Diageo Korea's tequila Don Julio 1942 won Best of 2026 in the spirits institutional sector at the 2026 Korea Wine & Spirits Awards. This year, 13 products won top honors 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 home 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 Bib Gin, Pernod Ricard Korea's Monkey 47, and Lighthouse Gin's Lighthouse Gin each won.
In the tequila gold institutional sector, Y&K Associates' Hacienda de Tepa Reposado Black won top honors, and in the tequila white institutional sector, Diageo Korea's Don Julio 1942 and Pernod Ricard Korea's Altos Plata each took the top prize.
In the brandy institutional sector, Kennedy House Spirits' Calvados Peg Magloire XO won top honors, and in the rum heavy institutional sector, Kennedy House Spirits' Pusser's Rum Original took the top prize.
In the liqueur institutional sector, Diageo Korea's Baileys, Hangang Global Co.'s Gang Sobaek Yuzu Liqueur, and RS Liquor Korea's Lychee Lemon Sour each won.
In the highball institutional sector, So&You's So Highball Asabi and Squeeze Beer Sunchang Factory's Sauvignon Lemon Blanc Highball won. In the other institutional sector, Hitejinro's Hyoketsu Momo took the top prize.
The Korea Wine & Spirits Awards is Korea's representative comprehensive liquor competition, now in its 13th year. With the goal of "discovering good domestic liquors and promoting them widely, and supporting the formation of a sound drinking culture," ChosunBiz has hosted it annually since 2014.
This year's event drew entries from 260 companies featuring a total of 1,118 brands. It is the largest among domestic competitions covering all categories of liquor. Of these, 449 brands received top honors.