Across the board, the judges noted how brands really seemed to be embracing the move towards more authentic flavours, and less sugar and caramel influence. Hidden Loot Original was also among the Gold winners, found to be “tropical with good balance in spice”. Eleven Silver medals completed the flight. First up, Master-winning Havana Club Maximo. This rum was described as having “rich raisins” on the nose, leading to “treacle” on the palate. “Robust and a good intensity for 40% ABV – good texture, too,” noted Smith. Cinzano Prosecco D.O.C. is an aromatic sparkling wine, from the best vineyard areas of the Colline Trevigiane. It is a young sparkling wine, with a vivacious froth and subtle but persistent perlage. The blind tasting was split between four groups of tasters due to the number of entries, with the first panel comprising: Bryan Rodriguez, wine and spirits buyer, Harvey Nichols; Sara Jane Eichler, founder of the Negroni Club UK; and Nicola Carruthers, deputy editor of The Spirits Business, who chaired the panel.

Created by Angelo Dalle Molle, a Venetian entrepreneur and philanthropist, Cynar was launched in Italy in 1952. Since then, the brand has grown and is now distributed internationally. Sweet Edition is sweet, light and fizzy sparkling wine that is obtained from the noblest grapes, from selected vineyards within Italy. Born in Martinique in the Lesser Antilles in the eastern Caribbean Sea, Trois Rivières’ Rhum Agricole is distilled from freshly squeezed sugarcane juice.

Book your free safety consultation

Prousaefs said: “This was a complex and diverse flight, from unaged cachaças to aged cane spirits. The unaged cachaças definitely stole the show, with the rest of the spirits following through.” True pioneer from the very start, Maison La Mauny combines know-how and creativity to develop new recipes that are always more attractive and bottles an elixir of conviviality, typical of Martinique. The award winning Cabo Wabo Tequila shines with smooth, authentic flavour and unique personality; it is created with respect of the long-standing tequila traditions that made it the drink of choice of the wise and venerated mystics of Mexico. No shortcuts are taken in making Cabo Wabo, unlike other brands which legally mix up to 49% of fillers and still call their product "tequila". After whittling down the Masters to the judges’ favourites, the product that came out on top to claim the Taste Master title was Holyrood Distillery’s Elizabeth Yard – Travellers Distillery – Ungrogged American Oak No 1 Char Octave. To assess the current standard of rums and cachaças on the market, a group of expert judges gathered at the London City branch of Peruvian restaurant Coya.

The Sicilian Pine expression caught the judges’ interest for delivering “lots of pine” on the nose, while still allowing the rum to shine through with added “rosemary notes”.In the heart of the lush valley of Rivière Pilote in southern Martinique, Maison La Mauny has been making Agricole Rums elaborated with pure sugarcane juice for over 250 years. Established by Count de Mauny in 1749, the La Mauny Estate is part of Martinique’s historical heritage and renowned for the beauty of its terroir and its warm climate. Trois Rivières white rums are an absolute reference. They are smooth with a balanced body and an amazing aromatic array with vegetal, mineral and sea-water notes.

The secret recipe, which has remained the same since its creation, is based on some of the natural substances found in the artichokes, including ‘cynarine’.Rum Liqueurs featured as the penultimate flight of the day, with a deserving Gold medal given to Worthy Park Rum Cream. The expression presented “rum-and-raisin ice cream” sweetness, with a “hint of chocolate and coffee – very smooth and creamy”. Reduced slowly and progressively to 40% alcohol by volume, our amber rums are matured 12 months in oak tuns, according to the AOC Martinique standards. This enables them to develop a nice golden colour and fine woody notes while preserving the crisp taste of sugarcane juice Maison La Mauny rums, aged in oak, are luminous and hearty and remarkable for their delightful savours of spices and warm sugar. Cachaça Dom Tápparo Extra Premium Amburana 6 Anos also collected a Gold medal; the expression was enjoyed for its “extreme tonka action – Germolene, vanilla and freshly mown grass”.