Newark’s All Points West Distillery made a splash at the 2019 USA Spirits Ratings competition, held in San Francisco on July 21, when its All Points West Malt and Grain Pot Still Whiskey was awarded the titles “Whisky of the Year” and “Best Spirit of the Year by Packaging” in addition to winning a Gold medal.
The USA Spirits Ratings competition is a major international competition jurying over 500 worldwide entrants. In the whiskey category All Points West Malt and Grain Pot Still Whiskey competed against American, Scottish and Irish Whiskeys including 12, 18 and even a 25 year old entrant. All the judging panels included spirits industry professionals with commercial buying expertise. Judges included professionals from leading retail chains, wholesalers, distributors, specialty retailers and casual and fine dining establishments. The inclusion of so many high-profile judges ensured that spirits awarded in competition were those with a high degree of commercial appeal.
All the judging panels included spirits industry professionals with commercial buying expertise. Judges included professionals from leading retail chains, wholesalers, distributors, specialty retailers and casual and fine dining establishments. The inclusion of so many high-profile judges ensured that spirits awarded in competition were those with a high degree of commercial appeal.
Sid Patel, CEO and founder of Beverage Trade Network, which organizes the annual competition, emphasized the importance of finding spirits that score highly across three categories (Quality, Value and Packaging) rather than just one, “This is a new, innovative approach that proved popular at this year’s London Spirits Competition, and we feel that it offers a broad, comprehensive approach to evaluating spirits the same way that consumers do.”
“We created a completely unique whiskey by reviving the lost whiskey style that was the missing link between Irish pot still whiskeys and American Bourbons. This style of Pot Still Whiskeys that use both corn and malt has not been produced since being outlawed in the UK 1908,” said Gil Spaier, the owner of All Points West Distillery, “we were confident that we had crafted a quality product that is delicious and can compete on a serious level – but receiving the ‘Whisky of the Year’ in our first competition has completely exceeded our expectations. We always strive to offer high quality and innovative products at fair prices to the consumer – being recognized for our efforts by the respected industry professional of USA Spirits Ratings means the world to us. It is both humbling and validating.”
