International Whisky Competition

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International Whisky Competition
Formation2009
Founded2009
TypeCompetition
HeadquartersLas Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Location
  • International
Competition Director
Max A. Solano
Websitehttps://www.whiskycompetition.com/

The International Whisky Competition (IWC) is an annual spirits competition that evaluates and ranks whiskies from around the world through a blind tasting process. The event is known for its rigorous scoring methodology and Olympic-style awards format, assigning only three medals per category to highlight only the very best spirits in each category.[1][2][3]

History

The International Whisky Competition was established in 2010 to provide a structured judging environment for whisky producers worldwide.[4] In 2016, the results began being used to produce an International Whisky Guide.[5]

Initially based in Chicago,[6] the competition later became a traveling event. It has been hosted in various U.S. and international locations, including Las Vegas (2017-2019), Estes Park, Colorado (2020-2022); Bardstown, Kentucky (2023); the Isle of Raasay, Scotland (2024), and Louisville, Kentucky (2024 and 2025).[7]

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.[8]

Format

Scope and Participation

The competition judges a range of whisky styles, including single malt, blended whisky, bourbon, and cask-strength expressions. Award-winning entries have come from countries such as Taiwan, Malaysia, and India,[9] with producers from, among others, Australia, Canada, Japan, and Scotland also participating.[10][11][12]

Judging Process

The IWC's panel of judges evaluate whiskies using a double-blind tasting format. Judges do not know the brand, country of origin, whisky style, or alcohol content of the samples they evaluate.[13]

Each whisky is assessed individually—not in direct comparison to others as is the case in other competitions—and scored across four weighted categories: appearance, aroma, taste/mouth-feel, and finish.[14] Judges have up to eight minutes to evaluate each sample. Each whisky is then scored using a 100-point system based on 15 criteria, and gold, silver, and bronze medals are awarded to the top entries in each category.[15] Besides the medal system, the competition publishes a ranked top 15 every year.[13] This system was developed by Sébastien Gavillet and was implemented in 2015.[3] Judges have included Stephen Beal and Francesco Lafranconi.[14][16]

IWC Scoring System[3][17]
Categories Items Points
Sight Color 0
Visual Appeal 5
Nose Intensity and Complexity 15
Distinctiveness of Aromas 10
Balance of Aromas 10
Taste Palate and Balance 10
Alcohol Body and Complexity 10
Distinctiveness of Flavours 10
Balance Between Flavours 10
Finish Length and Finish 10
Quality of Finish 10

Awards

The International Whisky Competition presents a range of honors each year. The "Whisky of the Year" award recognizes the highest-scoring whisky across all categories. Other awards include "Distillery of the Year" and "Master Distiller of the Year".[3]

In addition, the IWC presents Best in Class awards for specific categories such as Best Bourbon, Best Rye, Best Single Malt, and Best Blended Scotch. The competition follows an Olympic-style medal system, awarding only one Gold, one Silver, and one Bronze medal per category. This limited-medal approach is a defining characteristic of the IWC’s judging format.[3]

Results

Whisky of the Year

The Whisky of the Year title is awarded to the highest scoring whisky of the competition.[18]

Year Winner Score Distillery Ref
2025 Kavalan Solist Fino Sherry Single Cask 97.04 Kavalan Distillery [19]
2024 Aultmore Oloroso Sherry Cask Travel Retail 25 Year Old 98.31 Bacardi (Aultmore)
2023 Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice Mortlach 1989 31 Year Old 97.1 Gordon & MacPhail
2022 Aberlour A'bunadh Batch 70 95.8 Aberlour Distillery
2021 Ardbeg Uigeadail 95.9 Ardbeg Distillery
2020 Dewar’s Double Double 32 Year Old 96.4 Dewar’s
2019 Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1991 97 Glenmorangie
2018 Aberlour A'bunadh 97.4 Aberlour Distillery
2017 Ardbeg Kelpie Committee Release 97.3 Ardbeg Distillery
2016 Glenmorangie Signet 97 Glenmorangie
2015 John Walker & Sons King George V 97 Johnnie Walker (Diageo)

Master Distiller of the Year

The Master Distillery of the Year title is awarded to the distiller of the highest scoring whisky from a single distillery.[20]

Year Winner Distillery Ref
2025 Zerose Yang – Head of R&D Kavalan Distillery [20]
2024 N/A N/A
2023 Bob Christine Mortlach Distillery [18]
2022 Graeme Cruickshank Aberlour Distillery [18]
2021 Dr. Bill Lumsden Glemorangie & Ardbeg Distillery [18]
2020 Dr. Bill Lumsden Glemorangie Distillery [18]

Distillery of the Year

The Distillery of the Year title is awarded to the distillery with the highest overall score, based on a weighted formula that factors in both product quality and portfolio representation. Partial submissions will reduce the final score.[20]

Year Winner Country Score Ref
2025 Kavalan Distillery Taiwan 92.78 (Avg.) [20]
2024 N/A N/A N/A
2023 Kavalan Distillery Taiwan 92.45 (Avg.) [18]
2022 Ardbeg Distillery Scotland, UK 92.59 (Avg.) [18]
2021 Kavalan Distillery Taiwan N/A [18]
2020 Ardbeg Distillery Scotland, UK N/A [18]

Master Blender of the Year

The Master Blender of the Year title is awarded to the blender of the highest scoring blended whisky from two or more distilleries.[20]

Year Winner Score Distillery Ref
2025 Drew Mayville (Mister Sam) 96.2 Sazerac [20]
2024 Stephanie Macleod N/A Bacardi [18]
2023 Stephanie Macleod N/A John Dewar & Sons [18]
2022 Stephanie Macleod N/A John Dewar & Sons [18]
2021 Stephanie Macleod N/A John Dewar & Sons [18]
2020 Stephanie Macleod N/A John Dewar & Sons [18]

Producer of the Year (formerly "Distiller of the Year")

The Producer of the Year title is awarded to the company with the highest overall score, based on a weighted formula that factors in both product quality and portfolio representation. Partial submissions will reduce the final score.[18]

Year Winner Ref
2025 Bacardi [20]
2024 Bacardi [18]

Golden Barrel Trophy

The Golden Barrel Trophy is awarded to the winning distillery the produced the Whisky of the Year. The trophy will be kept by the winner until the following year's competition, and the name of each winner is engraved in the trophy's marble base to commemorate the history of each annual winner.[21]

Year Winner Ref
2025 Kavalan Distillery [22]
2024 Aultmore Distillery (Bacardi) [18]
2023 Gordon & MacPhail [18]
2022 Aberlour Distillery [18]
2021 Ardbeg Distillery [18]
2020 John Dewar & Sons [18]

Scotland

Best Single Malt Scotch

YearWhiskyScore Distillery Ref
2025Oloroso Sherry Cask GTR 25 Years Old95.10 Aultmore [23]

Best Blended Scotch

RankWhiskyScore Distillery Ref
2025Double Double 21 Years Old95.94 Dewar [23]

Best Indian Whisky

YearWhisky ScoreDistillery Ref
2025DeVANS Gianchand Indian Single Malt Whisky Adambaraa 92.68DeVANS [24]

See also

References

  1. "This Single Malt Is the Best Whisky of the Year, According to the 2025 International Whisky Competition". Food & Wine. Retrieved 2025-07-15.
  2. "New International Whisky Guide 2016 Will Change The Way You See Whiskey". WTHR Indiana News Leader. Retrieved March 3, 2016
  3. Wright, Samuel (2024-06-16). "The Ultimate Guide To The 2024 International Whisky Competition With Samuel Wright". The Whiskey Wash. Retrieved 2026-06-08.
  4. Squires, Beth (2025-07-20). "World's Best Bourbons From The International Whisky Competition 2025". The Whiskey Wash. Retrieved 2025-08-04.
  5. Wright, Samuel (2024-06-16). "The Ultimate Guide To The 2024 International Whisky Competition With Samuel Wright". The Whiskey Wash. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  6. Aehweb; Whiskies, Planet. "The 2010 IWC Announces the Official Results". Planet Whiskies. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
  7. "The Best Bourbon in America Isn't From Kentucky — and It's Only $100". Food & Wine. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
  8. "Looking behind the International Whiskey judging curtain". 6 June 2016. Whiskey Wash. June 6 2016. Retrieved March 1 2017
  9. Squires, Beth (2025-07-20). "World's Best Bourbons From The International Whisky Competition 2025". The Whiskey Wash. Retrieved 2025-08-04.
  10. "How India's single malt whiskies are challenging global giants". South China Morning Post. 2024-11-04. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
  11. 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 2025-07-22.
  12. "International Whisky Competition 2025: DeVANS' GianChand Adambaraa wins best Indian Single Malt - CNBC TV18". CNBCTV18. 2025-07-18. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
  13. Squires, Beth (2026-06-06). "Top 5 Whiskies of 2025: International Whisky Competition Winners". The Whiskey Wash. Retrieved 2026-06-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. "This Dewar's Scotch Is the World's Best Whisky, According To 2020 International Whisky Competition - Maxim". www.maxim.com. 2020-07-20. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
  15. Japhe, Brad. "The World's Best Scotch—According To The 2025 International Whisky Competition". Forbes. Retrieved 2026-06-08.
  16. Squires, Beth (2025-07-20). "World's Best Bourbons From The International Whisky Competition 2025". The Whiskey Wash. Retrieved 2025-08-04.
  17. International Whisky Competition Committee (2020-06-03). Official Results: 2020 International Whisky Competition. Las Vegas, Nevada, US: International Whisky Competition (published 2026-06-03). p. 2.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  18. "All Results". INTERNATIONAL WHISKY COMPETITION®. Retrieved 2026-06-08.
  19. Ofgang, Erik. "The World's Best Whisky—According To The International Whisky Competition". Forbes. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  20. "International Whisky Competition 2025 Results". International Whisky Competition®. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  21. "Glenmorangie Signet Crowned Best Whisky of The Year". Luxury Today. 2016-05-18. Retrieved 2026-06-08.
  22. Squires, Beth (2025-08-10). "Top 5 Whiskies In The World From The International Whisky Competition 2025". The Whiskey Wash. Retrieved 2026-06-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  23. "2025 International Whisky Competition Official Results". International Whisky Competition®. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  24. 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.

Books

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