2021 Best of Year Awards Announced

October 19, 2021
by Laura Kruming-Berg

Beverage Testing Institute 2021 Best of Year awards offer some of the most exciting wins the 41-year-old organization has seen. Highlights include a perfect 100-point score, new awards for Isreali wines, a flavored whiskey shake-up, big wins for a New York State Riesling and many more. Big players like Beam-Suntory and Pernod-Ricard won big, but independently owned brands like Novo Fogo and Mezcales de Leyenda held their own.

BTI is the nation’s alcohol beverage research firm and conducts the oldest international wine, beer and spirits competitions in the United States. Since 1981 their analyses and insights have guided tens of thousands of brands and millions of consumers. This year’s review was conducted over nine months with near daily blind panels of top buyers and experts in BTI’s own sensory laboratory. BTI’s Cornell University co-developed methodology ensures the fairest playing field for entrants.

2021 Best Barbera: Sobon Estate 2019 Barbera, Amador

2021 Top 2 Bordeaux Varietal Blend: Alexandria Nicole 2018 Destiny Red Blend, Horse Heaven Hills

2021 Top 2 Bordeaux Varietal Blend: Jarvis 2018 Will Jarvis’ Science Project, Napa Valley

2021 Best White Burgundy: Nicolas Potel 2020 Pouilly-Fuissé

2021 Best Cabernet Franc: Shenandoah Vineyards 2018 Cabernet Franc, Amador County

2021 Best Chilean Carmenere: Mosqueteros 2019 Gran Reserva, Carmenere, Rapel Valley

2021 Best Domestic Carmenere: Yorkville Cellars 2018 Rennie Organic Estate Vineyard, Carmenère, Yorkville Highlands

2021 Best Chardonnay: Jarvis 2019 Finch Hollow, Chardonnay, Napa Valley

2021 Best Port-Style Wine: Mount Pleasant Estates NV Tawny Port Library Volume XX, Augusta, Missouri

2021 Best Flavored Wine: Grove Selections NV Pomegranate, New Mexico

2021 Best Grenache: Jaraman 2020 Grenache, McLaren Vale

2021 Best Ice Wine: Johnson Estate 2019 Estate Grown Ice Wine, Chambourcin, Lake Erie

2021 Best Lemberger: Adirondack Winery 2018 Stargazer, Lemberger, New York State

2021 Best French Sauvignon Blanc: Domaine Beausejour 2020 Les Silex, Sauvignon Blanc, Touraine

2021 Best Malbec: Paradise Ridge 2018 Branham Vineyard, Malbec, Rockpile

2021 Best Cremant: Antech 2018 Emotion Brut Sparkling Rosé, Crémant de Limoux AOC

2021 Best Israeli Red: Galil Mountain 2018 Yiron Red Blend, Galilee

2021 Best Provence Rose: Kirkland Signature 2020 Rosé, Côtes de Provence

2021 Best Spanish Red: Portal del Priorat 2018 Negre de Negres, Priorat

2021 Best Red Wine: Jarvis 2015 Petit Verdot, Napa Valley

2021 Best Petite Syrah: Monte De Oro 2017 Estate Grown Monte De Oro Vineyard, Petite Sirah, Temecula Valley

2021 Best Asti Spumante: Acquesi NV Spumante, Asti DOCG

2021 Best Moscato dAsti: Saracco 2020 Moscato d’Asti, Piemonte DOC

2021 Best Pinot Gris: Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards 2019 Pinot Gris, Finger Lakes

2021 Best Pinot Noir: McIlroy 2019 Vines & Roses Vineyard, Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley

2021 Best Primitivo: Sobon Estate 2019 ReZerve®, Primitivo, Amador County

2021 Best Prosecco: Ruggeri 2020 Giustino B, Prosecco DOCG

2021 Best Beaujolais: Domaine Dubost Jean-Paul 2019 Gamay, Beaujolais-Villages

2021 Best Meritage: Oak Farm Vineyards 2018 Genevieve Estate Grown, Red Meritage, Lodi

2021 Best Value Rioja: Fernandez Gomez 2017 Selección Familia , Rioja DOC

2021 Best Value Chateauneuf-du-Pape: Kirkland Signature 2019 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge

2021 Best US Red Blend: Porterhouse Winery 2018 Black Label Reserve Red Blend, Santa Ynez Valley

2021 Best Tavel Rose: Château de Ségriès 2020 Rosé, Tavel

2021 Top 2 Riesling: Wakefield 2020 Riesling, Clare Valley

2021 Top 2 Riesling: Rooftop Reds 2017 Riesling, New York State

2021 Top Australian Sauvignon Blanc: Zonte’s Footstep 2021 Excalibur, Sauvignon Blanc, Adelaide Hills

2021 Best Israeli White: Yarden 2020 Sauvignon Blanc, Galilee

2021 Best Shiraz: Jaraman 2019 Shiraz, McLaren Vale

2021 Best Sparkling Flavored Wine: Sweet Bitch NV Moscato Peach Bubbly, Italy

2021 Best Syrah: Kershaw 2017 Clonal Selection, Syrah, Elgin

Best White Hybrid: Stone Hill 2019 Vignoles, Hermann

2021 Best Sangria: Mija NV White Sangria, New York State

2021 Best Zinfandel: Monte De Oro 2017 Estate Grown, Zinfandel, Temecula Valley

2021 Best American Single Malt Whiskey: Copperworks Distilling Company American Single Malt Whiskey Release No. 038

2021 Best Anejo Tequila: El Tesoro Añejo Tequila

2021 Best Barrel Aged Gin: Bluecoat Barrel Finished Aged Gin

2021 Best Genever: Herman Jansen Notaris 3 Genever

2021 Best Bitter Liqueur: Cynar 70 Bitter Liqueur

2021 Best Mezcal: Mezcal de Leyendas Verde San Luis Potosi Mezcal

2021 Best Blanco Tequila: El Tesoro Blanco Tequila

2021 Best Canadian Whisky: Collingwood Double Barreled Canadian Whisky

2021 Best Coffee Liqueur: Skip Rock Coffee Liqueur

2021 Best Cream Liqueur: Dooley’s Toffee Cream Liqueur

2021 Best Cristalino Tequila: Maestro Dobel 50 Cristalino Tequila Extra Añejo

2021 Best Tequila: El Tesoro Paradiso Tequila Extra Añejo

2021 Best Flavored Vodka: Stolichnaya Cucumber Flavored Vodka

2021 Best Flavored Whiskey: Ole Smoky Peanut Butter Flavored Whiskey

2021 Best Liqueur: Joseph Cartron Sureau Elderflower Liqueur

2021 Best Fruit Liqueur: Merlet Crème De Poire Williams Pear Liqueur

2021 Best Gin: Martin Miller’s Westbourne Strength Gin

2021 Best Gold Rum: Tanduay Gold Asian Rum

2021 Best Irish Blended Whiskey: Jameson Bow Street 18 Year Old Cask Strength Irish Whiskey

2021 Best Irish Single Malt Whiskey: Limavady Single Barrel Irish Single Malt Whiskey

2021 Best Whiskey: Redbreast 27 Year Old Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey

2021 Best Non Alcoholic Spirit: Ritual Zero Proof Tequila Alternative Non Alcoholic Spirit

2021 Best Reposado Tequila: Gran Centenario Reposado Tequila

2021 Best Aged Rum Aged 3 years or less: Mount Gay Eclipse Heritage Blend Rum

2021 Best Rum: APPLETON ESTATE 21 Year Old Rum

2021 Best Single Malt Whisky: Kavalan Solist Oloroso Sherry Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky

2021 Best Single Malt Scotch Whisky: Aberlour A’Bunadh Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky

2021 Bourbon Whiskey: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Straight Bourbon Whiskey

2021 Best Rye Whiskey: Town Branch Small Batch Straight Rye Whiskey

2021 Best Tennessee Whiskey: Uncle Nearest Master Blend Edition Premium Whiskey Blend No. 002

2021 Best Unaged Cachaca: Novo Fogo Bar Strength Silver Cachaca

2021 Best Vodka: elit Vodka

2021 Best White Rum: Jd Shore White Rum

2021 Best Wood Aged Cachaca: Novo Fogo Chameleon Cachaça

2021 Best Cognac: Courvoisier XO Cognac

2021 Best Sake: Naginata Junmai Daiginjo Sake

2021 Best Ready-To-Drink Cocktail: On The Rocks The Jalapeño Pineapple Margarita RTD

2021 Best Mead: Stolen Harvest 2020 Ginger Peach Mead

2021 Best Value Mead: Chaucer’s Sparkling Mead

2021 Best Hard Seltzer: Quirk Spiked & Sparkling Strawberry Lemon & Basil Fruit-Flavored Hard Seltzer

2021 Best FMB: KYLA Sunbreak Series Lavender Lemonade Hard Kombucha

2021 Best Cider: Kystin Secret Ice Cider

2021 Best Ale: Wayne Gretzky Hazy IPA

2021 Best Lager: Damm Brewery Voll-Damm Doble Malta Märzen Doppelbock

For more information visit bevtest.com Consumers and the trade can see all winners at tastings.com

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