Does the world need another whisky competition?

Nonjatta

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Well, to be honest, I am not sure it does. I was talking to a chap at Nikka’s Miyagikyo distillery last year who said they were already confused about which competitions were really to be taken seriously.

Nevertheless, the newly minted “International Whisky Competition” held at Hotel 71 in Chicago earlier this month is at least worthy of mention if only because of its innovative approach. The event was broadcast live over Ustream to viewers around the world, who were encouraged to vote on their favourites. The popular choices were awarded under a special “Wisdom of the Masses” category, while the other sections were judged on the basis of a blind tasting by a panel of six.

Japan (or, to be more specific, Suntory) did well, winning, among other gongs, the “Whisky of the Year” award with the Yamazaki 1984 and scooping the third place in the same category with the Yamazaki 12. The Yamazaki 18 came second in the “Single Malt 18-24″ category and Suntory’s Hibiki 12 was third in the “Wisdom of the masses category.”