San Francisco, CA
The Best Irish Whiskeys According To The 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition
![The Best Irish Whiskeys According To The 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition](https://imageio.forbes.com/specials-images/imageserve/6463e68cdb88adf3a5bbf4f3/0x0.jpg?format=jpg&width=1200)
The Irish Whiskey Finalists from the 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition
The top Irish whiskeys in the 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC) judging have just been announced. The Best in Show category winners will be announced at the Top Shelf Awards Gala and Grand Tasting on June 16 and 17 at Resorts World in Las Vegas. Tickets for the event are available at the Top Shelf website or through ReserveBar.
Eight Irish whiskeys won the coveted Double Gold medal, and six won Gold medals.
Founded in 2000, the SFWSC is the oldest competition in North America and the largest spirits judging in the world. A total of 65 judges from around the world evaluated approximately 5,500 spirits over three days in April 2023.
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The competition is organized by the Tasting Alliance, an organization founded by Anthony Dias Blue. In addition to the SFWSC, the Tasting Alliance also organizes spirit competitions in New York and Singapore, wine competitions in San Francisco and New York, and competitions for beer and RTDs.
The two finalists for the Best in Show, Blended Irish Whiskey, are Northcross Irish Whiskey, Triple Wood, 43% ABV, and Cairlinn Bay, Oak & Coast Blended Irish Whiskey, 46% ABV.
The SFWSC Judging Panel described the Northcross whiskey as showing:
Herbal notes on the nose with hints of caramel and vanilla. Sweet on the palate with slight caramel and vanilla notes as well as wood spice, cooked cereal, and dried fruit flavors. Long finish featuring dried fruit sweetness with a slight lingering herbal note.
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The Cairlinn Bay, on the other hand, was described as exhibiting:
Fruity and spicy aromas with caramel and vanilla notes on the nose. Smooth, sweet, and fruity on the palate with caramel and vanilla flavors. Long, sweet fruity finish with a very mild pepperiness.
Other Double Gold winners in the Blended Irish Whiskey category included: Kinsale Spirit, Wild Atlantic Way IPA, and Teeling Whiskey, Small Batch Irish Whiskey.
The range of Redbreast Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey
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The finalist in the Pure Pot Still Irish Whiskey was Redbreast, 15 YO, Pure Pot Still Irish Whiskey, 46% ABV. Redbreast has emerged as a consistent winner in international spirit competitions and has dominated the Pot Still Irish Whiskey category over the last decade.
The SFWSC Judging Panel described the Redbreast 15 YO as being:
Slightly waxy on the nose with floral aromas, tropical fruit, caramel, vanilla, and some spice notes. Sweet and creamy on the palate, exhibiting fruity notes and a mild pepperiness. Long sweet fruity finish with a mild but persistent pepperiness.
The Finalists in the Best Single Malt Irish Whiskey are Keeper’s Heart, 10 YO Irish Single Malt, 43% ABV, and Egan’s Irish Whiskey, Endeavour, 46% ABV.
The SFWSC Judging Panel described the Keeper’s Heart as exhibiting:
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Very fruity notes on the nose with pronounced aromas of overripe apple and some pear. Smooth, sweet, and fruity on the palate with hints of spice. Long sweet fruity finish with lingering apple and pear notes.
While Egan’s Irish Whiskey was described as featuring:
Dark dried fruit on the nose, along with spicy cinnamon, caramel, and vanilla notes and slightly herbal aromas. Sweet, creamy, and somewhat oily on the palate with prominent dried fruit notes. Long, sweet finish featuring dried fruit sweetness and a mild but persistent pepperiness.
The Sexton, Single Malt Irish Whiskey
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Other Double Gold winners in the Irish Single Malt category are Bunratty Irish Whiskey, Premium Blend With Peated Malt (Single Malts Blend), and The Sexton, Single Malt Irish Whiskey. The Sexton is a consistent winner in international spirit competitions. At an average US price of under $30, it is also an outstanding value for a Sherry matured single malt whiskey.
The 2023 SFWSC judging showcased an outstanding array of top-notch Irish whiskeys. The revival of the Irish whiskey industry is now in full swing, with more than three dozen distilleries. Sales of Irish whiskey in the critical US market are growing at double digits, already exceeding a billion dollars at wholesale, and, if the trend continues, will surpass sales of Scotch whiskey in the next several years.
It’s hard to imagine that 30 years ago, there were only three active Irish distilleries, and their combined sales were under 50,000 9-liter cases. By comparison, in 2022, the Irish whiskey industry sold more than 10 million cases worldwide, with roughly 6.1 million cases in the US.
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A complete listing of all the medal winners at the 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition is available on the Tasting Alliance website.
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San Francisco, CA
4th of July parade held at San Francisco's Great Highway for 1st time in decades
![4th of July parade held at San Francisco's Great Highway for 1st time in decades](https://cdn.abcotvs.com/dip/images/15012339_062924-kgo-sf-july-4-parade-img.jpg?w=1600)
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — A revived San Francisco tradition.
People in the Sunset District marched down the Great Highway on Saturday for the inaugural “Oceanside Fourth of July Parade.”
It’s been decades since the city had a July 4th parade.
Two bands, 25 dancers as well as several parents and kids took part.
Inside effort to bring Fourth of July parade back to San Francisco for first time in decades
Supervisor Joel Engardio organized the event because he says it is time the City had its own Fourth of July parade.
“An event like this tells the world, we are not a doom loop. It tells the world that we have a lot of joy, and we are creating more of it. And, we are imaginative or innovative, and we are going to create our best San Francisco,” Engardio said.
Organizers had the parade on June 29 to make sure people who already made holiday plans could attend.
The supervisor says the plan is to have this on July 4th, next year.
Copyright © 2024 KGO-TV. All Rights Reserved.
San Francisco, CA
Olivia Culpo Marries San Francisco 49ers Star Christian McCaffrey
![Olivia Culpo Marries San Francisco 49ers Star Christian McCaffrey](https://www.usmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Olivia-Culpo-Marries-San-Francisco-49ers-Star-Christian-McCaffrey-483.jpg?crop=0px%2C39px%2C1334px%2C701px&resize=1200%2C630&quality=86&strip=all)
Christian McCaffrey, Olivia Culpo. Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Olivia Culpo and San Francisco 49ers star Christian McCaffrey have officially tied the knot after more than four years of dating.
Culpo, 32, and McCaffrey, 28, tied the knot on Saturday, June 29, in a church in Watch Hill, Rhode Island, according to Vogue.
“It’s a covenant. It’s the beginning of the rest of your life — and it’s the union and bond of two people forever,” Culpo, who wore a Dolce & Gabbana ball gown, told the outlet of the big day.
Following her split from Danny Amendola, Culpo was set up with McCaffrey in June 2019. The couple went public with their relationship in February 2020.
“Happy Valentine’s Day to my best friend. Thank you for changing my life and showing me the kind of love I always wanted but never thought was possible,” Culpo wrote via Instagram at the time. “You are the definition of an answered prayer. I am the luckiest girl in the world.”
McCaffrey, for his part, shared a series of pictures of himself and Culpo with the caption, “Never a dull moment with you. Happy Valentine’s Day.”
Culpo later admitted that she was “not looking for a relationship” when she connected with the football player.
“Three years ago I was not looking for a relationship. When my best friends Kristen & Tyler called me and asked if I would be open to meeting their friend Christian I was apprehensive,” she wrote in June 2022 via Instagram. “I was worried it would be the same old story all over again and that all guys were the same. While my expectations were low, I knew I couldn’t close myself off and make decisions based on fear.”
![Olivia Culpo Marries San Francisco 49ers Star Christian McCaffrey 482](https://www.usmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Olivia-Culpo-Marries-San-Francisco-49ers-Star-Christian-McCaffrey-482.jpg?w=1000&quality=86&strip=all)
Culpo continued: “I’m so grateful for the voice inside me that told me to give love another chance. The yin to my yang, you are the epitome of strength through humility. Thank you for being my rock and restoring my faith in love. You are everything I ever dreamed of and more ❤️ ❤️.”
Nearly five months later, Culpo got candid about how she and McCaffrey make their relationship work despite how busy they are with their own careers.
“We’re both really understanding about [our] schedules and the way that things have to work for the time being, and that definitely helps,” she told Us Weekly at the time. “I think when you’re on the same page with that you can, you really can make it work.”
After three years of dating, the couple got engaged in April 2023. They’ve continued to be each other’s biggest supporters, with Culpo cheering for McCaffrey and the 49ers at Super Bowl LVIII four months before their wedding day. McCaffrey’s team didn’t take home the win — the Kansas City Chiefs beat the 49ers 25-22 — but Culpo was proud to watch her then-fiancé on the field.
“My heart is full of so many emotions,” she captioned a TikTok video in February. “Sad because I wish the outcome was different, but ultimately grateful I get the opportunity to watch someone I love do what he loves and pour his heart and soul into becoming better every single day.”
She added, “I’m so proud of you Christian, you deserve the world. Thank you all so much for the love and support this year! It means so much.”
San Francisco, CA
Here’s What the San Francisco Giants Had to Say About the Passing of Orlando Cepeda
![Here’s What the San Francisco Giants Had to Say About the Passing of Orlando Cepeda](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_3885,h_2185,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/fastball/01j1j6qt46q9rqr2rmt6.jpg)
National Baseball Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda died on Friday at the age of 86. Along with Willie Mays, this marks the second San Francisco Giants’ legend to pass away in the month of June.
Upon learning of his passing, the Giants put out a lengthy statement on his impact. This is a portion of that:
“We lost a true gentleman and legend,” Giants chairman Greg Johnson said. “Orlando was a great ambassador for the game throughout his playing career and beyond. He was one of the all-time great Giants and he will truly be missed. Our condolences go out to the Cepeda family for their tremendous loss and we extend our thoughts to Orlando’s teammates, his friends, and to all those touched by his passing.”
Statement from the #SFGiants on the passing of Orlando Cepeda: pic.twitter.com/cjB7BK27PY
— SFGiants (@SFGiants) June 29, 2024
Cepeda spent 17 years in the big leagues with the Giants, Atlanta Braves, St. Louis Cardinals, Kansas City Royals, Oakland Athletics and Boston Red Sox. A native of Puerto Rico, he hit 379 career home runs and owned a lifetime .297 batting average.
He had 2,351 career hits, was an 11-time All-Star, an MVP winner and a World Series champion. He also won the Rookie of the Year Award in 1958. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999.
The Giants’ website also had a statement from commissioner Rob Manfred as well:
“Orlando Cepeda was one of the best hitters of his generation. He starred for three historic National League franchises, and the 11-time All-Star played alongside Hall of Fame players throughout his career,” Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. “Orlando was the 1958 National League Rookie of the Year when Major League Baseball debuted in San Francisco, where later ‘The Baby Bull’s’ number 30 was retired. In 1967 he earned NL MVP honors during the St. Louis Cardinals’ World Championship season.
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