Diageo Korea's tequila Don Julio 1942 received Best of 2026 in the spirits institutional sector at the 2026 Korea Wine & Spirits Awards. This year, 13 products received the top honor in the spirits field.
Don Julio 1942 is the top-tier product in the lineup of Don Julio, a premium tequila brand representing Mexico, the birthplace of tequila. Made only from blue agave grown in the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico, it is a luxury tequila known for its subtle, smooth texture and pleasant dark-chocolate finish.
In the gin institutional sector that day, Smart Brewery's Bip Gin, Pernod Ricard Korea's Monkey 47, and Lighthouse Gin's Lighthouse Gin won, respectively.
In the tequila gold institutional sector, Y&K Associates' Hacienda de Tepá Reposado Black won the top honor, and in the tequila white institutional sector, Diageo Korea's Don Julio 1942 and Pernod Ricard Korea's Altos Plata each received the top honor.
In the brandy institutional sector, Kennedy House Spirits' Calvados Peg Magloire XO won the top honor, and in the rum heavy institutional sector, Kennedy House Spirits' Pusser's Rum Original won the top honor.
In the liqueur institutional sector, Diageo Korea's Baileys, Hangang Global Co., Ltd.'s Kang Sobaek Yuzu Liqueur, and RS Liquor Korea's Rich Lemon Sour won, respectively.
In the highball institutional sector, So&U's So Highball Asa-bee and Squeeze Beer Sunchang Factory's Sauvignon Lemon Blanc Highball won. In the other institutional sector, Hitejinro's Hyoketsu Momo received the top honor.
The Korea Wine & Spirits Awards is Korea's representative liquor competition, now in its 13th year. With the goal of "discovering good domestic liquor and promoting it widely, and supporting the formation of a sound drinking culture," ChosunBiz has hosted it annually since 2014.
This year's event saw 260 companies submit a total of 1,118 brands. It is the largest among domestic competitions that cover general alcoholic beverages. Of these, 449 brands received the top honor.