bourbon (103 Proof)
Legends Spirits | La Adelita Blanco Tequila
Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic Spirit Co. | White Cane Spirit
Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic Spirit Co. | Triple Sec
Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic Spirit Co. | Dry Vermouth
The Concours d’Spirits judging panel is comprised of Master Sommeliers and professional somms within the wine and spirits industry including:
- Eric Entrikin, Master Sommelier and Chair of Concours d’Spirits
- Meridith May, Publisher of The Tasting Panel and The SOMM Journal
- Erik Segelbaum, Founder and Principal of SOMLYAY, LLC
- Constantin Alexander, Director of Beverage of Hakkasan Group
- Ira Norof, CSE, CWE, and Director of Education of Southern Glazer Wine & Spirits
- Maurice DiMarino, Director of Beverage of Cohn Restaurant Group
- Joe Spellman, Master Sommelier and Winery Sommelier for JUSTIN Vineyards and Winery
- Michael Kim Wolf, Associate Professor of Culinary Institute of America at Greystone
- Josh Orr, Master Sommelier and Regional Manager of Broadbent Selections
- Anthony Schmidt, Beverage Director of CH Projects
