Tue 14 Jun 2016

Judges Q & A - Eddie Nara

Can you give us a quick background of your experience in the spirits industry?

I conduct tastings and masterclasses on behalf of more than 20 different spirit brands and am a spirit judge for the Cathay Pacific HKIWSC as well as the IWSC as well as being an appointed trainer for the Whisky Ambassador program in HK and consultant to a number of whisk(e)y distributors, bars, & hotels.

What are you most looking forward to at this year's HKIWSC?

I’m looking forward to catching up with fellow judges and also the opportunity to meet the VIP guest judges. It’ll also be exciting to see more entries from Asian spirits, especially the Japanese shochu and Korean soju.

Are there any current trends amongst whisky drinkers in Hong Kong & Asia?

Hong Kong and Asian drinkers tend to favor the sherry cask whiskies however other casks are also getting popular, such as port, rum, Madeira & Marsala. They are also looking for older bottlings and seeking out vintages and single cask/cask strength versions. Despite Scotch and Japanese products being popular, I also think that whisky drinkers in Asia are very open to trying whiskies from other countries like Sweden, Australia, France and Germany.

What is it about the HKIWSC that makes it stand out from other competitions?

The Asian background of the majority of the judges is unique, as they are key to finding and awarding the best wine and spirits that suit the Asian culture. The HKIWSC’s ability to promote the Asian wine and spirit brands is also important.

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“Winning a silver medal in the HKIWSC has truly helped my product to achieve international credibility regarding its taste. This has positively affected decision making of several new merchants who now carry my product.”Kaustav BagchiOwner, Lamai Thai Spirits
“Louis Royer Cognac has been entering the Hong Kong International Wine & Spirit Competition for many years. This competition is regarded as the most respected in Asian countries. Winning an award is a high honour for our brand and a further seal of quality for our multi-award winning Cognac.”Carol FrugierMarketing and Communications Manager, Louis Royer Cognac
“Adding to our success over the past few years at the HKIWSC, winning a trophy means so much to us as we have just recently entered the Chinese market with our brandies. The Chinese market is unique, which makes it even more exciting to know that Oude Molen VOV Brandy is well accepted.”Kobus GelderblomBrandy Master, Oude Molen Distillery
“It is a great honour for us to receive this award and we are very thankful about the reputation from wine enthusiasts in China. This award is a testament to the fact that our white wines not only match the traditional Austrian food but also matches perfectly with the Asian cuisine.”Katja PflogschWinemaker, Domäne Wachau
“To get recognition from such a prestigious panel is vey rewarding indeed, and proves that our wines are made in a style that is truly food friendly. The HKIWSC has become one of the year’s most well-respected wine competitions globally. For us, the food match component is a fantastic chance to demonstrate how well our wines compliment so many different flavours. Moreover, it is a competition known and valued by our customers so a trophy can be hugely influential.””Susanna MayerWinemaker, Yealings
“Awards and medals at the HKIWSC have been like a stamp of approval to the quality of our wines. Because it is an Asian-focused competition, I know that my wines are being judged and measured by the same yardstick as all the other wines, given our viticultural conditions are quite unique compared with the rest of the world. These medals give me and, more importantly, my consumers the confidence that my wines stand apart from the competition.”Kalash GurnaniWinemaker, York Winery
“We are very proud of our results. One of our key focuses is the Asian market, so we really want to make our wines special and desirable for this market. That’s why we want to enter this competition and be evaluated by the expert judging panel.”Sofia Cajewski Winemaker, Cremaschi Furlotti
“We at Yealands Estate Wines are proud to be recognized by the Hong Kong International Wine & Spirit Competition. The organization is held in the highest regard and our success in the competitions has become a strong voice for our quality around the globe.”Avram DeitchGlobal Marketing Manager, Yealands Wine Group
“Winning awards in reputable international wine shows such as the Cathay Pacific HKIWSC is one of the many ways of educating our consumers and giving them confidence in purchasing the Saint Clair brand. This enhances brand perception an in turn increases sales across our entire portfolio of wines.”Maria EastonWinemaker, Saint Clair Family Estate

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Judges Q & A - Eddie Nara

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