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Top 10 award-winning Scotch whiskies

Scotch whisky’s reputation continues to shine as producers create innovative and quality-driven expressions. Here are 10 of the best bottlings from our latest blind tasting.

SB presents award-winning bottlings from its Scotch Whisky Masters

The Spirits Business held its annual Scotch Whisky Masters last month in a new format due to the Covid-19 crisis. Judges tasted the bottlings, which were packed and delivered anonymously by Wine Sorted, in their homes and discussed them through Skype to maintain physical distancing measures while the UK remains in lockdown.

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 and Gold 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. 

Johnnie Walker Blue Label

Price: £135 (US$171)

Diageo’s Johnnie Walker Blue Label whisky scored a Master medal after impressing the judges with its notes of “dried fruits, caramel, hint of smoke” and “dried apple”.

One judge said: “From the nose to the palate to the finish, everything evolved and kept delivering more and more. It just kept opening up. This was an example of how no‐age‐statement can really deliver on quality.”

Glen Scotia 18 Years Old

Price: £85 (US$108)

Loch Lomond’s Glen Scotia 18 Years Old was one of three Gold medalists In the Single Malt: Campbeltown – Super Premium round.

With notes of “juicy raisins and ripe plums”, the whisky was maturated in oak casks for a minimum of 17 years before being married and finished in oloroso Sherry casks for 12 months and bottled.

Glen Scotia 18 Year Old is bottled at 46% ABV without any added colouring and is non-chill-filtered.

Label 5 Bourbon Barrel

Price: £18 (US$23)

In the Blended – Special Edition round, a Master medal went to the “very well-balanced” Label 5 Bourbon Barrel.

The single grain blew the judges away with its aromas of “poached pears and golden syrup”, leading to notes of “coconut, creamed soda and bitter almonds”. “This was quite delicious, really juicy with lots of pear and coconut – just lovely,” said one judge.

The new Label 5 Bourbon Barrel has been matured in first‐fill ex‐Bourbon barrels and distilled at the brand’s grain distillery in Edinburgh. It was created “in response to the growing consumer trend towards more smoothness and mixability”.

Aerolyte Lyndsay

Price: £35 (US$44) 

Looking across a selection of Islay whiskies and a Gold was found in the 10-year-old Aerolite Lyndsay from The Character of Islay Whisky Company.

It was said to offer flavours of “honeycomb, bonfire smoke and apples” on the palate. The peated single malt is from an undisclosed Islay distillery.

The liquid was rested in Bourbon barrels and Spanish oak Sherry quarter casks.

Mortlach 16 Years Old – Distiller’s Dram

Price: £80 (US$101)

In a round of Speyside single malts aged from 13 to 18 years, a Master was given to Mortlach 16 Years Old – Distiller’s Dram.

One judge said he liked the whisky’s “rounded, rich, viscous palate”, with flavours of “juicy raisin, treacle”.

Mortlach is produced using a distillation process called ‘the way’, which effectively distils the liquid 2.81 times. The process has remained unchanged since it was invented by the distiller’s son Dr Alexander Cowie in 1896.

Timorous Beastie 18 Years Old

Price: £65 (US$82)

Douglas Laing’s Timorous Beastie 18 Years Old scooped a Master medal thanks to its hints of “salty seaside, green apples and vanilla” on the nose, which evolved into flavours of “robust cereals, ashy smokiness” on the palate and “refreshing citrus” on the finish.

“It was really sophisticated,” said one judge. “It had a lovely honey, vanilla, malty cereal quality too. Delicious.”

The “beautifully balanced” expression was close to being given the top accolade of ‘Taste Master’ following a retaste of the Master medallists.

Timorous Beastie 18 Years Old is bottled at 46.8% ABV and without colouring or chill-filtration.

Tomintoul 25 Years Old Speyside Single Malt

Price: £200 (US$254)

In the Single Malt: Speyside – Aged 19‐30 Years flight, a Master medal went to Tomintoul 25 Years Old.

The judges enjoyed tastes of “coconut, almonds, allspice, underlying malt and gingerbread”.

The expression secured the ‘best in class’ title and was praised for having “so much complexity and flavour”.

Glasgow 1770 Single Malt Scotch Whisky – Peated Release No.1

Price: £49 (US59.50)

A single Lowland flight of no‐age‐statement single malts saw Glasgow 1770 – Peated Release No.1 secure a Gold medal.

“Typically, Lowlands has a light, delicate style – and it’s just so untypical of that. It’s much heavier, sweeter, might be even a little pear – definitely a lot of wood spice. It was delicious – just not what you would expect,” said one judge.

The 1770 Peated Release No. 1 is described as a “rich and smoky” addition to Glasgow Distillery Company’s whisky range. The 1770 Peated whisky was matured in first-fill ex-Sherry casks and finished in virgin oak.

Mortlach 20 Years Old  – Cowie’s Blue Seal

Price: £200 (US$254)

The Single Malt: Speyside – Aged 19‐30 Years round saw a Master medal go to Mortlach 20 Years Old – Cowie’s Blue Seal, which had hints of “stewed apples, deep earthy spices and cigar box”.

The 43.4% ABV whisky is described by the brand as having a “waxy, earthy, meaty element” and “overripe fruits and a touch of spiciness” on the palate.

Highland Park Triskelion

Price: £170 (US$218) 

A no-age-statement flight of Highland single malts bestowed a Gold medal upon Highland Park Triskelion, with aromas of “redcurrants and fresh grass”.

Highland Park Triskelion uses whisky matured in a combination of first-fill Sherry-seasoned Spanish oak butts, first-fill Sherry-seasoned American oak casks and first-fill Bourbon barrels and hogsheads.

Current Highland Park master distiller Gordon Motion worked with former master whisky maker Max McFarlane and master whisky maker emeritus John Ramsay to produce Triskelion, which brought together more than 100 years of whisky-making experience.

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