Following an extensive blind tasting (and no doubt debate) from an esteemed judging panel of esteemed bartenders, distillers, and writers, the 2024 winners of the New Orleans Spirits Competition are finally out!

The competition sees its third iteration this year, casting the spotlight on world-class distillers and their spirits to the global beverage community.

Seated in four-person panels, judges had to sample and rate flights of spirits without identifying information other than the class of spirit and proof.

Each judge would rate each spirit served, with a top score of 100. Scores from each panel were then averaged. After each winning medal was decided, the top finishers across each category were selected for Best of Category recognition.

A prelimary round held in June would determine the finalists, advancing the six highest-scoring spirits in Gin, Rum, Liqueur, American Whiskey, World Whisky, and Agave Spirits.

Spirits of the Year were then determined by the judges marking their top three in order. 

2024 Spirits & Distillery of the Year

Distillery of the Year

Kanosuke Distillery

American Whisky of the Year

Widow Jane Lucky 13 Bourbon Whiskey by Samson & Surrey

World Whisky of the Year

Ledaig 10 Year Old by Tobermory Distillery

Agave Spirit of the Year

Tequila Blanco by Cutwater Spirits

Gin of the Year

Distillery of Modern Art, Nouveau Gin by Distillery of Modern Art

Vodka of the Year

Connoisseur 51 Reserve Organic Vodka by Purity Distillery AND The Community

Spirit Vodka by The Community Spirit Vodka

Brandy of the Year

Yebiga ”Bela” by Tok D.o.o

Rum of the Year

Shakara Rum by Shakara

Baijiu of the Year

Ming River Sichuan Baijiu by Luzhou Laojiao

Liqueur of the Year

January Spirits Genepy by January Spirits

Specialty Spirit of the Year

Death in the Afternoon Absinthe by Key West Trading Co.

Ready to Drink Cocktail of the Year

Automatic Jones Earl Grey Negroni by The Family Jones

No/Low Elixir of the Year

Fluère Bitter by Lucas Bols USA

Lok Bing Hong A budding journalist that loves experiencing new things and telling people's stories. I have 30 seconds of coherence a day. I do not decide when they come. They are not consecutive.