Purchase, NY (August 18, 2009) -- Beefeater 24, the new super premium expression of Beefeater, has been awarded the prestigious Gin Trophy by the International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC) 2009.
The top award is a true testament to the work of Master Distiller Desmond Payne, who with over 40 years in the industry is the world’s most experienced gin distiller. This is the seventh time in the last ten years that Beefeater has received the IWSC Trophy for Best Gin.*
“It was a great challenge to produce a new gin to match the high standards of the Beefeater brand,” noted Desmond Payne, Beefeater Master Distiller, “I am therefore delighted to see that the IWSC judges have recognized Beefeater 24 with this coveted Trophy.”
Juli Falkof, Brand Director for Beefeater Gin, Pernod Ricard USA added, “We are delighted that Beefeater 24 has received such an esteemed award so soon after its launch in October 2008, proving that the distinctive new recipe created by Desmond is a true masterpiece. Beefeater has been awarded the IWSC trophy more times than any other gin and we are thrilled to add Beefeater 24 to the repertoire of brand success.”
Taking the very best of Beefeater’s heritage, quality and expertise, Beefeater 24 is made from 12 hand-selected botanicals with a rare blend of teas at its heart which complements the Beefeater style perfectly by bringing a fresh aroma and incredible smoothness to the final product.
2009 has been incredibly successful for Pernod Ricard’s Gin portfolio, which includes Beefeater London Dry Gin, Beefeater 24 and the newly acquired Plymouth Gin. The portfolio has received 16 medals this year including a Gold for the design and packaging of Beefeater 24 at the International Spirits Challenge and five top awards at The Gin Masters**. The San Francisco World Spirits Competition, which was the first comprehensive international spirits judging held in the United States, also awarded Beefeater a Gold medal this year.
The International Wine & Spirit Competition is the premier competition of its kind in the world. It represents a benchmark of excellence and is enjoying its 40-year anniversary this year as a body that rewards outstanding quality among the world’s best wines, spirits and liqueurs. Winners are selected following a rigorous blind tasting, carried out by a judging panel headed by some of the industry’s most influential members.
# # #
* Beefeater has been awarded the Greenall’s Trophy for Best Gin at the IWSC in 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008 and 2009
** The Gin Masters is in its second year and was created by the prestigious international trade title, The Spirits Business. The Gin Masters judging panel consists of The Spirits Business Editor Patience Gould along with leading spirits and on-trade specialists.