Courvoisier Cognac XO has been awarded “Spirit of the Year” at the 2020 San Diego International Wine & Spirits Challenge. The annual competition is one of the oldest and most revered of its kind in the United States.
Last year, Courvoisier Cognac XO was awarded 93 points and a Gold Medal, but this year’s batch impressed judges even more, rocketing up to 96 points, receiving Double Gold, and winning this year’s biggest award for a single spirit. It retails for $150 USD. Courvoisier Cognacs took home two other Golds during the competition: their VSOP received 92 points and the VS scored 90.
Elsewhere at the 2020 San Diego International Wine & Spirits Challenge, Cierto Tequila took home “Distiller of the Year” for the second year in a row. The Elevated Spirits Company-owned brand won 9 awards in total, including three Double Golds medals and five Golds. This award comes immediately on the heels of the brand’s Extra Anejo winning Best Tequila at this year’s World Tequila Awards.
Find a full list of this year’s winners in the Spirits category below:
Bourbon Whiskey Small Batch #21 USA $55.00 Gold 90 points
Cognac VSOP France $69.00 Gold 91 points
Tequila Añejo, Reserve Collection Mexico $375.00 Double Gold 95 points
Tequila Añejo, Private Collection Mexico $350.00 Double Gold 94 points
Tequila Extra Añejo, Reserve Collection Mexico $475.00 Double Gold 94 points
Tequila Extra Añejo, Private Collection Mexico $450.00 Gold 93 points
Tequila Reposado, Reserve Collection Mexico $275.00 Gold 93 points
Tequila Reposado, Private Collection Mexico $250.00 Gold 93 points
Tequila Blanco, Private Collection Mexico $150.00 Gold 92 points
Tequila Blanco, Reserve Collection Mexico $175.00 Gold 90 points
Cognac XO France $150.00 Double Gold 96 points
Avant Garde Bourbon Cask Spirit France $40.00 Gold 93 points
Cognac VSOP France $35.00 Gold 92 points
Cognac VS France $25.00 Gold 90 points
Vodka Ultra-Premium USA $25.00 Gold 91 points
Arak Haddad Gold Label Jordan $15.00 Gold 90 points
Arak Haddad Crystal Jordan $20.00 Silver
Barrel Finished Gin USA $30.00 Gold 91 points
Coffee Liqueur USA $25.00 Silver
Michigan Straight Rye Whiskey USA $35.00 Silver
Tequila 89 Añejo Cristalino Mexico $65.00 Gold 92 points
Tequila Zero Zero Extra Añejo Mexico $150.00 Gold 90 points
Tequila Añejo Mexico $30.00 Gold 93 points
Tequila Reposado Mexico $19.00 Gold 91 points
Tequila Silver Mexico $17.00 Gold 90 points
Stuttgart Dry Gin Germany $35.00 Gold 93 points
Gin USA $35.00 Double Gold 94 points
Coffee Liqueur USA $30.00 Double Gold 94 points
Cacao Liqueur USA $30.00 Gold 92 points
Grapefruit Hard Seltzer USA $2.50 Gold 91 points
Black Cherry Hard Seltzer USA $2.50 Gold 90 points
Watermelon Hard Seltzer USA $2.50 Silver
London Dry Gin United Kingdom $39.99 Gold 92 points
Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur Germany $24.99 Gold 91 points
Atrium Gin USA $41.99 Gold 90 points
American Dry Gin USA $39.99 Silver
Whiskey Japan $49.99 Doube Gold 95 points
Potato Vodka Poland $14.00 Silver
Italian Orange Non-Alcoholic Australia $21.00 Gold 93 points
Aperitif Rosso Non-Alcoholic Australia $21.00 Gold 92 points
Coffee Originale Non-Alcoholic Australia $21.00 Gold 91 points
Aperitif Dry Non-Alcoholic Australia $21.00 Gold 91 points
Dark Cane Spirit Non-Alcoholic Australia $21.00 Gold 90 points
Orange Sec Non-Alcoholic Australia $21.00 Gold 90 points
American Malt Non-Alcoholic Australia $36.00 Gold 90 points
Amaretti Non-Alcoholic Australia $21.00 Gold 90 points
White Cane Spirit Non-Alcoholic Australia $21.00 Silver
Spiced Cane Spirit Non-Alcoholic Australia $21.00 Silver
Dry London Spirit Non-Alcoholic Australia $21.00 Silver
Straight Rye Whiskey 10 year old Canada $70.00 Silver
Tequila Reposado Cristalino $44.95 Gold 90 points
Vodka USA $12.99 Gold 93 points
Bourbon Barrel Proof, Batch No. 003 USA $100.00 Double Gold 94 points
Rye Barrel Proof, Batch No. 002 USA $100.00 Gold 93 points
Bourbon Batch No. 27 USA $30.00 Gold 91 points
Wheated Bourbon Batch No. 002 USA $45.00 Gold 90 points
High Rye Bourbon Batch No. 123 USA $30.00 Gold 90 points
Rye Batch No. 259 USA $30.00 Silver
Tennessee Straight Rye Whiskey Cask Strength, Small Batch USA $49.99 Double Gold 94 points
Tennessee Straight Whiskey 4 year old USA $18.99 Gold 93 points
Canadian Whisky Aged 8 years Canada $18.99 Gold 92 points
Vodka Ultra-Premium USA $18.99 Gold 90 points
Vodka USA $31.99 Gold 90 points
Vodka Oak Sherry Cask USA $34.99 Silver
Sipping Bourbon Barrel 1 USA $69.99 Gold 93 points
Tequila Extra Añejo, Reserva Especial, Estate Grown Mexico $199.99 Double Gold 94 points
1856 Premium Whiskey USA $59.95 Gold 93 points
1884 Small Batch Whiskey Eady Butler Batch USA $54.99 Gold 92 points
Yuzu Liqueur Japan $45.00 Gold 90 points
The San Diego International Wine & Spirits Challenge, founded in early 1982, is a commercial wine & spirits competition on a mission to recognize excellence in the commercial production of adult beverages. To ensure the best possible results, they recruit wine professionals from across the industry, including producers, sommeliers, and media and marketing professionals. They take great pride in the skill, professionalism, and integrity in their judges.
