International Whisky Competition

Logo of the competition

The International Whisky Competition is an event that takes place annually in Chicago in which whiskies are blind tasted and rated by a professional tasting panel. The results are used to produce tasting notes for an International Whisky Guide.[1]

History

The International Whisky Competition was founded in 2009 by Sylvain Allard and Michael Petrucci. In 2016 the results began being used to produce an International Whisky Guide.[2]

Judges

The present panel consists of ten experts.[3] In 2014, Michael Petrucci stepped down from the competition, and in 2015 Sebastien Gavillet took over as head of the tasting panel, restructuring the competition and implemented a new tasting methodology. Starting in 2016, entry samples began being archived for referencing.[4]

Results (2025)

TOP 2025 AWARDS

Award Winner Distillery/Company Score
Whisky of the Year Kavalan Solist Fino Sherry Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky[5] Kavalan Distillery 97.04
Master Distiller of the Year Zerose Yang – Head of R&D Kavalan Distillery –
Distillery of the Year Kavalan Distillery Taiwan 92.78 (Avg.)
Master Blender of the Year Drew Mayville – Master Blender (Mister Sam) Sazerac 96.2
Producer of the Year Bacardi – 91.45 (Avg.)

[6]

Top 15 Whiskies of 2025

The following whiskies received the highest scores during the 2025 International Whisky Competition.[7]

Rank Whisky Score Distillery
1 Kavalan Solist Fino Sherry Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky[8] 97.04 Kavalan Distillery
2 A. Smith Bowman Cask Strength (Batch #4) 97.01 A. Smith Bowman
3 Jack Daniel's 12-Year-Old Tennessee Whiskey Batch 3 96.50 Jack Daniel's
4 Hogback Peated Smoke Single Malt Whiskey 96.39 Hogback
5 Uncle Nearest Single Barrel Whiskey - Batch 3633 96.34 Uncle Nearest
6 Mister Sam 96.20 Sazerac
7 Whiskey Row Cask Strength 96.20 Whiskey Row
8 Dewar's Double Double 21 Years Old 95.94 Dewar's
9 Kavalan Solist Manzanilla Sherry Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 95.78 Kavalan Distillery
10 Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B525 95.73 Heaven Hill
11 Kavalan Solist Palo Cortado Sherry Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 95.68 Kavalan Distillery
12 1792 Full Proof 95.64 Barton 1792 Distillery
13 Uncle Nearest Master Blend Edition - Batch 032 95.32 Uncle Nearest
14 Thomas H. Handy 95.11 Buffalo Trace
15 Stagg 95.05 Buffalo Trace

Scotland

Best Single Malt Scotch

Rank Whisky Score
1st Aultmore Oloroso Sherry Cask GTR 25 Years Old 95.10
2nd Raasay – Dun Cana 94.67
3rd Craigellachie 17 Years Old 94.10

Best Single Malt Scotch NAS (No Age Statement)

Rank Whisky Score
1st Raasay – Dun Cana 94.67
2nd Ardbeg Uigeadail 93.74
3rd Raasay – Lightly Peated 93.37

Best Single Malt Scotch 10 Year Old

Rank Whisky Score
1st Ardbeg Ten Years Old 91.11
2nd Port Charlotte 10 90.22
3rd Benromach 10 Year Old 89.98

Best Single Malt Scotch 12 Year Old

Rank Whisky Score
1st Royal Brackla OLOROSO 12 Years Old 92.74
2nd Aberfeldy 12 Years Old 92.15
3rd Aultmore Oloroso Sherry Cask GTR 12 Years Old 92.06

Best Single Malt Scotch 13–14 Year Old

Rank Whisky Score
1st Craigellachie 13 Years Old 89.58

Best Single Malt Scotch 15 Year Old

Rank Whisky Score
1st Glenmorangie The Lasanta 15 Years Old 90.57
2nd Benromach 15 Years Old 89.23
3rd Old Pulteney 15 Years Old 87.63

Best Single Malt Scotch 16–17 Year Old

Rank Whisky Score
1st Craigellachie 17 Years Old 94.10
2nd Aberfeldy 16 Years Old 92.14
3rd Aberfeldy Madeira Cask 16 Years Old 91.17

Best Single Malt Scotch 18 Year Old

Rank Whisky Score
1st Aultmore Madeira Cask GTR 18 Years Old 91.39
2nd Bruichladdich Eighteen 90.34
3rd Royal Brackla PALO CORTADO 18 Years Old 90.02

Best Single Malt Scotch 19–24 Year Old

Rank Whisky Score
1st Aultmore Calvados Cask GTR 21 Years Old 92.52
2nd Craigellachie 23 Years Old 92.39
3rd Aberfeldy Madeira Cask 21 Years Old 92.36

Best Single Malt Scotch 25 Year Old

Rank Whisky Score
1st Aultmore Oloroso Sherry Cask GTR 25 Years Old 95.10
2nd Ardbeg 25 Years Old 93.98
3rd Royal Brackla Pedro Ximenez 25 Years Old 92.37

Best Islay Single Malt

Rank Whisky Score
1st Ardbeg 25 Years Old 93.98
2nd Ardbeg Uigeadail 93.74
3rd Ardbeg Corryvreckan 92.97

Best Highland Single Malt

Rank Whisky Score
1st Royal Brackla OLOROSO 12 Years Old 92.74
2nd Royal Brackla Pedro Ximenez 25 Years Old 92.37
3rd Aberfeldy Madeira Cask 21 Years Old 92.36

Best Speyside Single Malt

Rank Whisky Score
1st Aultmore Oloroso Sherry Cask GTR 25 Years Old 95.10
2nd Aultmore Calvados Cask GTR 21 Years Old 92.52
3rd Craigellachie 23 Years Old 92.39

Best Islands Single Malt

Rank Whisky Score
1st Raasay – Dun Cana 94.67
2nd Raasay – Lightly Peated 92.37
3rd Arran Barrel Reserve 89.21

Best Blended Scotch

Rank Whisky Score
1st Dewar's Double Double 21 Years Old 95.94
2nd Dewar's Double Double 32 Years Old 94.29
3rd Dewar's Double Double 37 Years Old 93.95

Best Blended Scotch 12 Year Old

Rank Whisky Score
1st Imperial Blended Scotch 12 Year-Old 88.45
2nd Dewar's 12 Years Old 88.14
3rd Chivas Regal 12 Year Old Blended Scotch Whisky 87.48

Best Blended Scotch 15 Year Old

Rank Whisky Score
1st Chivas Regal XV Blended Scotch Whisky 88.52
2nd Dewar's 15 Years Old 87.26

Best Blended Scotch 16–17 Year Old

Rank Whisky Score
1st Dewar's 16 Years Old 89.66

Best Blended Scotch 18 Year Old

Rank Whisky Score
1st Chivas Regal 18 Year Old Blended Scotch Whisky 89.50
2nd Dewar's 18 Years Old 87.92

Best Blended Scotch 19–24 Year Old

Rank Whisky Score
1st Dewar's Double Double 21 Years Old 95.94
2nd Dewar's Double Double 20 Years Old 93.17
3rd DD21 Year Old Magma Toast Level 1 American Oak 92.33

Best Blended Scotch Over 25 Year Old

Rank Whisky Score
1st Dewar's Double Double 32 Years Old 94.29
2nd Dewar's Double Double 37 Years Old 93.95
3rd Dewar's Double Double 38 Years Old 93.73

[9]


Results (2025)

India

Best Indian Whisky (2025)

Rank Whisky Distillery/Brand Score
1st DeVANS Gianchand Indian Single Malt Whisky Adambaraa DeVANS[10] 92.68
2nd GODAWAN Single Malt RICH AND ROUNDED ARTISAN Whisky GODAWAN 88.22
3rd Woodburns Contemporary Indian Whisky Woodburns 88.09

Best Single Malt Indian Whisky (2025)

Rank Whisky Distillery/Brand Score
1st DeVANS Gianchand Indian Single Malt Whisky Adambaraa DeVANS 92.68
2nd GODAWAN Single Malt RICH AND ROUNDED ARTISAN Whisky GODAWAN 88.22
3rd GODAWAN Single Malt FRUIT AND SPICE ARTISAN Whisky GODAWAN 87.90

Best Blended Indian Whisky (2025)

Rank Whisky Distillery/Brand Score
1st Woodburns Contemporary Indian Whisky Woodburns 88.09
2nd Seagram's Blenders Pride Four Elements Premium Whisky Seagram's 85.33
3rd Sterling Reserve Blend 7 Sterling Reserve 85.02

[11]


References

  1. ^ "New International Whisky Guide 2016 Will Change The Way You See Whiskey". WTHR Indiana News Leader. Retrieved March 3, 2016
  2. ^ Wright, Samuel (2024-06-16). "The Ultimate Guide To The 2024 International Whisky Competition With Samuel Wright". The Whiskey Wash. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  3. ^ "IWC TASTING PANEL". INTERNATIONAL WHISKY COMPETITION®. 19 June 2025.
  4. ^ "Looking behind the International Whiskey judging curtain". 6 June 2016. Whiskey Wash. June 6 2016. Retrieved March 1 2017
  5. ^ "This Single Malt Is the Best Whisky of the Year, According to the 2025 International Whisky Competition". Food & Wine. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  6. ^ "International Whisky Competition 2025 Results". International Whisky Competition®. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  7. ^ "International Whisky Competition 2025 Results". International Whisky Competition®. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  8. ^ Ofgang, Erik. "The World's Best Whisky—According To The International Whisky Competition". Forbes. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  9. ^ "2025 International Whisky Competition Official Results". International Whisky Competition®. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  10. ^ Ray, Sanjana (2025-07-15). "This Indian whisky, which costs Rs 3,000, bagged 1st place at the International Whisky Competition 2025; Can you guess which one it is?". GQ India. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  11. ^ "International Whisky Competition 2025 Results – India". International Whisky Competition®. Retrieved 2025-08-07.

Books

"World Whisky more, issue 3 – Kindle Edition". Amazon. RosettaBooks. Retrieved 2025-08-07.

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