The Ultimate Spirits Challenge has announced the results of its cocktail component from the 2015 competition.

Pamela Wiznitzer in the kitchen ensuring that cocktails are precisely measured.

The USC judging panels tested hundreds of spirits in appropriate cocktails over four sessions from November to March, according to a press release.

All Gins were tasted in a Dry Martini and a Negroni; Tequilas in a Tommy’s Margarita; North American Whiskeys in a Manhattan; World Whiskies in a Whiskey Sour; Brandies and Cognacs in Brandy & Ginger Ale, Piscos in Pisco Sour; Vodkas in Fresh Lime Juice Gimlets; and light Rums in Daiquiris and older Rums in Rum Sidecars. (Next year, a different set of appropriate classic cocktails will be assigned to each relevant category.)

To ensure fairness, the identical recipe was carefully measured, including dilution, in milliliters for each cocktail in every suitable category. Each cocktail was judged blind individually with a glass of the spirit poured neat next to it. Cocktails were scored on a 1-to-5 star scale.

Full cocktail component results.

USC results are promoted globally via email and web publication to both trade buyers and consumers.

Feature image: Dale DeGroff and Will Shine conferring about a cocktail.