2021 International Whisky
Competition Official Results

Thank You for making the International Whisky Competition® The World's most-followed Whisky Competition.

The 12th Edition of the International Whisky Competition took place in the beautiful mountain town of Estes Park, Colorado.

Only one Gold, one Silver, and one Bronze per category unless tied.

Results presented by: Le Nez du Whisky & Le Nez du Bourbon

Whisky of the Year

Ardbeg Uigeadail (95.9 points)

TOP AWARDS

Master Distiller of the Year
Dr. Bill Lumsden
Glenmorangie & Ardbeg Distillery

Golden Barrel Trophy
Ardbeg Distillery (Scotland)

Distillery of the Year
Kavalan Distillery (Taiwan)

Master Blender of the Year
Stephanie Macleod
John Dewar & Sons

TOP 15 Whiskies of 2021

  1. Ardbeg Uigeadail - 95.9 Pts (Islay, Scotland)
  2. Glenmorangie Vintage 1997 - 95.1 Pts (Highland, Scotland)
  3. Dewar's Double Double 32 Year Old - 95 Pts (Scotland)
  4. Kavalan Artist Series: Paul Chiang Peated Malt Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky – 94.6 Pts (Taiwan)
  5. King Car 40th Anniversary Selected Wine Cask Matured Single Malt Whisky – 94 Pts (Taiwan)
  6. Black Bourbon Society's Maker's Mark Private Selection: Recipe 2. – 93.8 Pts (Kentucky, USA)
  7. Kavalan Solist Vinho Barrique Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky – 93.7 Pts (Taiwan)
  8. Dewar's Double Double 21 Year Old – 93.6 Pts (Scotland)
  9. Ardbeg Traigh Bhan 19 Year Old (Batch 2) - 9.4 Pts (Scotland)
  10. Glenmorangie Signet – 93.1 Pts (Highland, Scotland)
  11. Kavalan Solist (Oloroso) Sherry Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky – 93 Pts (Taiwan)
  12. Kilchoman Machir Bay – 92.97 Pts (Islay, Scotland)
  13. Ardbeg An Oa – 92.87 Pts (Islay, Scotland)
  14. Aberlour A'Bundah – 92.73 Pts (Speyside, Scotland)
  15. Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 14 Year Old – 92.67 Pts (Highland, Scotland)

Note: We do not list whiskies that scored under 85 points unless requested by the competing distillery.

SCOTLAND

Best Single Malt Scotch

  1. 1st Place: Ardbeg Uigeadail - 95.9 Pts
  2. 2nd Place: Glenmorangie Vintage 1997 - 95.1 Pts
  3. 3rd Place: Ardbeg Traigh Bhan 19 Year Old (Batch 2) - 93.4 Pts

Best Single Malt Scotch NAS (No Age Statement)

  1. 1st Place: Ardbeg Uigeadail – 95.9 Pts
  2. 2nd Place: Glenmorangie Signet – 93.1 Pts
  3. 3rd Place: Kilchoman Machir Bay – 92.97 Pts

Best Single Malt Scotch 10 Year Old and Under

  1. 1st Place: Ardbeg Wee Beastie – 91.67 Pts
  2. 2nd Place: Ardbeg Ten – 91.17 Pts
  3. 3rd Place: Glenmorangie The Original – 89.93 Pts

Best Single Malt Scotch 12 Year Old

  1. 1st Place: Glenlivet 12 Year Old – 90.93 Pts
  2. 2nd Place: Glenmorangie Nectar d'Or 12 Year Old – 90.53 Pts
  3. 3rd Place: Aberlour 12 Year Old – 89.47 Pts

Best Single Malt Scotch 13-14 Year Old

  1. 1st Place: Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 14 Year Old – 92.67 Pts
  2. 2nd Place: Glenmorangie The Elementa 14 Year Old – 89.77 Pts
  3. 3rd Place: The Glenlivet 14 Year Old – 89.07 Pts

Best Single Malt Scotch 15 Year Old

  1. 1st Place: Glenmorangie Cadboll Estate Batch No. 2 – 89.67 Pts
  2. 2nd Place: The Glenlivet 15 Year Old – 89.5 Pts

Best Single Malt Scotch 16-17 Year Old

  1. 1st Place: Aberlour 16 Year Old – 92.33 Pts
  2. 2nd Place: Glenmorangie The Tribute 16 Year Old – 92.23 Pts

Best Single Malt Scotch 18 Year Old

  1. 1st Place: Glenmorangie 18 Year Old – 92.37 Pts
  2. 2nd Place: The Glenlivet 18 Year Old – 92 Pts
  3. 3rd Place: Aberlour 18 Year Old – 87.53 Pts

Best Single Malt Scotch 19-25 Year Old

  1. 1st Place: Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1997 – 95.1 Pts
  2. 2nd Place: Ardbeg Traigh Bhan 19 Year Old (Batch 2) – 93.4 Pts
  3. 3rd Place: Glenmorangie 19 Year Old– 90.97 Pts

Best Islay Single Malt

  1. 1st Place: Ardbeg Uigeadail - 95.9 Pts
  2. 2nd Place: Ardbeg Traigh Bhan 19 Year Old (Batch 2) – 93.4 Pts
  3. 3rd Place: Kilchoman Machir Bay – 92.97 Pts

Best Highland Single Malt

  1. 1st Place: Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1997 – 95.1 Pts
  2. 2nd Place: Glenmorangie Signet – 93.1 Pts
  3. 3rd Place: Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 14 Year Old – 92.67 Pts

Best Speyside Single Malt

  1. 1st Place: Aberlour A’Bunadh – 92.73 Pts
  2. 2nd Place: Aberlour 16 Year Old – 92.33 Pts
  3. 3rd Place: The Glenlivet 18 Year Old – 92 Pts

Best Lowland Single Malt

  1. 1st Place: Glasgow 1770 Single Malt Scotch Whisky – Peated – 88.67 Pts

Best Cask Strength Scotch

  1. 1st Place: Ardbeg An Oa – 92.87 Pts
  2. 2nd Place: Aberlour A’Bunadh – 92.73 Pts
  3. 3rd Place: Ardbeg Corryvreckan - 89.67 Pts

Best Peated Scotch

  1. 1st Place: Ardbeg Uigeadail – 95.9 Pts
  2. 2nd Place: Ardbeg Traigh Bhan 19 Year Old (Batch 2) – 93.4 Pts
  3. 3rd Place: Kilchoman Machir Bay – 92.97 Pts

Best Blended Scotch

  1. 1st Place: Dewar’s Double Double 32 Year Old – 95 Pts
  2. 2nd Place: Dewar’s Double Double 21 Year Old – 93.6 Pts
  3. 3rd Place: Dewar’s Double Double 27 Year Old – 92.37 Pts

Best Blended Scotch 10 Year and Under

  1. 1st Place: Dewar’s Portuguese Smooth - 8 Year Old– 90.23 Pts
  2. 2nd Place: Dewar’s Japanese Smooth - 8 Year Old – 87.97 Pts
  3. 3rd Place: Dewar’s Ilegal Smooth - 8 Year Old - 87.6 Pts

Best Blended Scotch 12-15 Year Old

  1. 1st Place: Dewar’s 12 Year Old The Ancestor – 89.6 Pts
  2. 2nd Place: Dewar’s 15 Year Old The Monarch – 88.2 Pts
  3. 3rd Place: Imperial 12 Year Old Blended Scotch – 86.2 Pts

Best Blended Scotch 16-20 Year Old

  1. 1st Place: Dewar’s 18 Year Old The Vintage – 90.4 Pts
  2. 2nd Place: Chivas 18 Year Old – 88.3 Pts

Best Blended Scotch 21-24 Year Old

  1. 1st Place: Dewar’s Double Double 21 Year Old – 93.6 Pts

Best Blended Scotch 25 Year Old And Over

  1. 1st Place: Dewar’s Double Double 32 Year Old – 95 Pts
  2. 2nd Place: Dewar’s Double Double 27 Year Old – 92.37 Pts
  3. 3rd Place: Dewar’s 25 Year Old The Signature – 90.03 Pts

Best New Scotch Release 2021

  1. 1st Place: Ardbeg Scorch 2021 Committee Release – 91.63 Pts
  2. 2nd Place: Dewar's Portuguese Smooth - 8 Year Old – 90.23 Pts
  3. 3rd Place: Ardbeg Scorch 2021 Limited Edition – 90.13 Pts

USA

Best American Whiskey (All Categories)

  1. 1st Place: Black Bourbon Society's Maker's Mark Private Selection: Recipe 2. – 93.8 Pts
  2. 2nd Place: Weldon Mills Reserve – 92.1 Pts
  3. 3rd Place: Thomas S. Moore Cabernet Sauvignon Finished Kentucky Straight Bourbon – 92.03 Pts

Best Bourbon Whiskey

  1. 1st Place: Black Bourbon Society's Maker's Mark Private Selection: Recipe 2. – 93.8 Pts
  2. <2nd Place: Weldon Mills Reserve – 92.1 Pts/li>
  3. 3rd Place: Thomas S. Moore Cabernet Sauvignon Finished Kentucky Straight Bourbon – 92.03 Pts

Best Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey (Full Proof)

  1. 1st Place: Weldon Mills Reserve – 92.1 Pts
  2. 2nd Place: Old Hamer Cask Strength Bourbon – 92 Pts
  3. 3rd Place: 1792 Full Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – 90.63 Pts

Best Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey

  1. 1st Place: Old Weller Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – 91.17 Pts
  2. 2nd Place: John J. Bowman Single Barrel Virginia Straight Bourbon Whiskey – 91.07 Pts
  3. 3rd Place: Old Hamer Single Barrel Straight Bourbon Whiskey - 90.63 Pts

Best Bottled in Bond Bourbon Whiskey

  1. 1st Place: 1792 Bottled in Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – 88.4 Pts
  2. 2nd Place: Early Times Bottled in Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 88.2 Pts
  3. 3rd Place: TX Bottled in Bond Single Barrel Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey – 85.43 Pts

Best American Rye Whiskey

  1. 1st Place: Old Overholt 114 Proof Straight Rye – 90 Pts
  2. 2nd Place: Old Overholt Straight Rye – 89.47 Pts
  3. 3rd Place: Colonel E.H. Taylor Rye Kentucky Straight Whiskey – 88.63 Pts

Best American Single Malt Whiskey

  1. 1st Place: Rogue Single Malt Cabernet Finish - 85.1 Pts

Best Micro Distillery Whiskey

(Under 150,000 bottles)

  1. 1st Place: Weldon Mills Reserve – 92.1 Pts
  2. 2nd Place: Old Hamer Cask Strength Bourbon – 92 Pts
  3. 3rd Place: Sisterdale Straight Bourbon Whiskey – 89.6 Pts

Best Indiana Whiskey

  1. 1st Place: Old Hamer Cask Strength Bourbon – 92 Pts
  2. 2nd Place: Remus – 90.8 Pts
  3. 3rd Place: Hugh Hamer Double Oaked 103 – 90.07 Pts

Best Kentucky Whiskey

  1. 1st Place: Black Bourbon Society's Maker's Mark Private Selection: Recipe 2. – 93.8 Pts
  2. 2nd Place: Thomas S. Moore Cabernet Sauvignon Finished Kentucky Straight Bourbon – 92.03 Pts
  3. 3rd Place: Thomas S. Moore Chardonnay Finished Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – 91.83 Pts

Best Tennessee Whiskey

  1. 1st Place: Uncle Nearest 1820 Premium Single Barrel Whiskey - US-21 – 91.07 Pts
  2. 2nd Place: Uncle Nearest Master Blend Edition – 90.37 Pts
  3. 3rd Place: Uncle Nearest 1856 Premium Aged Whiskey – 90.33 Pts

Best Texas Whiskey

  1. 1st Place: TX Texas Stright Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Tawny Port Casks – 90.17 Pts
  2. 2nd Place: Sisterdale Stright Bourbon Whiskey – 89.6 Pts
  3. 3rd Place: TX Texas Stright Bourbon Whiskey – 88.37 Pts

Best Virginia Whiskey

  1. 1st Place: John J. Bowman Single Barrel Virginia Straight Bourbon Whiskey – 91.07 Pts
  2. 2nd Place: Bowman Brothers Small Batch Virginia Straight Bourbon Whiskey – 89.2 Pts

JAPAN

Best Japanese Whisky

  1. 1st Place: Matsui Pure Malt Whisky The Kurayoshi 18 Years – 91.77 Pts
  2. 2nd Place: Matsui Single Malt Whisky The Matsui Mizunara Cask – 91.17 Pts
  3. 3rd Place: The Kyoto Bourbon Barrel – 90.7 Pts

Best Japanese Whisky NAS (No Age Statement)

  1. 1st Place: Matsui Single Malt Whisky The Matsui Mizunara Cask – 91.17 Pts
  2. 2nd Place: The Kyoto Bourbon Barrel – 90.7 Pts
  3. 3rd Place: Matsui Blended Whisky The San-in Bourbon Barrel – 90.67 Pts

Best Blended Japanese Whisky

  1. 1st Place: The Kyoto Bourbon Barrel – 90.7 Pts
  2. 2nd Place: Matsui Blended Whisky The San-in Bourbon Barrel – 90.67 Pts
  3. 3rd Place: Matsui Blended Whisky The Tottori Bourbon Barrel – 89.63 Pts

Best Pure Malt Japanese Whisky

  1. 1st Place: Matsui Pure Malt Whisky The Kurayoshi 18 Years – 91.77 Pts
  2. 2nd Place: Matsui Pure Malt Whisky The Kurayoshi 12 Years – 90.67 Pts
  3. 3rd Place: Matsui Pure Malt Whisky The Kurayoshi Sherry Cask - 87.33 Pts

Best Japanese Whisky 12 Year Old

  1. 1st Place: Matsui Pure Malt Whisky The Kurayoshi 12 Years – 90.67 Pts

Best Japanese Whisky 18 Year Old

  1. 1st Place: Matsui Pure Malt Whisky The Kurayoshi 18 Years – 91.77 Pts

CANADA

Best Canadian Whisky

  1. 1st Place: Alberta Premium Cask Strength – 90.67 Pts
  2. 2nd Place: Alberta Premium 20 Year Old – 89.8 Pts
  3. 3rd Place: Canadian Club 43 Year Old – 89.03 Pts

Best Canadian Blended Whisky

  1. 1st Place: Canadian Club 43 Year Old – 89.03 Pts
  2. 2nd Place: High River Canadian Whisky – 87.7 Pts
  3. 3rd Place: Canadian Club Classic 12 Year Old – 87.43 Pts

Best Canadian Rye Whisky

  1. 1st Place: Alberta Premium Cask Strength – 90.67 Pts
  2. 2nd Place: Alberta Premium 20 Year Old – 89.8 Pts
  3. 3rd Place: Canadian Club 100% Rye – 87.83 Pts

IRELAND

Best Irish Whiskey

  1. 1st Place: Paddy Irish Whiskey – 88.53 Pts
  2. 2nd Place: Michael Collins Irish Whiskey – 88.27 Pts
  3. 3rd Place: Grace O'Malley Blended Irish Whiskey – 87.4 Pts

WORLD

Best World Whisky*

  1. 1st Place: Kavalan Artist Series: Paul Chiang Peated Malt Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky – 94.6 Pts
  2. 2nd Place: Kavalan King Car 40th Anniversary Selected Wine Cask Matured Single Malt Whisky – 94 Pts
  3. 3rd Place: Kavalan Solist Vinho Barrique Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky – 93.7 Pts

*All countries not represented in the above categories

Best Australian Whisky

  1. 1st Place: Morris Muscat Barrel Australian Single Malt Whisky – 90.3 Pts
  2. 2nd Place: Morris Signature Australian Single Malt Whisky – 89.17 Pts

Best Austrian Whisky

  1. 1st Place: GLATZL GOLD Haiminger BIO-Whiskey – 85.33 Pts

Best English Whisky

  1. 1st Place: Cotswolds Hearts & Crafts Sauternes Cask Single Malt Whisky – 89.27 Pts
  2. 2nd Place: Cotswolds Sherry Cask Single Malt Whisky – 88.2 Pts

Best Indian Whisky

  1. 1st Place: Mithuna by Paul John Indian Single Malts – 90.7 Pts
  2. 2nd Place: Paul John Nirvana Unpeated Indian Single Malt Whisky – 89.73 Pts
  3. 3rd Place: Paul John P.X. Select Cask Indian Single Malt – 89.1 Pts

Best Malaysian Whisky

  1. 1st Place: Timah Double Peated Blended Whiskey – 89.9 Pts

Best Myanmar Whisky

  1. 1st Place: Grand Royal - Special Reserve – 85.6 Pts

OTHER WHISKIES

Best Flavored Whiskey

  1. 1st Place: Glacier Distilling Trapline Rock and Rye Whiskey
  2. 2nd Place: Canadian Club Apple
  3. 3rd Place: Southern Comfort

Acknowledgments

The International Whisky Competition Committee would like to thank its judges for their professionalism and hard work as well as our official sponsor Le Nez du Whisky – Le Nez du Bourbon (Wine Aromas Inc) for their ongoing support.

Special thanks to Thomas Cox for arranging the competition to be held in Estes Park, CO at the Fall River Village & Skyview event center. A big thank you to their staff which did an incredible job creating a socially distant environment for our judges.

Special thanks to Thomas Cox for arranging the competition to be held in Estes Park, CO at the Fall River Village & Skyview event center. A big thank you to their staff which did an incredible job creating a socially distant environment for our judges.

The International Whisky Competition Committee.

Contact Information

International Whisky Competition
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