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Top 10 award-winning Scotch whiskies

When it comes to Scotch whisky, producers are creating experimental styles and flavour profiles to engage consumers. We present our pick of the most impressive Scotch whiskies from a rigorous blind-tasting.

SB presents award-winning bottlings from its Scotch Whisky Masters competition

The Spirits Business held its annual Scotch Whisky Masters last month, where an experienced panel of judges recognised the best bottlings in the business.

Looking across multiple categories, from single grain to blended malts and regional single malts, a wide range of Scotch whiskies were awarded the top accolades of Master medals for their quality.

The individual scores of each entrant have not been revealed, however these are 10 of the highest rated medalists in the competition, in no particular order.

While some expressions are not standard priced, our judges have given each Scotch whisky listed here the seal of approval for offering excellent quality within their respective price categories.

Click through to the following pages to view the award-winning Scotch whiskies from our blind-tasting competition. 

Hedonism

Price: £66.55 (US$84.46)

Compass Box’s Hedonism was bestowed a Master medal in the Blended Grain – Ultra Premium leg.

It was said to have a “fabulous nose of pineapple and caramelised apple” as well as a “pleasing gentle heat”. One judge said: “It was very cohesive and it felt very natural. It had all the elements I am looking for in a whisky.”

The expression – thought to be the world’s first blended grain Scotch whisky – is a vatting of Scotch grain whiskies from top quality American oak casks.

The Lowest Tide

Price: £500 (US$634)

Woolf Sung’s The Lowest Tide bagged Master medals in both the Single Malt Islay – Ultra Premium and Single Malt Islay – Cask Strength segments and a Gold medal in the Single Malt: Islay – Aged 19-30 Years round.

One judge said: “This whisky had an expressive and sweet start. It is spicy and powerful but balanced and smooth, with notes of mocha and seaweed on the aftertaste.”

The 26-year-old Bowmore was distilled in December 1991 and drawn from a single Sauternes cask at 50.9% abv. It is the second release from the Woolf Sung Collection.

Tamdhu 15 Year Old

Price: £84.99 (US$112)

Tamdhu 15 Year Old grabbed the Master accolade in the Speyside – Aged 13­-18 Years flight.

The tasters agreed that the whisky had a “lovely fresh, green nose” leading to “sweet and spicy flavours that complement each other beautifully”.

Tamdhu 15 Year Old has been matured in American and European oak oloroso Sherry casks from Jerez, Spain. It is bottled at 46% abv without chill filtration or added caramel colouring.

The Lost Distilleries Blend – Batch 11

Price: £350 (US$444)

Blended – Ultra Premium produced a Master in the form of The Lost Distilleries Blend – Batch 11 from Atom Brands. The whisky won high praise for its “powerful floral aroma of jasmine” and its “unctuous” flavour.

The Lost Distilleries Blend is crafted exclusively with rare whiskies from closed distilleries. This batch features malt whisky from Caperdonich, Rosebank, Imperial, Mosstowie, Glen Mhor, Glenisla, Glenlochy, Craigduff, Port Ellen and Brora, along with grain whisky from Port Dundas.

Glencadam 17

Price: £97.95 (US$124)

Glencadam 17 by Angus Dundee Distillers secured a Master medal in the Scotch Highlands & Islands age segment: 13­-18 Years.

The whisky was said to have an “elegant and metallic” profile with notes of “light smoke and orchard fruit”.

One judge noted: “All of the elements of this whisky were really well integrated, taking you on a journey of flavour.”

This limited edition expression was aged in ex-Bourbon casks, before being finished for the last few years in a trio of ex-Port hogsheads.

Glen Scotia Victoriana

Price: £76.99 (US$97)

Two Master medals were given to Glen Scotia Victoriana in the Campbeltown – No Age Statement and Campbeltown – Cask Strength category.

One member of the judging said it had “an undertone of vintage motors and old engines”. He added: “This is a very floral whisky with notes of tulips and orchids, offset by a touch of engine oil and distant smoke in the background.”

Glen Scotia Victoriana is finished in charred oak casks and bottled at 51.5% abv.

Spey from Speyside Distillery – Trutina Cask Strength

Price: £60 (US$76)

Spey from Speyside Distillery – Trutina Cask Strength was bestowed with a Master medal in the Speyside – Cask Strength round. It impressed with its “sweet notes of fennel” and “rich dark chocolate”.

The expression is a special cask strength edition of Speyside distillery’s Spey Trutina. Trutina, which is Latin for ‘balance’, has been matured in Bourbon casks. It is bottled at 59.1% abv.

Bunnahabhain An Cladach

Price: £54.95 (US$67)

The “enjoyably fruity, rounded and juicy” Bunnahabhain An Cladach was given a Master medal in the Single Malt Islay – No Age Statement flight.

The travel retail-exclusive expression is a Sherry-driven whisky that has been bottled at 40% abv.

The name means ‘The Shore’ in Scottish Gaelic, signifying Bunnahabhain’s location on the north east coast of Islay.

Scots Gold

 

Price: £21-£25 (US$26-US$33)

In the Blended – Premium leg, a Master medal went to Scots Gold by Charles Edge London.

The 40% abv expression was deemed extraordinarily good value for money by the judging panel, which enjoyed its “candied fruit peel” and “slightly smoky” profile.

SMWS 35.226 – Nocturne du Elgin en B flat minor

Price: £235 (US$298)

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society was given one Master and two Golds in the Speyside – Single Cask heat

Its Master-winning 35.226 – Nocturne du Elgin en B flat minor also secured the Taste Master accolade. The title is given to one exceptional whisky once all the judges have re­tasted and ranked the Master medallists.

Judges described the SMWS bottling as “deep expressive and focused” with “lovely spices on the finish”.

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