SPRING 2020 JOHN BARLEYCORN TASTE AND MARKETING + DESIGN AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED
Dallas, TX — John Barleycorn Society of Spirits Writers & Marketers today released results for the Spring 2020 John Barleycorn Awards Taste and Marketing + Design competitions.
The John Barleycorn Awards is a different kind of awards program which was created by writers and marketers to honor creative excellence in all aspects of the spirits industry – from formulating and distilling products – through innovative imaging, promotion, sale of the products, and supporting the industry. Due to the pandemic hitting distilleries and bartenders particularly hard, half of all Spring Taste entry fees were donated to the United States Bartenders’ Guild COVID-19 Relief Fund.
In the 2020 competition, there were several hundred entries from throughout the spirits industry. Entries came from a wide range of distillers from huge conglomerates like Brown-Forman and Beam-Suntory to new up and comers like Sagamore Spirit and Oak & Eden. Brands ranged from old mainstays like Four Roses, Jim Beam, and Corazon to new products from Black Button Distilling, Hollystone Distilling, and Distillery 291.
Each Taste entry was blind-tasted and scored on a 1DO-point scale for appearance, aroma, taste, and finish. Marketing entries were judged on creative excellence. Awards were determined based on points.
- Caffe Del Fuego GOLD TASTE WINNER
- Caffe Del Fuego Reserve DOUBLE GOLD MARKETING + DESIGN | LABEL DESIGN: CREATIVE
- Caffe Del Fuego GOLD MARKETING + DESIGN | Social Media Engagement
- Remington Family Distillers GOLD MARKETING + DESIGN | Charitable Campaigns
A complete list of winners and comments from judges can be found at www.barleycornawards.com. Best of winners will be determined in December following the Fall competition. The Taste judging was conducted under the leadership of noted author and spirits writer John McCarthy who oversees some of the world’s top spirits writers. Judges include well-known journalists Leslie Sbrocco, Fred Minnick, Jennifer Simonetti-Bryan, Robin Robinson, Wayne Curtis, Frank Caiafa, Jack Robertiello, G. Clay Whittaker, Rachel DelRocco Terrazas, Brad Japhe, and Tony Sachs.