The 13th annual Sommelier Challenge brings together some of the most important beverage directors in the United States to evaluate spirits submissions. Award winning spirits will be poured at the SommCon Grand Decant tasting November 13, 2020 at the Hotel Intercontinental in San Diego. <strong>CATEGORIES </strong><strong>Absinthe </strong>ABSIN                           Absinthe, world <strong>Amaro/Bitters </strong>BITTERS                      Bitters, world AMARO                        Amaro, world <strong>Brandy/Grappa/Marc/Eau-de-Vie </strong>GRAPPI Grappa, Italy GRAPPW Grappa, non-Italy MARC Marc, France EDV Eau-de-Vie, world (stone fruits, berries and flowers; fruit brandy) GBE Grape brandy, Europe GBNA Grape brandy, North America GBW Grape brandy, World BRO Other brandy Armagnac ARBA                         Armagnac Blanche, AOC (all regions) ARVS                         VS, minimum 2 years old ARVSOP                    VSOP, minimum 5 years old ARXO                         XO, minimum 6 years old ARHDA                      Hors d’Age 10 years old + ARVIN                        Vintage Calvados CVPDAF                    Pays d’Auge Fine, minimum 2 years old CVPDAV                    Pays d’Auge Vieux, minimum 3 years old CVPDAVO                 Pays d’Auge VO/VSOP/Vieille Reserve, minimum 4 years old CVPDAX                    Pays d’Auge Extra/Napolean/Hors d’Age, minimum 6 years old CVPDAVIN                 Pays d’Auge Vintage CVDOM                     Calvados Domfrontais, all ages CVAOC                      Calvados AOC <strong>Cognac </strong>CNVS                        VS, minimum 2 years old CNVSOP                   VSOP, minimum 4 years old CNXO                        XO/Napoleon, minimum 6 years old CNVIN                       Cognac Vintage CNFL                         Cognac Flavored (non-liqueur) <strong>Pisco </strong>PCPU                        Pisco Peru PCCH                        Pisco Chile <strong>Spanish Brandy </strong>SPBRJ                      Brandy de Jerez SPBRO                     Spanish brandy other <strong>Gin </strong>GINLDS                    London Dry style (juniper dominant) GINPS                      Plymouth style GINOT                      Old Tom style GEN                         Genever, all ages GINO                        Gin, other GINF                         Gin, flavored <strong>Liqueurs </strong>LQPS                        Pastis LQAN                        Aniseed Liqueurs (Sambucca) LQBF                        All berry and fruit liqueurs LQCT                        Citrus fruit liqueurs LQCO                       Coffee liqueurs LQNUT                     Nut liqueurs LQCHO                    Chocolate liqueurs LQEGG                    Egg liqueurs LQCR                       Cream liqueurs LQMHS                    Mint/Herb/Spice liqueurs LQOT                       Other liqueurs LQSLOE                  Sloe Gin <strong> Rum </strong>RRHU                      Rhum Agricole/Sugarcane Juice oak-matured, all ages RRON                      Rum/Ron Molasses, all ages RFLV                        Flavored rum RAR                         Arrack/Other Sugarcane Juice Rum, all ages RMS                        Molasses &amp; Sugarcane Juice blend, all ages RSP                         Spiced rum, all ages <strong>Cachaca </strong>CACUA Cachaca unaged CACAG Cachaca aged <strong>Tequila, Mezcal &amp; Agave-based spirits </strong>TQMIX                    Mixto tequila, minimum 51% agave TQFLAV                  Flavored tequila TQBL                      Tequila blanco/silver, 100% agave TQRS                     Tequila reposado, 100% agave TQAJ                      Tequila anejo, 100% agave TQXAJ                    Tequila extra anejo, 100% agave MEZ                        Mezcal, all grades AGAVE                    Agave-based spirits, non-Mexico <strong>Whisk(e)y</strong> WCANB                  Whisky Canadian blended WCANSG               Whisky Canadian Single Grain/Malt WCANSB                Whisky Canadian Single Barrel/Small Batch WCANR                  Whisky Canadian Rye WIRISHB                Whiskey Irish blended WIRISHSM             Whiskey Irish Single Malt WIRISHPS             Whiskey Irish Pot Still WIRISHSG             Whiskey Irish Single Grain WJAPANB              Whisky Japan blended WJAPANSM           Whisky Japan Single Malt WJAPANSH           Whisky Japan Single Grain WSCOTB               Whisky Scotch blended WSCOTBM            Whisky Scotch blended malt WSCOTSG            Whisky Scotch Single Grain WSCOTBG            Whisky Scotch blended grain WSCOTSP             Whisky Single Malt Scotch Speyside WSCOTIS              Whisky Single Malt Scotch Islay WSCOTLO            Whisky Single Malt Scotch Lowland WSCOTIL              Whisky Single Malt Scotch Islands (Skye, Orkneys, Arran, Jura, Mull) WSCOTH               Whisky Single Malt Scotch Highland, non-Speyside WSCOTC               Whisky Single Malt Scotch Campbeltown WUSAMG              Whiskey USA Moonshine/Unaged Grain WUSAT                  Whiskey USA Tennessee WUSAR                  Whiskey USA Straight Rye WUSAB                  Whiskey USA Bourbon WUSAO                  Whiskey USA other WUSASM               Whiskey USA Single Malt WUSAW                 Whiskey USA Wheat WWNIS                  Whiskey World, non-Ireland &amp; non-Scotland WWFL                    Whisky World flavored <strong>Vermouth</strong> VMED                    Vermouth Extra Dry VMSW                   Vermouth Sweet VMOT                    Vermouth Other <strong>Vodka &amp; Aquavit</strong> VODPO                  Potato Vodka VODWH                 Wheat Vodka VODRYE                Rye Vodka VODBAR               Barley Vodka VODCG                 Vodka, combined grain VODCOR              Corn Vodka VODSC                 Vodka, sugar cane VODGR                 Vodka, grape or fruit distillate VODFL                  Vodka, flavored VODOT                 Vodka, other AQUAVIT            Aquavit &nbsp;