Hampden Estate: NEWS FLASH !!

Hampden Estate Rum Fire wins Silver at 2014 Berlin International Spirit Competition
Hampden Estate wins BISC Jamaican Distillery of the Year

BERLIN SPIRITS COMPETITION ANNOUNCES 2014 WINNERS
In Its First Year, the BISC Competition Sets Unparalleled Standards and Uncovers the World’s Best Spirits. Berlin, Germany (March 2014) – The 1st Annual Berlin International Spirits Competition was held on March 2^nd in the heart of Berlin to evaluate and judge the world’s best spirits. Close to 200 Spirits from over 20 countries were submitted to be critiqued by a hand-selected panel of A-List and key TRADE ONLY judges – spirits buyers, spirits retail storeowners, restaurant/bar proprietors, spirits distributors and importers and World Class Cocktail Finalists – those that have the unique ability to make a direct impact on sales. Unlike other competitions less than 35% of those who submitted won a medal.

COMPETITION OVERVIEW:
Founded by Adam Levy, aka the “Alcohol Professor”, The Berlin International Spirits Competition (“BISC”) is the first major international spirits competition in Europe with trade-only judges from top to bottom. Judges are buyers from top spirits retail stores, restaurant & bar owner, spirits distributors & importers and World Class Cocktail Mixologists Finalists. This guarantees that each spirit judged is evaluated by those who make real impact on product sales. Each product submitted is tested against other brands blindly according to its product category as well as its pricing category. Spirits are rated on a set of criteria including appearance, aroma, taste, mouthfeel and finish.
Award levels are Double Gold, Gold, Silver, and Bronze. Double Gold award winners are re-tasted by all panelists to establish which brands are eligible to receive a ‘Best of Category’ endorsement in their pricing category.

BISC prides itself in the fact that it does not award medals to all of its product submissions. Only 35% of submissions receive medals as opposed to other international beer competition that give away 85%+ medals, diminishing the importance and significance of being honored.

The BISC is part of the New York International Beverage Competition that also includes the New York International Wine Competition, New York International Beer Competition and the New York International Spirits Competition. Its sister competitions is the Melbourne International Wine Competition and Melbourne International Spirits Competition.