Drouet Cognac swept the top awards at the 2020 Bartender Spirits Awards, taking home both Spirit of the Year and Distillery of the Year. The family-owned, fourth generation producer also took home the award for Best Value of the Year as well as Brandy Cognac of the Year and Brandy Cognac Producer of the Year.
It was the Drouet VSOP Cognac that won the 2020 Bartender Spirits Awards’ Spirit of the Year prize as well as the trophy for Brandy Cognac of the Year and was awarded a Double Gold medal. The Cognac received a score of 98 out of 100 points, beating out six other Double Gold winning spirits to receive the competition’s most coveted honor. Drouet’s Cuvee Ulysse XO Cognac, meanwhile, was awarded a Gold medal and a score of 95 points.
The Bartender Spirits Awards aim to provide independent and honest reviews for brands who are looking to enter the U.S. on-premise industry. The judging panel consists of some of the most renowned names in the U.S. bar world.
“We really wanted a way to recognize those spirits that would be a great addition to any bar and that are completely on-trend in terms of packaging and price,” said Sid Patel, Founder and CEO of Beverage Trade Network. “Whether bartenders are looking to plug a very specific gap in their existing spirits inventory, or construct an entirely new cocktail menu from scratch, what better advice could they get than from fellow bartenders? Medals were awarded to those spirits that meet very specific judging criteria, with a goal of identifying spirits that should become additions to bar inventories. Each spirits brand was evaluated on Mixability, Balance and Versatility, Taste, Mouthfeel and Finish, Package and Price.”
Elsewhere in the competition, Kinsale Gin was awarded Gin Of The Year, Gin Producer Of The Year, and a Double Gold medal.
The Drouet VSOP is the best VSOP that I have tasted (out many dozens of different producers). Unlike those of the big four this doesn’t come as a sweet (some might even go as far as to say sickly-sweet from one of the biggest of the big four…) No, this is dry, beautifully balanced and one that you could go on drinking all night long. Superb.
The rest of their range is equally impressive; no wonder they have won the distillery award as well.