International Whisky Competition

International Whisky Competition
Formation2009
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.[1][2]

History

The International Whisky Competition was established in 2010 to provide a structured judging environment for whisky producers worldwide.[3] In 2016 the results began being used to produce an International Whisky Guide.[4]

Initially based in Chicago,[5] 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).[6]

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.[7]

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,[8] with producers from, among others, Australia, Canada, Japan, and Scotland also participating.[9][10][11][12]

Judges

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] This system was developed by Sébastien Gavillet and was implemented in 2015.[16] Judges have included Stephen Beal and Francesco Lafranconi.[14][17]

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.[18] Other awards include "Distillery of the Year" and "Master Distiller of the Year".[18]

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.[19] The competition follows an Olympic-style medal system, awarding only one Gold, one Silver, and one Bronze medal per category.[19] This limited-medal approach is a defining characteristic of the IWC’s judging format.[20][19]

Results

Whisky of the Year

Year Winner Score Distillery Ref
2025 Kavalan Solist Fino Sherry Single Cask 97.04 Kavalan Distillery [21]
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

Year Winner Distillery Ref
2025 Zerose Yang – Head of R&D Kavalan Distillery [22]

Distillery of the Year

Year Winner Country Score Ref
2025 Kavalan Distillery Taiwan 92.78 (Avg.) [22]

Master Blender of the Year

Year Winner Score Distillery Ref
2025 Drew Mayville (Mister Sam) 96.2 Sazerac [22]

Producer of the Year

Year Winner Ref
2025 Bacardi [22]

Scotland

Best Single Malt Scotch

Year Whisky Score Distillery Ref
2025 Oloroso Sherry Cask GTR 25 Years Old 95.10 Aultmore [23]

Best Blended Scotch

Rank Whisky Score Distillery Ref
2025 Double Double 21 Years Old 95.94 Dewar [23]

Best Indian Whisky

Year Whisky Score Distillery Ref
2025 DeVANS Gianchand Indian Single Malt Whisky Adambaraa 92.68 DeVANS [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. ^ Squires, Beth (2025-07-20). "World's Best Bourbons From The International Whisky Competition 2025". The Whiskey Wash. Retrieved 2025-08-04.
  4. ^ Wright, Samuel (2024-06-16). "The Ultimate Guide To The 2024 International Whisky Competition With Samuel Wright". The Whiskey Wash. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  5. ^ Aehweb; Whiskies, Planet. "The 2010 IWC Announces the Official Results". Planet Whiskies. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
  6. ^ "The Best Bourbon in America Isn't From Kentucky — and It's Only $100". Food & Wine. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
  7. ^ "Looking behind the International Whiskey judging curtain". 6 June 2016. Whiskey Wash. June 6 2016. Retrieved March 1 2017
  8. ^ Squires, Beth (2025-07-20). "World's Best Bourbons From The International Whisky Competition 2025". The Whiskey Wash. Retrieved 2025-08-04.
  9. ^ "How India's single malt whiskies are challenging global giants". South China Morning Post. 2024-11-04. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference :12 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ "International Whisky Competition 2025: DeVANS' GianChand Adambaraa wins best Indian Single Malt - CNBC TV18". CNBCTV18. 2025-07-18. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference :13 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  14. ^ a b "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. ^ Cite error: The named reference :02 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  16. ^ Cite error: The named reference :14 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  17. ^ Squires, Beth (2025-07-20). "World's Best Bourbons From The International Whisky Competition 2025". The Whiskey Wash. Retrieved 2025-08-04.
  18. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference :15 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  19. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference :16 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  20. ^ Cite error: The named reference :52 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  21. ^ Ofgang, Erik. "The World's Best Whisky—According To The International Whisky Competition". Forbes. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  22. ^ a b c d "International Whisky Competition 2025 Results". International Whisky Competition®. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  23. ^ a b "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.

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