Tasting Awards
The ISC Tasting Awards winners are established through a rigorous judging process - a highly controlled operation held over seven days of intense blind tastings by panels of more than 50 respected and experienced industry professionals.
Samples are delivered to the judging area in flights of numbered tasting glasses to ensure the accuracy of the blind tasting. Each judge will assess products according to their age, region and variety which is determined by the entrant and verified by the chairman. Each product is blind tasted and awarded a score for its aroma, appearance, taste and finish. Scores are collated and recorded by the category chairman before Trophy, Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals are awarded.
The ISC takes great care in ensuring that all products are blind tasted equally and fairly in the correct conditions set by the ISC rules. The chairman will monitor each product ensuring that all samples are consistent and authentic.
This precise judging process is the basis of the reputation the ISC has established for rewarding quality and celebrating excellence.
| Medal System | ||
|---|---|---|
| 90 - 100 |  |
Outstanding product, exceptional quality |
| 80 - 89.9 |  |
Excellent product, superb standard |
| 70 – 79.9 |  |
Fine product, above average |
| 60 – 69.9 |  |
Good product, meets the quality standard set by the ISC |
Tasting Special Awards
There are four special awards that recognise the very best in the blind tasting challenge. These recognise the best overall spirit and the best performing drinks companies of the year.
Craft Distiller of the Year
This award recognises an independent distiller who has demonstrated the skill of its craftsmanship through its brands entered into the challenge.
Individual Distillery of the Year
This award celebrates the performance of a spirits portfolio from an individual distillery who has entered the challenge.
Distiller of the Year
Designed to show consistent excellence and quality across large spirit portfolios, the Distiller of the Year award is scored on a weighted points system based on the performance of all brands entered by a company.
Supreme Champion
For this award, all the trophy winners are re-tasted blind by the category chairmen. The Supreme Champion Spirit is then awarded to the highest scoring trophy winner of the competition.
Outstanding Contribution
This award celebrates the work and commitment of an individual who has made a significant impact on the drinks industry. The ISC chairmen vote for each year's winner.
rewarding quality, celebrating excellence
