Tasting Awards results 2020 – International Sugarcane Spirits Awards

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Notice

Important reading to understand the scorings

The given scores in the ISS Awards tend to be slightly lower than in other competitions. This is due to our very own specific processes, for which we give you the main impactful points.

GLOBAL EXPERTISE LEVEL
Judges are experts in sugarcane spirits tasting and are located worldwide in order to lower cultural biases and ensure a global representativity within the scoring.

TIME FOR EVALUATION
Judges are given much more time (30 days) to evaluate the samples than in any other competition.

TRIPLE BLIND TASTE
The ISS Tasting Awards follow a very unique triple blind taste process, meaning :
A) Judges don’t know which product they taste except its category.
B) At no time the product is revealed to them, neither after tasting or scoring.
C) They can’t even remotely discuss about their samples, being given all different codes.

MANDATORY FULL ANALYSIS
Judges are required to provide a complete sensory analysis before being able to submit their scoring : texture, features, aromas intensities on nose, palate and finale, and length in mouth.

NO “FREE POINTS” GIVEN
We don’t use typical marking schemes such as x points for color, y points for texture etc. We consider such schemes obsolete and irrelevant to what spirits tasting expertise is. We instead require Judges to provide their initial score solely based on their sensory analysis and matching the following scale.

required scoring scale

< 76

Poor, faulty

76-79

Acceptable

80-83

Noticeable

84-86

Good

87-88

Very good

89-90

Remarkable

91-92

Excellent

93-95

Exceptional

> 95

Legendary

VALUE FOR MONEY
After tasting, judges are asked to rate the value for money based on the declared Recommended Retail Price, which is disclosed only after their 1st scoring submission. They’re then given the option to update their final score accordingly.

Due to all these considerations, the final scores are more accurate as well as a bit more severe, as they may be 5 to 10 points lower than other 100-based scores from other competitions. However, the score end up being closer to what can be noticed in global mass community-generated ratings.

Important reading about the awards scheme

Our awards scheme doesn’t follow typical standard schemes. See more details about them hereafter.

ISS Awards’ title

Canne d’Or

Meaning the product is

World’s Best of Year

Description

Only one, awarded to the highest overall score.

Other competitions equivalent

None – “Best in Show”

ISS Awards’ title

Gold Medal

Meaning the product is

Best of its Category

Description

Only one per category, awarded to the highest score within each category.

Other competitions equivalent

“Best in Class”

ISS Awards’ title

Finalist Medal

Meaning the product is

In the top 1/3rd of its category

Description

Awarded to the top 1/3rd highest scores within each category.

Other competitions equivalent

“Gold” / “Silver” medals

Recaped Listings

THE CANNE D’OR

The Canne d’Or is awarded to the World’s best spirit of the year (overall best score).

New Grove
Emotion (Oldest Rum Aged Since 1969)
– Mauritius –
Rum | Molasses rum, syrup rum, mixed rum | 7 years old and up
89.7

GOLD MEDALS IN EACH CATEGORIES

Gold Medals are awarded to the best scoring products within their related categories.

1. Rum | Fresh pure cane juice rum | White
Longueteau Rhum Blanc Agricole Le 62 (Guadeloupe) 87.7

2. Rum | Fresh pure cane juice rum | From 3 to 6 years old
H.S.E. Très Vieux Rhum Agricole VSOP (Martinique) 89

3. Rum | Fresh pure cane juice rum | 7 years old and up
H.S.E. Rhum Agricole Extra Vieux Whisky Kilchoman Cask Finish (Martinique) 88.2

4. Rum | Molasses rum, syrup rum, mixed rum | White
Monymusk White Overproof Rum (Jamaica) 86.2

5. Rum | Molasses rum, syrup rum, mixed rum | From 3 to 6 years old
Mount Gay XO (Barbados) 86.8

6. Rum | Molasses rum, syrup rum, mixed rum | 7 years old and up
Savanna Single Cask Grand Arôme Chai Humide 12 ans (Réunion) 88.8

7. Sweetened rum | White
Embargo Añejo Blanco (Guatemala / (Cuba / (Martinique / (Trinidad & Tobago) 79.4

8. Sweetened rum | From 3 to 6 years old
Bocatheva Barbados & Jamaica – 3 Years (Barbados / (Jamaica) 83.1

9. Sweetened rum | 7 years old and up
Plantation Rum Vintage Fiji 2005 (Fiji) 84.1

10. Cachaça | White / unaged
Arbórea Cachaça Branca (Brazil) 84.6

11. Cachaça | Less than 3 years old
Cachaça Seleta Umburana (Brazil) 87.5

12. Cachaça | 3 years old and up
Reserva 51 Cachaça Extra Premium Singular (Brazil) 85.7

13. Craft rums, Clairins…
Mhoba Rum French Cask Rum (South Africa) 86.6

14. NAS, Gold, Solera
Papillon Freespirit (Guadeloupe) 85.7

15. Spiced rum
Chairman’s Reserve Spiced (St. Lucia) 82.9

16. Macerated rum, “rhum arrangé”, shrubb…
La Fabrique de l’Arrangé Ananas Fruit de la Passion (France) 85.1

BEST OF REGION AWARDS

9 prizes for the highest regional score to showcase the diversity of the rum entering the competition.

Africa Mhoba Rum French Cask Rum (South Africa) 86.6

Asia Sampan Overproof (Vietnam) 84.3

Caribbean H.S.E. Très Vieux Rhum Agricole VSOP (Martinique) 89

Central America Flor de Caña Rhum 14 years (Nicaragua) 82.5

Europe Distillery Krauss Rum (Austria) 85.9

Indian Ocean New Grove Emotion (Oldest Rum Aged Since 1969) (Mauritius) 89.7

North America Maggie’s Farm Rum Falernum (United States) 83

Oceania – Pacific Manutea Tahiti Rhum Vieux VO Single Cask Pur Jus de Canne (French Polynesia) 88.2

South America Cachaça Seleta Umburana (Brazil) 87.5

SPECIAL PRIZES

Special prizes are determined and awarded upon Jury’s collegial decision and may vary each year.

Best Independent Bottling Mezan Guyana 2008

Best Initiative Renaissance Distillery – Full range – comprehensive back labels

Best Multiregion Blend Velier Royal Navy Tiger Shark

Best New Design Matusalem Insolito

Best Organic Novo Fogo Cachaça Barrel-Aged

Best Single Cask Savanna Single Cask Grand Arôme Chai Humide 12 ans

Best Stillproof Savanna Créol Straight

Best Value For Money Velho Barreiro Cachaça

TOP 20 RANKING (ALL CATEGORIES)

New Grove Emotion (Oldest Rum Aged Since 1969) (Mauritius) 89.7

Canne d’Or

Best of Region Rum | Molasses rum, syrup rum, mixed rum | 7 years old and up

H.S.E. Très Vieux Rhum Agricole VSOP (Martinique) 89

Best of Region

Gold Medal Rum | Fresh pure cane juice rum | From 3 to 6 years old

Savanna Single Cask Grand Arôme Chai Humide 12 ans (Réunion) 88.8

Best Single Cask

Gold Medal Rum | Molasses rum, syrup rum, mixed rum | 7 years old and up

H.S.E. Rhum Agricole Extra Vieux Whisky Kilchoman Cask Finish (Martinique) 88.2

Gold Medal Rum | Fresh pure cane juice rum | 7 years old and up

Manutea Tahiti Rhum Vieux VO Single Cask Pur Jus de Canne (French Polynesia) 88.2

Best of Region

Finalist Rum | Fresh pure cane juice rum | From 3 to 6 years old

Monymusk Special Reserve Rum (Jamaica) 88.1

Finalist Rum | Molasses rum, syrup rum, mixed rum | 7 years old and up

Saint James 12 ans (Martinique) 88

Finalist Rum | Fresh pure cane juice rum | 7 years old and up

Rhum J.M Très Vieux Millésime 2010 (Martinique) 87.9

Finalist Rum | Fresh pure cane juice rum | 7 years old and up

Longueteau Rhum Blanc Agricole Le 62 (Guadeloupe) 87.7

Gold Medal Rum | Fresh pure cane juice rum | White

10.

Rhum J.M Epices créoles (Martinique) 87.6

Finalist Rum | Fresh pure cane juice rum | From 3 to 6 years old

11.

Cachaça Seleta Umburana (Brazil) 87.5

Best of Region

Gold Medal Cachaça | Less than 3 years old

12.

Depaz Plantation Vieux (Martinique) 87.5

Finalist Rum | Fresh pure cane juice rum | From 3 to 6 years old

13.

H.S.E. Rhum Agricole Extra Vieux Whisky Rozelieures Cask Finish (Martinique) 87.4

Finalist Rum | Fresh pure cane juice rum | 7 years old and up

14.

Plantation Rum Vintage Jamaica 2003 (Jamaica) 87.4

Finalist Rum | Molasses rum, syrup rum, mixed rum | 7 years old and up

15.

Arbórea Cachaça Oak and Amburana (Brazil) 87.3

Finalist Cachaça | Less than 3 years old

16.

Savanna Single Cask Traditionnel Finish Muscatel 12 ans (Réunion) 87.3

Finalist Rum | Molasses rum, syrup rum, mixed rum | 7 years old and up

17.

H.S.E. Rhum Agricole Extra Vieux Chateau Marquis De Terme Finish (Martinique) 87.3

Finalist Rum | Fresh pure cane juice rum | 7 years old and up

18.

Longueteau Rhum Vieux Agricole Symphonie (Guadeloupe) 87.3

Finalist Rum | Fresh pure cane juice rum | From 3 to 6 years old

19.

Admiral Rodney HMS Royal Oak – Extra Old Saint Lucia Rum (St. Lucia) 87.1

Finalist Rum | Molasses rum, syrup rum, mixed rum | 7 years old and up

20.

Mezan Guyana 2008 (Guyana) 87.1

Best Independent Bottling

Finalist Rum | Molasses rum, syrup rum, mixed rum | 7 years old and up

Categories listings

Fresh cane juice rum

Rum with absolutely no voluntary sweetening, no sugar other than natural sugar extracted from casks during aging because of their previous contents.

White (unaged)

GOLD

• Longueteau Rhum Blanc Agricole Le 62 (Guadeloupe) 87.7

FINALISTS

• Longueteau Rhum Blanc Agricole Parcelle 9 (Guadeloupe) 87

• H.S.E. Blanc 55° AOC Martinique Parcellaire #1 Mono-variétal Canne D’or R570 (Martinique) 86.9

• Damoiseau Rhum Agricole de la Guadeloupe Blanc 50° (Guadeloupe) 86.1

• Saint Aubin Rhum Blanc Agricole (Mauritius) 86

• Longueteau Rhum Blanc Agricole Parcelle 4 (Guadeloupe) 86

• Longueteau Rhum Blanc Agricole Parcelle 12 (Guadeloupe) 85.7

• Longueteau Rhum Blanc Agricole Le 50 (Guadeloupe) 85.6

• Tristão Vaz Teixeira Natural 60% (Portugal) 85.4

• Longueteau Rhum Blanc Agricole Le 55 (Guadeloupe) 85.3

• Mauricia Création (Mauritius) 85.1

• Clément Blanc 50° (Martinique) 84.9

From 3 to 6 years old

GOLD

• H.S.E. Très Vieux Rhum Agricole VSOP (Martinique) 89

FINALISTS

• Manutea Tahiti Rhum Vieux VO Single Cask Pur Jus de Canne (French Polynesia) 88.2

• Rhum J.M Epices créoles (Martinique) 87.6

• Depaz Plantation Vieux (Martinique) 87.5

• Longueteau Rhum Vieux Agricole Symphonie (Guadeloupe) 87.3

• Clément Secrets De Fûts “Intense” (Martinique) 87

• H.S.E. Black Sheriff (Martinique) 86.8

• Clément VO (Martinique) 86.6

• Depaz VSOP (Martinique) 86

• Manutea Tahiti Rhum Vieux VO Pur Jus de Canne (French Polynesia) 85.9

7 years old and up

GOLD

• H.S.E. Rhum Agricole Extra Vieux Whisky Kilchoman Cask Finish (Martinique) 88.2

FINALISTS

• Saint James 12 ans (Martinique) 88

• Rhum J.M Très Vieux Millésime 2010 (Martinique) 87.9

• H.S.E. Rhum Agricole Extra Vieux Whisky Rozelieures Cask Finish (Martinique) 87.4

• H.S.E. Rhum Agricole Extra Vieux Chateau Marquis De Terme Finish (Martinique) 87.3

Molasses, syrup, mixed rum

Rum with absolutely no voluntary sweetening, no sugar other than natural sugar extracted from casks during aging because of their previous contents.

White (unaged)

GOLD

• Monymusk White Overproof Rum (Jamaica) 86.2

FINALISTS

• Terre du Sud Rhum blanc traditionnel (New Caledonia) 84.6

• Providence Haitian Rum Blanc (Haiti) 84.2

• Liv Rum Navy Strength White Rum (United Kingdom) 83.8

From 3 to 6 years old

GOLD

• Mount Gay XO (Barbados) 86.8

FINALISTS

• Mount Gay Master Blender Collection: The Port Cask Expression (Barbados) 86.1

• Distillery Krauss Rum (Austria) 85.9

• Mount Gay Black Barrel (Barbados) 85.2

• Distillery Krauss Rum Sherry Cask Finished (Austria) 84.2

• Distillery Krauss Rum Port Cask Finished (Austria) 84.1

• Famille Ricci Influences 1 (Trinidad & Tobago / (Jamaica) 84.1

• Chairman’s Reserve Legacy (St. Lucia) 84

• Rivière du Mât XO (Réunion) 83.6

• Rivière du Mât Grande Réserve (Réunion) 83.6

7 years old and up

GOLD

• Savanna Single Cask Grand Arôme Chai Humide 12 ans (Réunion) 88.8

FINALISTS

• Monymusk Special Reserve Rum (Jamaica) 88.1

• Plantation Rum Vintage Jamaica 2003 (Jamaica) 87.4

• Savanna Single Cask Traditionnel Finish Muscatel 12 ans (Réunion) 87.3

• Admiral Rodney HMS Royal Oak – Extra Old Saint Lucia Rum (St. Lucia) 87.1

• Mezan Guyana 2008 (Guyana) 87.1

• Hampden Estate Hampden 8 Years (Jamaica) 87

• Velier Royal Navy Tiger Shark (Jamaica / (Guyana) 86.8

• New Grove Vintage 2004 Ville Bague (Mauritius) 86.2

• Appleton Estate 21 Year Old (Jamaica) 86.2

• Mount Gay XO The Peat Smoke Expression (Barbados) 85.5

Sweetened rum

Rum having undergone voluntary sweetening, regardless of the sugar level measured. Are excluded from this measure rate of natural sugar extracted from casks during aging because of their previous contents. Molasses rum, syrup rum, fresh pure cane juice and mixed rum.

White

GOLD

• Embargo Añejo Blanco (Guatemala / Cuba / Martinique / Trinidad & Tobago) 79.4

From 3 to 6 years old

GOLD

• Bocatheva Barbados & Jamaica – 3 Years (Barbados / (Jamaica) 83.1

FINALISTS

• Plantation Rum Isle of Fidji (Fiji) 81.8

• Ron Johan Dark Rum (Austria) 81.7

• Plantation Rum Barbados 5 years (Barbados) 81.7

7 years old and up

GOLD

• Plantation Rum Vintage Fiji 2005 (Fiji) 84.1

FINALISTS

• Ron Johan Strong Rum (Austria) 83.3

• Boré Reserva (Mexico) 81.4

Cachaça

Pure cane juice distillate from Brazil.

White / unaged

GOLD

• Arbórea Cachaça Branca (Brazil) 84.6

FINALISTS

• Novo Fogo Cachaça Silver (Brazil) 83.4

• Cãna Cachaça (Brazil) 83.2

Less than 3 years old

GOLD

• Cachaça Seleta Umburana (Brazil) 87.5

FINALISTS

• Arbórea Cachaça Oak and Amburana (Brazil) 87.3

• Novo Fogo Cachaça Barrel-Aged (Brazil) 85.2

3 years old and up

GOLD

• Reserva 51 Cachaça Extra Premium Singular (Brazil) 85.7

FINALISTS

• Reserva 51 Cachaça Extra Premium Carvalho Americano (Brazil) 85.5

• Cachaça Seleta Cachaça Antônio Rodrigues (Brazil) 85.3

Miscellaneous categories

Craft rums, Clairins…

Batch rum 100% fractional distillation (pot still, pot still with rectification)

GOLD

• Mhoba Rum French Cask Rum (South Africa) 86.6

FINALISTS

• Clairin Communal Clairin (Haiti) 86.3

• Clairin Milot Clairin (Haiti) 85.5

NAS, Gold, Solera

NAS = no age statement. Gold = less than 3 years old. For Solera, here if minimum age is less than 3 years old.

GOLD

• Papillon Freespirit (Guadeloupe) 85.7

FINALISTS

• Mhoba Rum American Oak Aged Rum (South Africa) 84.2

• Neisson Profil 105 Bio (Martinique) 83.3

• Longueteau Rhum ESB Agricole Prelude (Guadeloupe) 83

• Rum Explorer Guyana (Guyana) 82

• Rum Explorer Caribbean (Trinidad & Tobago / Jamaica) 82

• New Grove Bourbon Cask Rum (Mauritius) 82

• KoHana Rum KoHo (United States) 82

Spiced rum

GOLD

• Chairman’s Reserve Spiced (St. Lucia) 82.9

FINALISTS

• Rosemont Épicé (Canada) 82.6

• Maggie’s Farm Rum Spiced Rum (United States) 82.3

• Majawi Spiced Rum (Mauritius / Jamaica) 81.9

• Ti Original de Ced’ Ti Spicy (France) 81.7

Macerated rum, “rhum arrangé”, shrubb…

This category is considered global despite the fact that each of these specialities’ aromatic profiles are clearly very distinct from each other. Thus, with a view to simplification and the avoidance of multiple lists of Finalists, production methods are only considered here.

GOLD

• La Fabrique de l’Arrangé Ananas Fruit de la Passion (France) 85.1

FINALISTS

• La Fabrique de l’Arrangé Vanille – Noisette (France) 83.4

• Maggie’s Farm Rum Falernum (United States) 83

• Ti Arrangés de Ced’ Litchi Clémentine Hibiscus (France) 82.9

• La Fabrique de l’Arrangé Ananas Coco (France) 82.9

• Damoiseau Liqueur Shrubb (Guadeloupe) 82.7

• La Fabrique de l’Arrangé Mangue – Abricot (France) 82.7

• Ti Arrangés de Ced’ Graal Ananas Framboise (France) 82.6

• Darwinn Sir Samuel N°83 (France) 82.2

• Ti Arrangés de Ced’ Graal Citron Passion (France) 82.1

• Damoiseau Arrangé Mangue Passion (Guadeloupe) 81.5

• Rhum Metiss Framboise – Fruit De La Passion (France) 81.3

Search results

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Tasting Awards 2020 – Results Report PDF

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