The Wheat of Virgin Spaces

Spent most of last week judging at the International Wine and Spirit Competition, the oldest, largest and most prestigious competition of its kind. We tasted several different categories: eau-de-vies, other fruit spirits, cachaca, pisco, flavoured rums, anisettes….and of course absinthe. Everything is tasted absolutely blind, from identical numbered glasses - the identity of the winning medalists is not revealed, even to the judges, until the results are publicly announced. In marked contrast to the usual situation elsewhere, the general organisation and running of the competition is quite awesomely efficient. Of course there were disagreements and strongly held opinions, but I was struck by the degree of unanimity amongst the judges - who came from the UK, Switzerland, France, Austria, Germany, Italy and South Africa - when it came to the top products.