The Scotch Whisky Masters 2017 results

The Spirits Business received an unprecedented number of entries for this year’s Scotch Whisky Masters, boasting a plethora of high-quality expressions that wowed our judges.

Sunshine has finally returned to Scotland. Or at least it feels that way – the industry has a spring in its step following confirmation from the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) that exports finally returned to growth in 2016.

After four years of flat or falling exports, buffeted by economic headwinds and political uncertainty, export values rose by 4% to pass the £4 billion (US$5.2bn) mark, with the EU and US the category’s biggest customers. “We’re feeling optimistic,” said Julie Hesketh­-Laird, SWA acting chief executive, as the export figures were announced.

And the bounce is resulting in significant shifts in the sector. “This confidence is reflected in the number of new distilleries – 14 have opened in the past few years, and we know of about another 40 that are in various stages of planning,” she noted.

This injection of energy, alongside the excellence of the established houses, made for a compelling class of 2017 at The Scotch Whisky Masters. This vitality was apparent in the run­up to the competition as entry after entry flowed into SB’s office. With a record number of entrants (and medallists – an unprecedented 189 whiskies won gongs), it was clear that a stellar and substantial judging committee was required.

They gathered at London’s Flora Indica to take on the mammoth assortment of Scotch whiskies that spanned every category of SWA classification: single malts; blended malts; blended Scotch; single grains; and blended grains. And for the first time, all of the recognised regions were present too, with a strong Campbeltown contingent joining Highland & Island, Lowland, Speyside and Islay examples. Each segment was divided into price, age and other qualities, such as single cask, with all assessed blind and on their own merit.

UNDER SCRUTINY

The first flight to come under scrutiny was Single Grain: No Age Statement, which was tackled by Greg Dillon, brand consultant and author of GreatDrams.com; Mark Jennings, founder, Drinks Galore; and Chris White, editor, Edinburgh Whisky Blog; chaired by me, Kristiane Sherry. The flight saw a solitary Silver medal awarded to The Girvan Patent Still Proof Strength for its “orchard­-fruit­-salad and vanilla” qualities.

Following hot on its heels was the Single Grain: Aged 19­30 Years flight, where the panel found a duo of Golds in The Girvan Patent Still 25 Year Old, and Rare Auld Grain Cambus Sherry Cask 1991 25YO.

Rounding off the single grains was the Aged over-­31 Years offering, where That Boutique­-y Whisky Company’s Invergordon 43 Year Old Batch 5 secured the day’s first Master medal. “This is just joyous,” said White. “It’s comforting, inviting on the nose and with some rancio.”

The panel echoed his sentiments, deeming it “a whisky to really sit back with”. Dillon said: “The premium grain category is booming, and you can see the quality in there.” Jennings concurred: “There was some stellar stuff – for people to be so excited about single grain, it’s a real statement of quality.”

After the highs of the single grains, it was time to seek out excellence in the Blended: Standard category. Highlights included La Fée’s Envy Whisky, which picked up a Gold and was found to be “everything you want in a dram in that price segment”.

Moving up the ladder, the panel found a trio of Gold medallists in the Blended: Premium flight – Highland Queen Sherry Finish Blend, and Compass Box’s Great King Street Glasgow Blend and Great Queen Street Artist’s Blend. “This was a varied flight, but it does show that if you spend a little more you get a whole lot back,” said White. Dillon agreed: “It’s a marked step up.”

It was the turn of the second panel to take on the Blended: Super Premium whiskies. Led by Billy Abbott, web content editor at The Whisky Exchange, the group comprised Karen Taylor, founder of blog Whisky for Everyone; Elise Craft, Whisky Squad co-­ordinator; and Nagesh Balusu, general manager at Salt Whisky Bar and Dining Room. They discovered a Gold in Compass Box’s Asyla, which was found to be “pungent and nutty” yet “subtle and delicate”.

Away from the medallists, there was disappointment with the wider flight. “I’m not sure that super-­premium is how I’d describe these whiskies, considering what ‘premium’ means across Scotch,” said Craft. Abbott agreed: “They are, unfortunately, boring, with little to distinguish between them.”

The group moved on to the Blended: Ultra Premium flight, where they found a Master in Dewar’s Signature. Praised for its “creamy” mouthfeel, sweet/floral palate and tremendous balance, the expression delighted, and was followed by a Gold for Pure Scot from the Bladnoch Distillery.

The two panels then split a mammoth flight of Blended: No Age Statement whiskies between them, marking the foray into the aged categories. It was also the largest flight of the day and one that resulted in 18 medals. Leading the group was Diageo, which was awarded Golds for Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve, Johnnie Walker Blue Label and Old Parr Tribute.

While there were solid whiskies present, Jennings said: “There’s so much more that could be done with a lot of these drams – consumers won’t just accept ‘good enough’ any more,” he said. Dillon agreed: “Producers need to understand that blended whisky doesn’t need to be, ‘ugh, it’s a blend’. It’s the backbone of the market, they need to step up, or it becomes a self­-fulfilling prophecy.”

Continuing the theme of blended Scotch by age, and assessing the Blended: Aged up to 12 Years flight was the third judging panel: Colin Hampden­-White, editor of Whisky Quarterly; Paul Everest, co­-founder of Banstead Vintners; and Matthew Neal, Shake and Stir mixologist and brand consultant; chaired by Matt Chambers, Whisky for Everyone founder and a freelance journalist.

The group found three Gold medallists in the shape of Johnnie Walker Black Label, Old Parr Grand 12 Year Old and Ballantine’s 12. All in all, the whiskies impressed. “This was a good flight, and it would be easy for entry­ level consumers to find a flavour they like,” said Neal. Hampden­-White concurred: “Overall you get what you pay for – there’s lots of flavour for a decent price.”

SIX GOLDS

Another group picked up the baton for Blended: Aged 13­-18 Years. Led by SB’s news, web and social editor, Annie Hayes, Athila Roos, private client director, Louis XIII; Nicola Thomson, director at Fifteen71; and Tobias Gorn, whisky and cigar sommelier at Boisdale, the panel discovered six Gold medallists: Johnnie Walker Aged 18 Years, Chivas Regal 18YO, Dewar’s 15YO The Monarch, Dewar’s 18YO The Vintage, William Lawson’s 13YO and Ballantine’s 17.

“It was a very consistent flight,” said Thomson. “It depicted what the category is all about.” Meanwhile the fifth and final group – Nick Bell, Amathus retail general manager; and Ernest Reid, chief engineer of cocktail and cheer at HBT, chaired by Amy Hopkins, The Spirits Business’s deputy editor – took on a flight of Blended: Aged 19­-30 Years, discovering a further pair of Golds. It was Dewar’s NE Plus Ultra 30YO and That Boutique­y Whisky Company’s Blended Whisky #3 23 Year Old that really stood out.

Assessing the whole flight, Reid was impressed. “They were very safe, which is what you should get with a blend,” he said. Bell agreed: “The fact that almost everything entered got a medal is telling of the quality – we are looking at old blended whiskies here and the quality was great.”

It was the next flight that presented the day’s second Master medal: That Boutique­y Whisky Company’s Blended Whisky #1 50 Year Old – Batch 5, described by one judge as “one of the most delicious things I’ve ever tasted”. In the Blended: Aged Over 31 Years flight, that’s high praise indeed.

After finding a Silver medal for Compass Box’s Hedonism in the Blended Grain category, judging moved on into the realm of Blended Malts. Abbott’s panel took on the Blended Malt: Premium group, which comprised two Gold medallists: Monkey Shoulder and Shackleton.

But while the Gold and Silver medal winners found favour, more broadly there was disappointment. “There’s too much punch and not enough substance,” Taylor observed, with Balusu adding that they all felt young and high in alcohol.

The tide turned for the Blended Malt: Super Premium offer, which not only picked up the judges spirits, but also saw a Master medal given to Compass Box’s Oak Cross. “A lot of care has been put into the blending – it felt deliberate,” said Craft. The panel also noted the excellent value for money offered by the grouping, which also produced a quartet of Gold medallists.

More goodness was to follow when the judges stepped up a price bracket to check out the Blended Malt: Ultra Premium expressions. This time two picked up the coveted Master accolade: Chivas Regal Ultis and Blended Malt #1 23 from That Boutique­y Whisky Company. A further three Gold medals followed. “This was an interesting and well-­balanced flight, and it was very difficult to choose between them,” reckoned Balusu. For Abbott: “There were some really great whiskies. They were all individually distinctive but really high in quality.”

SINGLE MALTS

And so concluded the battle of the blends – what was to come when the single malts were sent up for scrutiny? First to enter the fray were those flying the flag for Campbeltown, and a solitary Gold medal was found in the Aged 13­18 Years segment: Glen Scotia 15 Year Old Single Malt.

“While it was hard to judge as there weren’t many entries – or possibility of entries – the Glen Scotia 15YO was delicious,” said Chambers. The delight continued in the Single Malt – Campbeltown: Single Cask flight, with Glen Scotia Distillery Edition #004 also seeing Gold. “It’s great to see such a strong showing from such a small category,” added Neal.

Time to trek up the Campbeltown peninsular and land in the Lowlands with a flurry of entries that were also assessed by Chambers’s panel. Bladnoch Samsara Single Malt was awarded a Silver in the Lowland: Super Premium category, before Lowland: No Age Statement saw William Grant & Sons’s Ailsa Bay pick up a Gold.

Then it was the turn for Ladyburn 1974 Batch #2 to win Gold in the Lowland: Aged over 31 Years bracket. “The Ladyburn was a classy example of an old Lowland whisky – light and delicate, yet complex and deep,” said Chambers. “It’s just a shame there are not yet more distilleries in this region.”

The Lowland region was completed with an entry from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) in the Lowland: Single Cask flight. 50.78 – Ready, Steady, Bake! was awarded another Gold. “It’s nice to see some breadth developing in this small category,” said Hampden­-White, while Everest was pleased to see “interesting diversity” in the Lowland entries.

The first single malts to come under inspection by Hayes’s group was a Speyside: Standard assortment, with two picking up Gold medals: Glen Marnoch Speyside from Aldi and The Torran Single Malt Portwood Finish. “In value for money terms, they were great,” decreed Thomson. “They were complex and well made.”

After jumping up the pricing ladder considerably to Speyside: Super Premium, the judges found a Gold in The Glenrothes Vintage Reserve, and further on to Speyside: Ultra Premium for another Gold with The Glenrothes 95 American Oak. “These were classic Speyside examples – really well made and easy to drink,” felt Hayes.

Meanwhile, Hopkins’s panel was attacking a bumper flight of Speyside – No Age Statement expressions. They found 16 medals, including two Masters: Aberlour A’bunadh Batch 57 and The Glenlivet Nadurra at 61.5% abv. “I was happy to see some diversity,” mused Bell. “With NAS regional you could expect repeat, repeat, repeat. But there were some unusual, very nice expressions.” Reid agreed: “I love high abv whiskies so these were definitely the stand­ outs of the round.”

Back to Abbott’s team, who were busy exploring Speyside: Aged up to 12 Years. The group found another Master medal in Glenfiddich 12 Year Old, as well as a trio of Gold medallists: The Singleton of Dufftown 12 Year Old, Aberlour 12YO Double Cask Matured and Aultmore 12 Year Old.

“This is a good indication of the bread­ and­ butter end of the Speyside category – strong and consistent,” Taylor felt. But Abbott was less impressed of the wider flight, calling for greater diversity: “The Speyside entry­-level whiskies seem to be getting less interesting every year, all tending to feature a similarly bland vanilla flavour.”

Would the Speyside: Aged 13­-18 Years category find favour with Chambers’s panel? While the group deemed the showing “pretty safe”, they did find a Master in the “exquisite” and “honey and golden syrup­-led” The Glenlivet 18 Years Old.

Continuing up the age­-statement ladder was Hayes’s panel, with the 19­-30 Years flight of heavy-weight whiskies fielding an enormous five Master medallists. Glenfiddich 21 Year Old, The Balvenie PortWood 21 Year Old, The Balvenie Traditional Oak 25 Year Old, The Balvenie Thirty and The Glenlivet 21 Years Old all thoroughly impressed.

“This was a very pleasant flight,” exclaimed Roos. “They all had quite a bit of complexity and concentration of character, which is what you’d expect for this age.”

While Thomson branded the flight “fantastic” and “really interesting”, Gorn still offered a word of warning: “While this was a consistent category there still can be disappointment. It’s not guaranteed that just because it’s old, a whisky will be good. But on average, these were very, very good.”

My panel continued the upbeat theme: flanking two Golds were two Master medals in the Aged over 31 Years category in the form of Rare Vintage Strathisla 1972 from Gordon & MacPhail, and The Benromach 35 Years Old. “These were exceptional whiskies, very high quality. Total harmony,” confirmed White, while Dillon deemed the flight “benchmark­setting – not just in Speyside but across the board”.

Rounding off the sizeable Speyside offering was SMWS 35.163 – A Playful Wrestling March in the Single Cask flight, which was awarded Gold by Hopkins’s panel. “It was really well balanced, and you want a lot of personality in a single cask,” concluded Bell.

Time for a journey around Scotland’s Highlands and Islands. Hopkins’s panel was the first to take the tour, finding a Silver for Aldi’s Glen Marnoch Highland in the Standard flight. They then found a Gold in the form of Loch Lomond 18 Year Old Single Malt in the Super Premium bracket, and a Master for Balblair 1990 in the Ultra Premium category.

“In terms of structure, it’s my favourite of the day,” Reid remarked on the latter. “It has a lot of layers, there’s a lot going on, but it’s not unbalanced.”

Chambers’s panel chose a trio of Silvers in the No Age Statement flight, before Hayes’s group found the same number of Golds in the Aged up to 12 Years bracket. The Singleton of Glen Ord 12 Year Old, Aberfeldy 12 Year Old and Ledaig 10 Year Old all impressed.

“It’s an interesting flight with a real mix,” Hayes concluded. While some missed the mark, Thomson felt: “You can see they’re trying to experiment with whisky­making techniques, but it didn’t always show through. The alcohol was a little unbalanced, but there were interesting complexities and taste profiles.”

The group pressed on to the Highlands & Islands Aged 13­18 Years panel, finding a strong contingent of Gold medallists: The Singleton of Glen Ord 15 and 18 Year Olds, Royal Brackla 16 Year Old, Deanston Organic 15 Year Old and Inchmurrin – Loch Lomond Collection – 18 Year Old Single Malt.

“It was a really good representation across the Highlands and Islands,” said Thomson. “Everything was so fresh – it felt like you were on an arable farm!”
Highlands & Islands: Aged 19­30 Years also delighted, with Abbott’s panel discovering a Master in Aberfeldy 21 Year Old, and a Gold in Royal Brackla 21 Year Old.

“Whiskies of this age have to be treated with respect, and these have been,” reckoned Taylor. Abbott agreed: “The pair were old and elegant, without diving into the woody mess that you can often find.” They also awarded Tullibardine ‘The Murray’ a Gold in the Cask Strength segment, and found another in the Special Edition flight for Highland Park’s Valkyrie.

Hopkins’s panel rounded off the regional whistle­-stop with Golds for SMWS’s 28.31 – Anything But Airy Fairy in Single Cask, and Highland Park Valkyrie in the Special Edition flight.

PEAT FIRST

The Isle of Islay then came calling, with all panels taking a departure into the land known for peat and smoke. Kicking off the island’s proceedings was Aldi’s Glen Marnoch Islay, which scooped a Gold and was deemed “really good value for money and very well made”.

Hopkins’s panel discovered two Golds in the Islay: No Age Statement flight: Bunnahabhain Cruach Mhòna and Islay #1 Batch 1 from That Boutique­y Whisky Company. “They both smelled so good,” said Reid, with Bell adding that “despite their abv and peatiness [neither fell below 50% abv] they were both very drinkable.”

It was back to Hayes’s group for the Islay: Aged up to 12 Years deputation, with Golds awarded to Gordon & MacPhail’s Connoisseurs Choice Caol Ila 2004 and Williamson 6 Year Old from That Boutique­y Whisky. “It was a really consistent flight, which showed complexity,” said Thomson, with Gorn praising the “three­dimensional” nature of the grouping.

Then my panel took on the Islay: Aged 13­18 Years flight, with a Gold for Bunnahabhain 18 Year Old, and for its 25 Year Old sibling and Lombard Single Malt Caol Ila 1984 in the 19­ 30 Years segment. We then discovered a Master in the Aged over 31 Years flight: Port Ellen 33 Year Old from That Boutique­y Whisky Company.

(L­R): Nagesh Balusu, Billy Abbott, Elise Craft, Matthew Neal, Annie Hayes, Karen Taylor, Matt Chambers, Amy Hopkins, Greg Dillon, Colin Hampden­White, Chris White, Nicola Thomson, Ernest Reid, Paul Everett, Mark Jennings, Nick Bell, Tobias Gorn, Athila Roos, Kristiane Sherry

“It’s like a rained-­off barbeque, but with none of the disappointment,” Jennings quipped, with White deeming the whisky “tremendously good”.

“What’s interesting for me is that mass­ market consumers see Islay as something unapproachable and impenetrable – yet these brilliantly aged Islays show it’s not all about being super peaty,” said Dillon “If it’s been aged well and if the cask is good enough, the flavour profile transcends, and in terms of flavour they can be on a par with aged Speyside.”

Moving on to Islay: Single Cask, Hopkins’s group found a Gold in SMWS’s 29.205 – Two Wheeled Beach Cruiser, and another for That Boutique­y Whisky’s Islay #1 Batch 1 in the Islay Cask Strength segment. Rounding off the day on a different theme was Hayes’s panel, with a single flavoured sample. But far from letting the side down, Ballantine’s Brasil scooped a Gold and was deemed to be “very well balanced” and “sherbety”.

All that was left for the panels to do was to refresh their palates and regroup: the Scotch Whisky Taste Master of 2017 was to be decided. Every judge retasted each Master before a vote was cast – for the outcome of that, come along to The Spirits Business Awards Lunch in December.

Click through the following pages for the Scotch Whisky Masters 2017 results in full.

Single Grain: No Age Statement

Brand Owner	Producer Name	Medal
William Grant & Sons	The Girvan Patent Still Proof Strength	Silver

Single Grain: Aged 19­30 Years

Brand Owner	Producer Name	Medal
William Grant & Sons	The Girvan Patent Still 25YO	Gold
Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky	Rare Auld Grain Cambus Sherry Cask 1991 25YO	Gold
William Grant & Sons	The Girvan Patent Still 28YO	Silver

Single Grain: Aged over 31 Years

Brand Owner	Producer Name	Medal
That Boutique­y Whisky Company	Invergordon 43YO Batch 5	Master
That Boutique­y Whisky Company	Caledonian 33YO	Silver

Blended: Standard

Brand Owner	Producer Name	Medal
La Fée	Envy Whisky	Gold
William Grant & Sons	Grant’s Family Reserve	Silver
Aldi Stores	Highland Earl	Silver
John Dewar & Sons	William Lawson’s Finest Blend	Silver

Blended: Premium

Brand Owner	Producer Name	Medal
Terroirs Distillers	Highland Queen Sherry Finish Blend	Gold
Compass Box Whisky	Great King Street Glasgow Blend	Gold
Compass Box Whisky	Great King Street Artist’s Blend	Gold

Blended: Super Premium

Brand Owner	Producer Name	Medal
Compass Box Whisky	Asyla	Gold
Chivas Brothers	Chivas Regal Extra	Silver
Blended: Ultra Premium
John Dewar & Sons	Dewar’s Signature	Master
Bladnoch Distillery	Pure Scot	Gold
The Blended Whisky Company	The Half­Century Blend	Silver
The Blended Whisky Company	The Lost Distilleries Blend Batch 9	Silver

Blended: No Age Statement

Brand Owner	Producer Name	Medal
Diageo	Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve	Gold
Diageo	Johnnie Walker Blue Label	Gold
Diageo	Old Parr Tribute	Gold
Bardinet	Sir Edward’s Smoky	Silver
William Grant & Sons	Grant’s Select Reserve	Silver
Distell	Black Bottle	Silver
Distell	Scottish Leader Original	Silver
Distell	Scottish Leader Signature	Silver
MacDuff International	Grand MacNish Original Blended Scotch Whisky	Silver
MacDuff International	Islay Mist Deluxe Blended Scotch Whisky	Silver
Diageo	Johnnie Walker Red Label	Silver
Diageo	Johnnie Walker Double Black	Silver
Diageo	Vat 69	Silver
Diageo	Black & White	Silver
Diageo	Bell’s	Silver
Diageo	White Horse	Silver
Chivas Brothers	Ballantine’s Finest	Silver
Bladnoch Distillery	Pure Scot	Silver

Blended: Aged up to 12 Years

Brand Owner	Producer Name	Medal
Diageo	Johnnie Walker Black Label	Gold
Diageo	Old Parr Grand 12YO	Gold
Chivas Brothers	Ballantine’s 12	Gold
William Grant & Sons	Grant’s 12	Silver
Distell	Scottish Leader 12YO	Silver
Aldi Stores	Highland Black	Silver
Chivas Brothers	Chivas Regal 12YO	Silver

Blended: Aged 13­18 Years

Brand Owner	Producer Name	Medal
Diageo	Johnnie Walker Aged 18 Years	Gold
Chivas Brothers	Chivas Regal 18YO	Gold
John Dewar & Sons	Dewar’s 15YO The Monarch	Gold
John Dewar & Sons	Dewar’s 18YO The Vintage	Gold
John Dewar & Sons	William Lawson’s 13YO	Gold
Chivas Brothers	Ballantine’s 17	Gold
William Grant & Sons	Grant’s 18YO	Silver
William Grant & Sons	House of Hazelwood 18YO	Silver
Diageo	Johnnie Walker Green Label	Silver
That Boutique­y Whisky Company	Blended Whisky #2 18 Year Old	Silver

Blended: Aged 19­30 years

Brand Owner	Producer Name	Medal
John Dewar & Sons	Dewar’s NE Plus Ultra 30YO	Gold
That Boutique­y Whisky Company	Blended Whisky #3 23 Year Old	Gold
William Grant & Sons	Grant’s 25YO	Silver
William Grant & Sons	Grant’s Elementary Copper	Silver
William Grant & Sons	House of Hazelwood 21YO	Silver
Chivas Brothers	Ballantine’s 30	Silver
MacDuff International	Lauder’s 25 Year Old Blended Scotch Whisky	Silver
Chivas Brothers	Ballantine’s 21	Silver

Blended: Aged over 31 Years

Brand Owner	Producer Name	Medal
That Boutique­y Whisky Company	Blended Whisky #1 50YO – Batch 5	Master

Blended Grain: Super Premium

Brand Owner	Producer Name	Medal
Compass Box Whisky	Hedonism	Silver

Blended Malt: Premium

Brand Owner	Producer Name	Medal
William Grant & Sons	Monkey Shoulder	Gold
Whyte & Mackay	Shackleton	Gold
Wemyss Malts	The Hive – Batch Strength Batch no. 001	Silver
Wemyss Malts	Spice King – Batch Strength Batch no. 001	Silver
Wemyss Malts	Peat Chimney – Batch Strength Batch no.001	Silver

Blended Malt: Super Premium

Brand Owner	Producer Name	Medal
Compass Box Whisky	Oak Cross	Master
LDC Scotland	Dalaruan Classic	Gold
Compass Box Whisky	The Spice Tree	Gold
Compass Box Whisky	The Peat Monster	Gold
That Boutique­y Whisky Company	Peatside 5YO	Gold

Blended Malt: Ultra Premium

Brand Owner	Producer Name	Medal
Chivas Brothers	Chivas Regal Ultis	Master
That Boutique­y Whisky Company	Blended Malt #1 23	Master
That Boutique­y Whisky Company	Blended Malt #2 – Batch 2	Gold
LDC Scotland	Gerston Archivist	Gold
That Boutique­y Whisky Company	Blended Malt #3 19YO	Gold

Single Malt – Campbeltown: Aged 13­18 Years

Brand Owner	Producer Name	Medal
Loch Lomond Group	Glen Scotia 15YO Single Malt	Gold

Single Malt – Campbeltown: Single Cask

Brand Owner	Producer Name	Medal
Loch Lomond Group	Glen Scotia Distillery Edition #004	Gold

Single Malt – Lowland: Super Premium

Brand Owner	Producer Name	Medal
Bladnoch Distillery Limited	Bladnoch Samsara Single Malt	Silver

Single Malt – Lowland: No Age Statement

Brand Owner	Producer Name	Medal
William Grant & Sons	Ailsa Bay	Gold
Bladnoch Distillery Limited	Bladnoch Samsara Single Malt	Silver

Single Malt – Lowland: Aged over 31 Years

Brand Owner	Producer Name	Medal
William Grant & Sons	Ladyburn 1974 Batch #2	Gold

Single Malt – Lowland: Single Cask

Brand Owner	Producer Name	Medal
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society	50.78 – Ready… Steady… Bake!	Gold

Single Malt – Speyside: Standard

Brand Owner	Producer Name	Medal
Aldi Stores	Glen Marnoch Speyside	Gold
London & Scottish International	The Torran Single Malt Portwood Finish	Gold

Single Malt – Speyside: Super Premium

Brand Owner	Producer Name	Medal
Berry Bros & Rudd	The Glenrothes Vintage Reserve	Gold

Single Malt – Speyside: Ultra Premium

Brand Owner	Producer Name	Medal
Berry Bros & Rudd	The Glenrothes 95 American Oak	Gold

Single Malt – Speyside: No Age Statement

Brand Owner	Producer Name	Medal
Chivas Brothers	Aberlour A’bunadh Batch 57	Master
Chivas Brothers	The Glenlivet Nadurra 61.5% abv	Master
William Grant & Sons	Glenfiddich Cask Collection Vintage Cask	Gold
Chivas Brothers	Scapa Glansa	Gold
William Grant & Sons	Glenfiddich Experimental Series IPA Cask Finish	Gold
Chivas Brothers	The Glenlivet Nadurra Oloroso	Gold
Chivas Brothers	The Glenlivet Nadurra First Fill	Gold
William Grant & Sons	Glenfiddich Cask Collection Select Cask	Silver
William Grant & Sons	Glenfiddich Cask Collection Reserve Cask	Silver
Angus Dundee Distillers	Tomintoul Tlàth	Silver
Chivas Brothers	The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve	Silver
Chivas Brothers	Longmorn The Distiller’s Choice	Silver
Chivas Brothers	The Glenlivet Solera Vatted	Silver
Chivas Brothers	The Glenlivet Master Distiller’s Reserve	Silver
Chivas Brothers	Scapa Skiren	Silver
William Grant & Sons	Glenfiddich Experimental Series Project XX	Silver

Single Malt – Speyside: Aged up to 12 Years

Brand Owner	Producer Name	Medal
William Grant & Sons	Glenfiddich 12YO	Master
Chivas Brothers	Aberlour 12YO Double Cask Matured	Gold
Diageo	The Singleton of Dufftown 12YO	Gold
John Dewar & Sons	Aultmore 12YO	Gold
William Grant & Sons	The Balvenie DoubleWood 12YO	Silver
William Grant & Sons	The Balvenie Single Barrel First Fill 12YO	Silver
Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky	Whisky Galore 7YO Single Malt Scotch Whisky	Silver
Chivas Brothers	The Glenlivet 12YO	Silver
The Benromach Distillery Co	Benromach 10YO	Silver

Single Malt – Speyside: Aged 13­18 Years

Brand Owner	Producer Name	Medal
Chivas Brothers	The Glenlivet 18YO	Master
John Dewar & Sons	Craigellachie 17YO	Gold
William Grant & Sons	Glenfiddich 15YO	Silver
William Grant & Sons	Glenfiddich 18YO	Silver
William Grant & Sons	The Balvenie DoubleWood 17YO	Silver
William Grant & Sons	The Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14YO	Silver
William Grant & Sons	The Balvenie Single Barrel Sherry Cask 15YO	Silver
Chivas Brothers	The Glenlivet 15YO	Silver
Angus Dundee Distillers	Tomintoul 15YO Portwood Finish	Silver
John Dewar & Sons	Aultmore 18YO	Silver
Chivas Brothers	Longmorn 16YO	Silver

Single Malt – Speyside: Aged 19­30 Years

Brand Owner	Producer Name	Medal
William Grant & Sons	Glenfiddich 21YO	Master
William Grant & Sons	The Balvenie PortWood 21YO	Master
William Grant & Sons	The Balvenie Traditional Oak 25YO	Master
William Grant & Sons	The Balvenie Thirty	Master
Chivas Brothers	The Glenlivet 21YO	Master
William Grant & Sons	Glenfiddich 25YO	Gold
William Grant & Sons	Glenfiddich Excellence 26YO	Gold
William Grant & Sons	Glenfiddich 30YO	Gold
William Grant & Sons	Glenfiddich Age of Discovery Madeira Cask Finish	Gold
William Grant & Sons	Glenfiddich Age of Discovery Bourbon Cask Reserve	Gold
John Dewar & Sons	Craigellachie 23YO	Gold
John Dewar & Sons	Aultmore 21YO	Gold
William Grant & Sons	Glenfiddich Age of Discovery Red Wine Cask Finish	Silver
Glasgow Distillery Company	Prometheus Speyside Single Malt 27YO	Silver
Chivas Brothers	Longmorn 23YO	Silver

Single Malt – Speyside: Aged over 31 Years

Brand Owner	Producer Name	Medal
Gordon & MacPhail	Rare Vintage Strathisla 1972	Master
The Benromach Distillery Co	Benromach 35YO	Master
William Grant & Sons	Glenfiddich 40YO	Gold
Lombard Scotch Whisky	Lombard Single Malt Dailuaine 1973	Gold

Single Malt – Speyside: Single Cask

Brand Owner	Producer Name	Medal
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society	35.163 – A Playful Wrestling Match	Gold

Single Malt – Highlands & Islands: Standard

Brand Owner	Producer Name	Medal
Aldi Stores	Glen Marnoch Highland	Silver

Single Malt – Highlands & Islands: Super Premium

Brand Owner	Producer Name	Medal
Loch Lomond Group	Loch Lomond 18YO Single Malt	Gold

Single Malt – Highlands & Islands: Ultra Premium

Brand Owner	Producer Name	Medal
International Beverage	Balblair 1990	Master

Single Malt – Highlands & Islands: No Age Statement

Brand Owner	Producer Name	Medal
Diageo	The Singleton of Glen Ord Sherry	Silver
Diageo	Talisker Skye	Silver
Distell	Deanston Virgin Oak	Silver

Single Malt – Highlands & Islands: Aged up to 12 Years

Brand Owner	Producer Name	Medal
Diageo	The Singleton of Glen Ord 12YO	Gold
John Dewar & Sons	Aberfeldy 12YO	Gold
Distell	Ledaig 10YO	Gold
International Beverage	AnCnoc 12YO	Silver
Edrington	Highland Park 10YO Viking Scars	Silver
Edrington	Highland Park 12YO Viking Honour	Silver

Single Malt – Highlands & Islands: Aged 13­18 Years

Brand Owner	Producer Name	Medal
Diageo	The Singleton of Glen Ord 15YO	Gold
Diageo	The Singleton of Glen Ord 18YO	Gold
John Dewar & Sons	Royal Brackla 16YO	Gold
Distell	Deanston Organic 15YO	Gold
Loch Lomond Group	Inchmurrin –Loch Lomond Island Collection –18YO Single Malt	Gold
Distell	Deanston 18YO Bourbon Finish	Silver
Edrington	Highland Park 18YO	Silver
Distell	Ledaig 18YO	Silver

Single Malt – Highlands & Islands: Aged 19­30 Years

Brand Owner	Producer Name	Medal
John Dewar & Sons	Aberfeldy 21YO	Master
John Dewar & Sons	Royal Brackla 21YO	Gold

Single Malt – Highlands & Islands: Cask Strength

Brand Owner	Producer Name	Medal
Terroirs Distillers	Tullibardine ‘The Murray’	Gold

Single Malt – Highlands & Islands: Single Cask

Brand Owner	Producer Name	Medal
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society	28.31 – Anything But Airy Fairy	Gold

Single Malt – Highlands & Islands: Special Edition

Brand Owner	Producer Name	Medal
Edrington	Highland Park Valkyrie	Gold
The Glenmorangie Company	Glenmorangie Bacalta	Silver
The Glenmorangie Company	Ardbeg Kelpie	Silver

Brand Owner	Producer Name	Medal
Single Malt – Islay: Standard
Aldi Stores	Glen Marnoch Islay	Gold

Single Malt – Islay: No Age Statement

Brand Owner	Producer Name	Medal
Distell	Bunnahabhain Cruach Mhona	Gold
That Boutique­y Whisky Company	Islay #1 – Batch 1	Gold
Distell	Bunnahabhain Ceobanach	Silver
Distell	Bunnahabhain Eirigh NA Greine	Silver

Single Malt – Islay: Aged up to 12 Years

Brand Owner	Producer Name	Medal
Gordon & MacPhail	Connoisseurs Choice Caol Ila 2004	Gold
That Boutique­y Whisky Company	Williamson 6YO	Gold
Distell	Bunnahabhain 12YO	Silver

Single Malt – Islay: Aged 13­18 Years

Brand Owner	Producer Name	Medal
Distell	Bunnahabhain 18YO	Gold

Single Malt – Islay: Aged 19­30 Years

Brand Owner	Producer Name	Medal
Distell	Bunnahabhain 25YO	Gold
Lombard Scotch Whisky	Lombard Single Malt Caol Ila 1984	Gold

Single Malt – Islay: Aged over 31 Years

Brand Owner	Producer Name	Medal
That Boutique­y Whisky Company	Port Ellen 33YO	Master
That Boutique­y Whisky Company	Islay #1 Batch 1	Gold

Single Malt – Islay: Single Cask

Brand Owner	Producer Name	Medal
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society	29.205 ­ Two Wheeled Beach Cruiser	Gold

Single Malt – Islay: Cask Strength

Brand Owner	Producer Name	Medal
That Boutique­y Whisky Company	Islay #1 – Batch 1	Gold

Flavoured Whisky

Brand Owner	Producer Name	Medal
Chivas Brothers	Ballantine’s Brasil	Gold