Drouet Vsop Grand Champagne Cognac takes home a Double Gold medal with 97 points at the 2021 Bartenders Spirits Awards that recently took place in San Francisco. The cognac is a perfect pour for any time of the year and is highly recommended by some of the country's best bartenders and spirits experts. 

The Cognac Drouet et Fils’ estate covers 74 acres of Grande and Petite Champagne nestled near the town of Cognac, with all of their cognacs coming only from Grande Champagne. 

Cognac Drouet et Fils keep their roots traditional, focusing on the skillful production methods of the old. In fact, it’s said that you can almost taste the tradition in their cognacs. 

“Caramel, must, and leather on the nose. A rush of creme brulee, cinnamon, leather, and candied ginger notes on the palate lead to a long finish of spice, leather, and caramel. Absolutely everything I would want out of a cognac” says Zachary Taylor, Bartender at Bar 587 and a judge at the 2021 Bartenders Spirits Awards.

The 4th generation estate continues to pride itself as a family business, run by Patrick Drouet. The family still carries out their cognac production in-house, sticking to over a century of skillful traditions. 

Utilizing grapes grown on-site, Drouet is a true Single Estate Cognac producer. You can find their cognacs throughout the world and they are instantly recognizable due to distinguished packaging and unique bottle shapes.

Drouet VSOP Cognac has quite a distinct flavor profile and rich mahogany color with tints of bronze. On the nose, the aroma is expressive, with changing notes of vanilla, cinnamon, and mild spices. When tasting, you’ll enjoy finely balanced notes of apple, vanilla, and spices with rich antique wood on the palate. Finally, you’ll experience a remarkably long finish, balancing bright acidity and sweetness. 

This cognac leaves you with a full and velvet hint in your mouth. Glass Revolution Imports is the sole importer of Drouet VSOP Cognac to the United States.

The Bartender Spirits Awards judge spirits across the parameters of Mixability, Balance, and Versatility, Taste, Mouthfeel, and Finish, Package, and Price.

This competition recognizes that bartenders are the true influencers – their passions and tastes provide direction for the consumer, especially via their guidance with wine, beer, or spirit recommendations. “We wanted a way to recognize those spirits that would be a great addition to any bar and that are completely on-trend in terms of packaging and price,” said Sid Patel, Founder, and CEO of Beverage Trade Network. “Whether bartenders are looking to plug a very specific gap in their existing spirits inventory, or construct an entirely new cocktail menu from scratch, what better advice could they get than from fellow bartenders?”
Medals are awarded to those spirits that meet very specific judging criteria, with a goal of identifying spirits that should become valuable additions to bar inventories. 

BSA was able to resume in-person judging in 2021 where America’s top bartenders came to review brands from more than 45 different countries.

Here are the top winners of the 2021 Bartenders Spirits Awards.

• Spirit of the Year - Uncle Nearest 1820 Premium Single Barrel Whiskey
• Distillery of the Year - Uncle Nearest
• Best Value of the Year - Jean Fillioux Cognac Grande Champagne La Pouyade
• Best Package of the Year - Green Hat Gin Citrus Floral
• Liqueur of the Year - Amaro Di Angostura
• Gin of the Year - Green Hat Gin Citrus Floral
• Vodka of the Year - Cylinder Vodka
• Tequila of the Year - Españita Anejo Tequila
• World Whisky of the Year - Uncle Nearest 1820 Premium Single Barrel Whiskey
• Brandy/ Cognac of the Year - Jean Fillioux Cognac Grande Champagne La Pouyade
• Rum of the Year - Terra Mariae Spiced Rum

View all 2021 Bartenders Spirits Awards Winners.

The 2021 competition saw more than 850 submissions from 45 countries including some new additions like Lebanon, Kazakhstan, and Switzerland. The United States had the top submissions followed by Mexico and France demonstrating the growth in Tequila and Australian craft spirits culture. Japan was the top favorite when it came to overall quality by country with the highest average by the country for gold medals.

"Covid-19 has had a huge impact on the industry," explained Sid Patel, CEO of Beverage Trade Network, the organizer company of BSA, "and when we come out of this, we hope to see a strong rebound in the hospitality sector. The increased number of submissions in 2021 truly demonstrated the faith that our industry has in the long term outlook of our hospitality industry".

Looking for what to drink next? Don’t forget to check out this year’s Top 100 On-Premise Spirits list.

About the Bartender Spirits Awards

The aim of the Bartender Spirits Awards is to provide independent and honest reviews for brands that are looking to enter the U.S. on-premise industry. The judging panel consists of some of the most renowned names in the U.S. bar industry, all of them with extensive expertise within the on-premise industry. The result will be a relevant and practical source of reference for bartenders, bar managers, bar owners, and other industry professionals when making purchasing decisions for their establishments.