2026 WHISKY OF THE YEAR

Charles MacLean is one of the world’s most respected voices in Scotch whisky, having written extensively on the subject for over four decades.

Nicholas "Nik" Kosobucki is a certified Master of Scotch and Master of Whiskey with the Council of Whiskey Masters, and was among the first

Tom McCormick is a Master of Whiskey and Master of Bourbon with the Council of Whiskey Masters, where he also serves as a respected

Siddharth Sawkar is the first individual to earn all three top-level certifications from the Council of Whiskey Masters—Master of Scotch, Master of Whiskey, and Master of Bourbon.

Samuel Wright is a certified Master of Whiskey and Master of Scotch, and was among the first to graduate from the Council of Whiskey Masters in 2022.

John Wabeck is a Master of Whisky, Advanced Sommelier, and wine director at Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse in Pennsylvania, with nearly 40 years in fine dining.

Ron Smith is a Master-level BJCP judge, Certified Cicerone, and seasoned educator with over 25 years of experience in beer judging, brewing, and beverage evaluation.

Max Solano is a respected mixologist, whisky educator, and industry consultant with over two decades of experience in the beverage world.

Gil Schwarz is a well-known wine and whisky broker, collector, and consultant with over three decades of experience in the global beverage industry.

Bernhard Schäfer is a whisky journalist, industry consultant, and Master of the Quaich, with decades of experience in spirits education and evaluation.

Nicola Riske is a highly respected spirits educator and industry leader, currently serving as Southern European Brand Education Manager for The Macallan.

Becky Offringa is a whisky author, researcher, and respected industry collaborator, best known as one-half of The Whisky Couple.

Charles MacLean is one of the world’s most respected voices in Scotch whisky, having written extensively on the subject for over four decades. Based in the Netherlands, he has written extensively on Scotch whisky

Arthur Nägele is a leading spirits educator, consultant, and international judge, widely recognized across Europe for his technical expertise and clear, methodical approach.

Francesco Lafranconi is a globally renowned mixologist, educator, and driving force behind modern cocktail culture.

Adam Edmonsond is one of the few individuals to hold both the Master of Whiskey and Master of Scotch designations from the prestigious Council of Whiskey Masters

Tobias Gorn is a seasoned wine and spirits writer, consultant, and long-time competition judge with broad international experience.