Flaviar Awards 2020

But first, let’s go on a little backstage tour and take a look at how the Flaviar Awards magic happens.

Since 2012, we’ve been selecting the five best Spirits as voted by you, our Flaviar Community. Not to toot our own horn or anything, but being a part of this box is kind of a big deal. After all, we’re bestowing a Spirit with a seal of approval from the largest Spirited community in the world.

No big deal, or anything.

We use several different measures to select which drinks are worthy of the Flaviar Awards: your ratings and reviews, sales and wishlist information, and our team’s not-so-humble opinions. (Things get pretty crazy here.)

Each year features an exceptional roundup of winning Spirits and we’re thrilled to announce that 2020 is no exception:

English Whisky: Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky
Scotch: Tullibardine 500 Sherry Cask Finish
Brandy: Copper & Kings Butchertown Brandy
Rum: Larga Vida XO Rum 2019 Edition
Mezcal: Madre Mezcal

We’ve got to say, you did a phenomenal job — the Hollywood Foreign Press should take some notes. From a zesty Brandy aged in music (no, really) to an earthy Mezcal from the rolling hills of the Oaxacan Sierra, this is top five lineup to be reckoned with. You hear that, 2020? We’re coming for you. And thanks to this box, we’re packing some serious heat.

Cheers, Sláinte, Santé, Prost and L’Chaim!


Smartass Corner:

1. England had its own distilleries back in 18th and 19th century but due to economical and political situations everything was closed by 1905. It was back in 2006 that England was back on the map with its distilleries.

2. Back in 1488, King James IV bought a keg of beer at Tullibardine Brewery, the first public brewery in Scotland. The brewery was known for using the crystal clear spring water that flowed from the Ochil Hills. Over 500 years later, a Welshman named William Delme Evans purchased the brewery and converted it into a distillery, producing Spirits that use the same spring water used in King James’ beer.

3. Ever heard about playing classical music for plants so they can grow fast and stronger? Well, the cellar where Butchertown Brandy is matured is always pumping with music. They say it makes the Spirit taste better — apparently you agree.

4. It took 10 countries to produce the masterpiece we call Larga Vida 2019. Flaviar handpicked 10 tropical Rums from Barbados, Dominican Republic, Guadalupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Jamaica, Mauritius, Panama, Trinidad and Colombia to blend and later finish in ex-Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sherry casks. The result is definitely more than the sum of its parts.

5. Well, bless their hearts. To make Madre Mezcal, Jose Garcia Morales (along with his father and brothers) cut the agaves while his mother blesses them before they cook in an earthen pit fermented with wild yeast.

6. Here at Flaviar, we’ve delivered over 2,000,000 Spirit samples to thirsty liquor aficionados like yourself since our launch. That’s enough to supply a round for everyone living in Slovenia.

7. We’ve also compiled a database with over 22,000 different Spirits from around the world — 90% of which you won’t find in your local liquor store. Remember that next time you want to make a run for some crazy Baijiu from China.