The best whiskies awarded by the International Wine & Spirits Competition 2021

By Marie-France 12.07.2021

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The prestigious International Wine & Spirits Competition awarded the best whiskies in its 2021 edition, we bring you the list.

The 2021 edition of the International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC) awarded the best whiskies, with a total of 37 medalists with Gold Outstanding 140 gold medalists in the Scotch whisky category.

To select the best whiskies, 250 judges from around the world participate in the IWSC. Founded in 1969 by Anton Massel, it has become the largest competition of its kind.

During the selection, wines and spirits are evaluated in 1500 categories, on a scale of 0 to 100 points. Awards are assigned on a Gold Outstanding (98-100 points), Gold (95-97 points), Silver (90-94 points) and Bronze (85-89 points) basis.

Winners of the best whiskies ranged from low-priced brands, retail branded expressions, or entry-level whiskies to more expensive bottlings such as The Balvenie or Bunnahabhain. In terms of whisky strength, they ranged from 40% ABV (alcohol by volume) to cask strength as strong as 61% ABV.

For now some of the winning whiskies have not yet been released, or are only reserved for sale in the travel trade. They will eventually find their way into wider distribution for the pleasure of all.

The Best whiskies rewarded

Unlike last year’s edition, where Speyside distilleries took almost all the gold medals, this year’s results were more balanced and featured distilleries from virtually all of Scotland’s whisky producing regions.

Among the top Gold Outstanding whiskies were 30 single malts and seven blended whiskies. Check out the list below.

Single Malt Whiskies

• Bowmore, 12 YO, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 40% ABV
• Aberlour, 12 YO, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 40% ABV
• Aberlour, 14 YO, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 40% ABV
• Speyburn Distillery, 15 YO, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 46% ABV
• Bunnahabhain, 25 YO, Small Batch, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 46.3% ABV
• Aberlour, A’bunadh Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 61% ABV
• Ardbeg, 19 YO, 2020 Edition, Traigh Bhan Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 46.2% ABV
• Isle of Arran Distillers, Arran Quarter Cask “The Bothy” Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 56.2% ABV
• Isle of Arran Distillers, Arran Sherry Cask “The Bodega” Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 55.8% ABV
• John Dewar & Sons, Aultmore, 18 YO, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 46% ABV
• John Dewar & Sons, Aultmore, 21 YO, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 46% ABV
• Lidl Great Britain Ltd, Ben Bracken Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 40% ABV
• Chivas Brothers, Caperdonich, 18 YO, Peated Whisky, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 48% ABV
• Chivas Brothers, Glen Keith, 25 YO, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 43% ABV
• Aldi, Glen Marnoch, 12 YO, Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 40% ABV
• Ballantine’s Glenburgie, 15 YO, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 40% ABV
• White & Mackay, Glencairn Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 40% ABV
• Glenmorangie, Signet, Ristretto Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 46% ABV
• Glenmorangie, The Lasanta, 12 YO, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 43% ABV
• Glenmorangie, The Tribute, 16 YO, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 43% ABV
• Ballantine’s Glentauchers, 23 YO, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 40% ABV
• Tomatin, Highland 1978, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 47% ABV
• Tomatin, Decades 2, Highland, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 46% ABV
• Chivas Brothers, Longhorn, 18 YO, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 48% ABV
• Glenglassaugh, Octaves Batch 2 Classic, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 44% ABV
• Laphroaig Quarter Cask, Islay, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 48% ABV
• Ian Macleod Distillers, Tamdhu, 10 YO, Grand Reserve, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 46% ABV
• White & Mackay, Tamnavulin No. 1 French Cabernet Sauvignon Cask, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 40% ABV
• William Grant & Sons Distillers, The Balvenie Doublewood, 12 YO, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 40% ABV
• William Grant & Sons Distillers, The Balvenie Forty Rare Marriage, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 48.5% ABV

Blended Scotch Whiskies

• Matisse, 21 YO, Blended Scotch Whisky, 40% ABV
• Royal Salute, 62 Gun Salute, Blended Scotch Whisky, 43% ABV
• Clan Campbell, Dark Whisky, Blended Scotch Whisky, 40% ABV
• William Grant & Sons Distillers, Grant’s Triple Wood, Blended Scotch Whisky, 40% ABV
• William Grant & Sons Distillers, House of Hazelwood, 18 YO, Blended Scotch Whisky, 40% ABV
• MacDuff International Islay Mist, 8 YO, Blended Scotch Whisky, 40% ABV
• Bardinet, Sir Edward’s Smoky Whisky, Blended Scotch Whisky, 40% ABV

Don’t drink and drive. Enjoy responsibly.

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