Brown-Forman celebrate international single malt success

May 18, 2023
By Rachel White

Overwhelming success at two international spirit competitions gives the Brown-Forman single malt portfolio global recognition, especially The GlenDronach and Benraich.

Impressing judges at The San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC) and The International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC), the Brown-Forman collection won a staggering 40 medals in total. 

Rachel Barrie, Single Malts Master Blender at Brown-Forman, said the accolades were earnt by her whole team and are a testament to their collective hard work. 

“Working with these Single Malts is a privilege and the awards are testament to the hard work and craftsmanship of everyone in our team,” she said. 

All of The GlenDronach’s core range won Double Gold at SFWSC, including the Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks from Andalucía in Spain.

“The GlenDronach is exceptionally complex and richly rewarding, and our robust Highland spirit pairs exquisitely with Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks, which are the distillery’s hallmark,” said Barrie.

The GlenDronach Parliament 21 Year Old more than impressed at the IWSC, coming away with a Gold Outstanding, an honour only awarded to spirits earning 98 points or more that are “an example that stands out amongst its peers as a supreme example of its kind.” 

Benriach, a Speyside single malt, also impressed at both competitions, winning six Double Gold and three Platinum at SFWSC, an honour reserved for spirits that have won double gold medals for three consecutive years. 

“Benriach encompasses a huge spectrum of flavour possibilities with each multi-layered expression. The liquid has a creative distilling heritage and lends itself incredibly well to experimentation, which is something we are very proud of and look forward to continuing exploring through maturation in a range of eclectic casks sourced from all over the world,” said Barrie. 

Both The GlenDronach and Benraich also received a swag of gold, silver and bronze medals at the two international competitions, cementing their reputation for traditional distilling and craftsmanship at the hands of Master Blender Rachel Barrie. 

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