U
ltimate Cocktail Challenge is the
most innovative cocktail competi-
tion in the world and is really two com-
petitions in one. It is innovative because
over the course of three days the fore-
most cocktail authorities from around
the world assess first how spirit product
entries react in Classic Cocktails. For ex-
ample, Ultimate Cocktail Challenge judg-
es determine which gin makes the tastiest
Dry Martini. They also discover through
rigorous testing which gin makes the best
Aviation and Negroni, two other acknowl-
edged gin-based cocktail classics.
Then they test tequila in Margaritas,
El Diablos and Fresa Verdes and more
and brandies in Sidecars and whiskeys
in Manhattans and Old Fashioneds
and on and on. The point is to ascer-
tain which popular brands of each
spirit category react the best in reci-
pes that have defined the cocktail for
decades as well as the present day. Af-
ter all, it has been the Classic Cocktails
that gave rise to the current cocktail re-
naissance. Ultimate Cocktail Challenge’s
primary focus is with the Classics.
Additionally, however, UltimateCocktail
Challenge assiduously examines Signature
Cocktails, wherein cocktail recipes are cre-
ated for specific spirits brands. Those re-
sults can be viewed on the UBC website.
The focus of this buying
guide is on Ultimate Cock-
tailChallenge’sClassic
Cocktail results for
2012.
In it, you will dis-
cover which rummade
the best Mojito, Daiquiri,
Fog-Cutter and Mai Tai. When
you visit
you will also gain access to the reci-
pes so you can make these cocktails
at home.
14
ultimate beverage challenge
2012
guide to the world’s BEST SPIRITS, COCKTAILS &WINE
Ultimate Cocktail Challenge 2012
Gin
Aviation
Award
Score Product Name
Accolade
PRICE
Chairman's Trophy
94
Broker's London Dry Gin England, 47% abv
Excellent, Highly Recommended
$19.99
Finalist
93
Edinburgh Gin Scotland, 43% abv
Excellent, Highly Recommended
$35.00
Finalist
90
Ungava Gin Canada, 43.1% abv
Excellent, Highly Recommended
$36.00
Gin
Extra Dry Martini
Award
Score Product Name
Accolade
PRICE
Chairman's Trophy
95
Broker's London Dry Gin England, 47% abv
Extraordinary, Ultimate Recommendation
$19.99
Finalist
94
Bombay Sapphire Gin United Kingdom, 47% abv
Excellent, Highly Recommended
$24.99
Finalist
93
Tanqueray London Dry Gin United Kingdom, 47.3% abv
Excellent, Highly Recommended
$19.99
Finalist
92
Ungava Gin Canada, 43.1% abv
Excellent, Highly Recommended
$36.00
Finalist
90
Edinburgh Gin Scotland, 43% abv
Excellent, Highly Recommended
$35.00
Gin
Negroni
Award
Score Product Name
Accolade
PRICE
Chairman's Trophy
94
Tanqueray London Dry Gin United Kingdom, 47.3% abv
Excellent, Highly Recommended
$19.99
Finalist
94
Bombay Sapphire East Gin United Kingdom, 42% abv
Excellent, Highly Recommended
$22.99
Finalist
93
Broker's London Dry Gin England, 47% abv
Excellent, Highly Recommended
$19.99
90
Bombay Sapphire Gin United Kingdom, 47% abv
Excellent, Highly Recommended
$24.99
90
Edinburgh Gin Scotland, 43% abv
Excellent, Highly Recommended
$35.00
Vodka
Cosmopolitan
Award
Score Product Name
Accolade
PRICE
90
New Amsterdam Vodka United States, 40% abv
Excellent, Highly Recommended
$13.99
90
Still Waters Vodka Canada, 40% abv
Excellent, Highly Recommended
$39.95
