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Top 10 award-winning world whiskies

Looking across Canada, India, Australia and Japan, neither choice nor quality are in short supply in the burgeoning world whisky category, as our recent blind-tasting competition proved.

SB presents some of the top scorers from this year’s World Whisky Masters competition

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

Looking across multiple categories outside of Scotch, Irish and American whisk(e)y, a wide range of expressions were awarded the top accolades of Master and Gold medals.

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

Our judges have given each world 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 top 10 award-winning expressions from this year’s World Whisky Masters.

Japanese Blended Whisky #1 – Batch 2 – 21 Year Old (That Boutique-y Whisky Company)

Price: £167.95 (US$202.88)

In the Japan: Blended – Ultra Premium contingent, a Master medal was awarded to Japanese Blended Whisky #1 – Batch 2 – 21 Year Old (That Boutique‐y Whisky Company).

One judge described the whisky as: “A purposeful and restrained blend. Lots of character but all delicately layered in, which is what you come to expect from a masterful Japanese blend at this level.”

The expression is made with Japanese malt and grain whiskies aged for at least 21 years, and has been bottled at 47.7% abv.

Archie Rose Rye Malt Whisky

Price: AU$119 (US$80.50)

In the super‐premium single grain from Australasia segment, a Master medallist was found in the form of “rich and sweet” Archie Rose Rye Malt Whisky.

To create the expression, Australian distiller Archie Rose sourced rare malted rye and malted barley and paired them with virgin American oak casks air-dried for 36 months.

Shelter Point Single Malt

Price: £40 (US$48.30)

Canada’s Shelter Point Single Malt picked up a Gold meal in the premium Canadian whiskies flight, praised for its notes of “banana, sherbet and citrus”.

Bottled at 46% abv, the expression is distilled in traditional copper pot stills and aged in American oak barrels in an oceanfront warehouse. It contains a base of 100% malted barley.

Established in 2011, Shelter Point Distillery is located on 380 acres of land in Oyster River, British Columbia.

Adnams Triple Malt Whisky

Price: £39.99 (US$48.30)

English distiller Adnams scored highly in the Europe – Other Grains round for its Gold-winning Adnams Triple Malt Whisky, which was praised for its notes of “fudge and vanilla” and lingering “fresh wood influence”.

Made in Southwold at the Adnams distillery, the 47% abv expression is distilled from wheat, barley and oats, and is aged in new American oak barrels.

Kavalan Distillery Reserve Rum Cask Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky

Price: US$180

In the Asia (excluding Japan and India): Single Malt – Premium round, a Master was handed to “layered, complex” Kavalan Distillery Reserve Rum Cask Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky, praised with notes of “tobacco” and “marzipan”.

The expression was released by Taiwanese whisky distillery Kavalan in December 2016 to commemorate its first decade in the whisky business and the launch of its second distillery. It is Kavalan’s first whisky aged in rum casks.

Kavalan was awarded an additional four Master medals in The World Whisky Masters.

Willowbank 17 Year Old (That Boutique-y Whisky Company)

Price: £143.95 (US$173.90)

Looking across ultra‐premium blends from Australasia, a Master medal went to Willowbank 17 Year Old (That Boutique‐y Whisky Company), which was enjoyed by the team for its notes of “caramel, toffee and wine”.

One judge described the expression as like “licking a copper pipe then chewing gum – in a good way. Really grew on me”.

The whisky was produced by the Willowbank distillery on New Zealand’s South Island, which closed in 1997. It has an abv of 53.8%.

Adnams Rye Malt Whisky

Price: £39.99 (US$48.30)

The Europe – Rye round saw Adnams walk away with another Gold.

Judges applauded Adnams Rye Malt Whisky for offering “citrus” aromas that led to a “balanced” sweet and spicy palate.

The expression is made from 75% rye and 25% barley. The liquid spent at least five years in new French oak barrels before bottling.

Kavalan Solist Port Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky

Price: £116.35 (US$140.50)

The Master-winning Kavalan Solist Port Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky was one of the highlights of the Asia (Excluding Japan and India): Single Malt – Super Premium flight.

The expression also swiped the World Whisky Taste Master title, after judges described the whisky as having a “massive wood influence”, and flavours of “fruits” and “glacé cherries”.

It forms part of Kavalan’s Solist range and has been fully matured in Portuguese Port barriques.

Beverbach Whiskey and Coffee Liqueur

Price: €27 (US$30.18)

Beverbach Whiskey and Coffee Liqueur bagged a Gold in the Whisky Liqueurs round after judges praised the expression for being “well-balanced”.

“A good example of new‐age liqueurs, with people not as reliant on adding sugar,” noted one member of the panel.

Produced at the Hardenburg Distillery, the liqueur is a combination of whisky and cold-brew arabica coffee.

Paul John 6 Year Old (That Boutique-y Whisky Company)

Price: £97.95 (US$118.30)

Paul John 6 Year Old (That Boutique‐y Whisky Company) came “highly commended” and took home a Gold in the India: Blended – Ultra Premium flight.

The expression was produced by India’s John Distilleries, which was founded in 1992 focuses on producing high-quality single malt whisky.

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