NEW ORLEANS (press release) – The New Orleans Spirits Competition (NOSC) presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation (TOTCF) is pleased to announce the 2024 “Spirits of the Year” winners from its third annual competition. Additionally, the prestigious Distillery of the Year award was unveiled today at Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans.
Founded in 2022, the New Orleans Spirits Competition is an international spirits competition that celebrates and recognizes best-in-class spirits from producers around the world. Held during Tales of the Cocktail, NOSC showcased a live judging across all of its spirits categories, both domestic and international, including whiskey, gin, brandy, baijiu, vodka, rum, agave spirits, liqueurs and non-alcoholic. More than 439 registrants entered the competition, which were reviewed by a panel of industry professionals. NOSC is proud to partner with Imbibe Magazine as the competition’s official 2024 Media Partner.
In celebrating the Distillery of the Year and Spirits of the Year, NOSC is pleased to announce the following winners in each class:
2024 NOSC Distillery of the Year
- Distillery of the Year: Kanosuke Distillery
2024 NOSC Spirits of the Year Winners
- Agave Spirit of the Year: Tequila Blanco by Cutwater Spirits
- Baijiu of the Year: Ming River Sichuan Baijiu by Luzhou Laojiao
- Brandy of the Year: Yebiga ”Bela” by Tok D.o.o
- Gin of the Year: Distillery of Modern Art, Nouveau Gin by Distillery of Modern Art
- Liqueur of the Year: January Spirits Genepy by January Spirits
- Rum of the Year: Shakara Rum by Shakara
- Specialty Spirit of the Year: Death in the Afternoon Absinthe by Key West Trading Co.
- Tie for Vodka of the Year: Connoisseur 51 Reserve Organic Vodka by Purity Distillery
- Tie for Vodka of the Year: The Community Spirit Vodka by The Community Spirit Vodka
- American Whiskey of the Year: Widow Jane Lucky 13 Bourbon Whiskey by Samson & Surrey
- World Whisky of the Year: Ledaig 10 Year Old by Tobermory Distillery
- RTD of the Year: Automatic Jones Earl Grey Negroni by The Family Jones
- No & Low Elixir of the Year: Fluère Bitter by Lucas Bols USA
Additionally, NOSC is pleased to share the 2024 “Best of Category” winners. These awards recognize the top-rated spirit entered in each category, such as Gin: Best New American Gin, Tequila: Best Tequila Reposado, and Liqueur: Best Herbal Liqueur.
2024 NOSC “Best of Category” Winners
Winners for the “Best of Category” can be viewed HERE
2024 NOSC Packaging Award Winners
Packaging Excellence Awards for the New Orleans Spirits Competition can be viewed HERE
2024 NOSC Final Medalists
Medalists for the New Orleans Spirits Competition can be viewed HERE
About The Judging Process
Judges were seated in four-person panels and served flights of spirits without identifying information other than the class of spirit and proof. Spirits were then rated individually by each judge, with a top score of 100. Scores from each panel were then averaged. After the medals were decided, the top finishers across each category were selected for Best of Category recognition.
Spirits of the Year were selected in several rounds of public blind tasting on Monday, July 22 and Tuesday, July 23 in New Orleans at Tales of the Cocktail. The finalists had been determined by a preliminary round held in June, after which the six highest-scoring spirits in Gin, Rum, Liqueur, American Whiskey, World Whisky and Agave Spirits advanced to the final round. Spirits of the Year were determined by the judges marking their top three in order. These votes determine the best-of-class awards listed above.
New Orleans Spirits Competition Judges 2024
Stephen Beal, International Drinks Expert
Abigail Gullo, Creative Director of International House Hotel, Host of Drink & Learn Podcast
Brett Pontoni, Specialty Spirits Buyer for Binny’s Beverage Depot
Bridget Albert, Founder of the National Charity Foundation of the United States Bartenders’ Guild
Chantal Tseng, Bar-Sommelier; US Sherry Week Ambassador
Clay Risen, Spirits Writer, Author of “American Rye: A Guide to the Nation’s Original Spirit”
Clyde Davis Jr., Owner of 75 Proof Beverage Solutions
Dale Degroff, DeGroff’s Spirits, Partner & Owner of DeGroff’s Amaro, DeGroff’s Bitter Aperitivo
Danny Ronen, Founder & CEO of DC Spirits
Elayne Duff, Director of Advocacy for Samson and Surrey
Emma Janzen, Spirits & Cocktail Writer; Midwest Academy Chair World’s 50 Best Bars, Author of Mezcal: The History, Craft and Cocktails of the World’s Ultimate Artisanal Spirit
Flavien Desoblin, Owner of Brandy Library & Copper & Oak
Franky Marshall, Bartender, Educator & Consultant
Garnett Phillip, Owner: The Rogers Garden & Rum Bar Brooklyn
Geoffrey Wilson, Leadership Staff at Turning Tables New Orleans
H. Joseph Ehrmann, Proprietor of ELIXIR
Henry Preiss, President of Preiss Imports
Jeff Berry, Tiki & Rum Expert; Author of Potions of the Caribbean & Beachbum Barry’s Taboo Table
Kate Gerwin, Owner of Happy Accidents
Keli Rivers, Senior Beam Suntory Gin Brand Ambassador
Laura Cullen, Founder of Liberty Consulting
Lauren Patz, Head Distiller at Redwood Empire Whiskey
Lisa Wicker, Master Distiller
Lynn House, National Spirits Specialist & Portfolio Mixologist at Heaven Hill Brands
Lynnette Marrero, Partner & Chief Mixologist at Delola Beverages; Liquid Creative Director of Aplos; Co-Creator of Speed Rack
Martin Cate, Owner of Smuggler’s Cove San Francisco
Matthew Rowley, Culinary Historian, Spirits & Arts Writer, James Beard Award Finalist
Monique Huston, Vice President Spirits Portfolio at Winebow
Natasha Bahrami, Owner of The Gin Room, James Beard Award Semi-Finalist
Paul Clarke, Editor in Chief of Imbibe Magazine
Tiffanie Barriere, Educator & Consultant; Member of the Tales of the Cocktail Grants Committee, James Beard Beverage Advisory Board, Member of the Atlanta chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier
Tracie Franklin, Founder of Get Spirited Consulting
