10-year-old ARARAT Akhtamar and 5-year-old 5-star ARARAT brandies of Yerevan Brandy Company have won gold and silver medals respectively during the 16th Annual San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC).

The competition introduced in 2000 is considered as the most leading and influential spirits competition in the world.

This year over 1850 spirits from all over the world struggled for the title of the best spirit. The competition jury, consisting of 39 people, held an expert estimate from March 17 to 20.

According to the organizers, ARARAT is the first Armenian brandy representing the country during the long-year history of the competition.

Akhtamar brandy, which is the winner of numerous gold and silver medals, has been produced by Yerevan Brandy Company since 1967. It is exported to over 30 countries of the world and embodies one of the cultural and humanitarian directions of the Yerevan Brandy Company activity, namely the ARARAT Art Collection initiative.

Under the initiative launched in 2012, the Company produces a limited edition of Akhtamar brandy in special packaging for the true connoisseurs of art and Armenian brandy. During different years, ARARAT Art Collection devoted its limited edition of brandies to theatre, Armenian film director Sergei Paradjanov and historical and cultural heritage of Armenia. Renowned artists such as Pavel Kaplevich and Garen Bedrossian worked on the packaging of these editions.

The ARARAT Akhtamar brandy has an amber color with a copper sheen. Its bouquet is dominated by tinges of beeswax, walnut and oak bark with a base of vanilla and plums. Rounded, indirect and fairly sweet, it manifests itself gradually and provides a seductively long finish, while the slight final dryness is offset by hints of cinnamon.