2022 International Whisky Competition
Official Results

Thank You for making the International Whisky Competition® The World's Most-Followed Whisky Competition.

The 13th 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 medal are awarded per category (unless tied)

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

Scroll down for results or download here.
IWC 2022 Official Results

Whisky of the Year
Aberlour A’bunadh - Batch #70 – (95.8 points)

Master Distiller of the Year
Graeme Cruickshank
Aberlour Distillery (Speyside, Scotland)

Golden Barrel Trophy
Aberlour Distillery (Speyside, Scotland)

Distillery of the Year
Ardbeg Distillery – 92.59 Avg/Pts (Islay, Scotland)

Master Blender of the Year
Stephanie Macleod
John Dewar & Sons (Scotland)

TOP 15 Whiskies of 2022

1.    Aberlour A'Bundah - Batch #70 – 95.8 Pts (Speyside, Scotland)

2.    Ardbeg Ardcore – 94.9 Pts (Islay, Scotland)

3.    Dewar's Double Double 32 Year Old – 94.4 Pts (Scotland)

4.    Dewar's Double Double 36 Year Old – 94.3 Pts (Scotland)

5.    Ardbeg Corravreckan – 93.8 Pts (Islay, Scotland)

6.    Ardbeg Uigeadail – 93.6 Pts (Islay, Scotland)

7.    Dewar's Double Double 27 Year Old – 93.55 Pts (Scotland)

8.   W.L. Weller Special Reserve – 93.48 Pts (Kentucky, USA)

9.   Kavalan Distillery Reserve Peated Malt Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky – 93.43 Pts (Taiwan)

10.  Starward Unexpeated – 93.4 Pts (Australia)

11.   MORRIS Australian Single Malt Whisky Muscat Barrel – 92.9 Pts (Australia)

12.   Glenmorangie Lasanta - 12 Year Old – 92.8 Pts (Highland, Scotland)

12.   Ardbeg For Discussion - 8 Year Old – 92.8 Pts (Islay, Scotland)

14.   Kavalan Solist Madeira Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky – 92.7 Pts (Taiwan)

15.   Glenmorangie Signet – 92.65 Pts (Highland, Scotland)

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

SCOTLAND

Best Single Malt Scotch
1st Place: Aberlour A'Bundah – 95.8 Pts
2nd Place: Ardbeg Ardcore – 94.9 Pts
3rd Place:  Ardbeg Corravreckan – 93.8 Pts

Best New Scotch Release
1st Place: Ardbeg Ardcore – 94.9 Pts
2nd Place: Dewar’s Double Double - 36 Year Old – 94.3 Pts
3rd Place: Ardbeg For Discussion - 8 Year Old – 92.8 Pts

Best Single Malt Scotch NAS (No Age Statement)
1st Place: Aberlour A'Bundah – 95.8 Pts
2nd Place:  Ardbeg Ardcore – 94.9 Pts
3rd Place:  Ardbeg Corravreckan – 93.8 Pts

Best Single Malt Scotch 10 Year Old and Under
1st Place: Ardbeg For Discussion - 8 Year Old – 92.8 Pts
2nd Place: Ardbeg Wee Beastie - 5 Year Old – 92.3 Pts
3rd Place: Glenmorangie The Original - 10 Year Old – 91.6 Pts

Best Single Malt Scotch 12 Year Old
1st Place: Glenmorangie Lasanta 12 Year Old – 92.8 Pts
2nd Place: Glenmorangie The Accord 12 Year Old – 91.7 Pts
3rd Place: Aberlour 12 – 90.9 Pts

Best Single Malt Scotch 13-14 Year Old
1st Place: Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 14 Year Old – 92.2 Pts
2nd Place: Ardbeg Fermutation 13 Year Old – 90.8 Pts
3rd Place: Glenmorangie Elementa 14 Year Old – 89.7 Pts

Best Single Malt Scotch 15 Year Old
1st Place: Glenmorangie Cadboll Estate Batch No. 2 - 15 Year Old – 91 Pts
2nd Place: The Glenlivet 15 Year Old – 87.7 Pts
3rd Place: Bowmore 15 Year Old – 87.5 pts

Best Single Malt Scotch 16-17 Year Old
1st Place: Glenmorangie The Tribute 16 Year Old – 90.9 Pts
2nd Place: Aberlour 16 – 88.9 Pts
3rd Place: Glenfarclas 17 Year Old – 87.5 Pts

Best Single Malt Scotch 18 Year Old
1st Place: Aberlour 18 – 90.7 Pts
2nd Place: The Glenlivet 18 Year Old – 90.3 Pts
3rd Place: Glenmorangie 18 Year Old - Extremely Rare – 89.8 Pts

Best Single Malt Scotch 19-25 Year Old
1st Place: Ardbeg 25 Year Old – 92.45 Pts
2nd Place: Ardbeg Traigh Bhan 19 Year Old (Batch 3) – 91.8 Pts
3rd Place: Glenmorangie 19 Year Old - Finest Reserve – 90 Pts

Best Peated Single Malt
1st Place: Ardbeg Ardcore – 94.9 Pts
2nd Place: Ardbeg Corravreckan – 93.8 Pts
3rd Place: Ardbeg Uigeadail – 93.6 Pts

Best Islay Single Malt
1st Place: Ardbeg Ardcore – 94.9 Pts
2nd Place: Ardbeg Corravreckan – 93.8 Pts
3rd Place: Ardbeg Uigeadail – 93.6 Pts

Best Highland Single Malt
1st Place: Glenmorangie Lasanta 12 Year Old – 92.8 Pts
2nd Place: Glenmorangie Signet – 92.7 Pts
3rd Place: Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 14 Year Old – 92.2 Pts

Best Speyside Single Malt
1st Place: Aberlour A’Bunadh – 95.8 Pts
2nd Place: Aberlour A’Bunadh Alba - Batch 4 – 92.5 Pts
3rd Place: Aberlour Casg Annamh - Batch 5 – 91.4 Pts

Best Lowland Single Malt
1st Place: Glasgow 1770 Single Malt Scotch Whisky – Peated – 89.1 Pts

Best Cask Strength Scotch
1st Place: Aberlour A’Bunadh– 95.8 Pts
2nd Place: Ardbeg Corryvreckan – 93.8 Pts
3rd Place: Ardbeg Uigeadail – 93.6 Pts

Best Blended Scotch
1st Place: Dewar’s Double Double - 32 Year Old – 94.4 Pts
2nd Place: Dewar’s Double Double - 36 Year Old – 94.3 Pts
3rd Place: Dewar’s Double Double - 27 Year Old – 93.55 Pts

Best Blended Scotch 10 Year and Under
1st Place: Dewar’s Ilegal Smooth - 8 Year Old – 91.9 Pts
2nd Place: Dewar’s Portuguese Smooth - 8 Year Old– 91 Pts
3rd Place: Dewar’s Japanese Smooth - 8 Year Old – 90 Pts

Best Blended Scotch 12-15 Year Old
1st Place: Dewar’s 15 Year - Old The Monarch – 89.1 Pts
2nd Place: Dewar’s 12 Year - Old The Ancestor – 87.5 Pts

Best Blended Scotch 16-20 Year Old
1st Place: Dewar’s 18 Year Old - The Vintage – 89.6 Pts
2nd Place: Chivas 18 Year Old – 88.2 Pts

Best Blended Scotch 21-24 Year Old
1st Place: Dewar’s Double Double - 21 Year Old – 91.43 Pts

Best Blended Scotch 25 Year Old And Over
1st Place: Dewar’s Double Double - 32 Year Old – 94.4 Pts
2nd Place: Dewar’s Double Double - 36 Year Old – 94.3 Pts
3rd Place: Dewar’s Double Double - 27 Year Old – 93.6 Pts

Best Blended Scotch - NAS
1st Place: Dewar’s White Label – 87.5 Pts
2nd Place: William Lawson's Blended Scotch Whisky – 86.7 Pts
3rd Place: Cutty Sark Blended Scotch Whisky – 85.1 Pts

USA

Best American Whiskey (All Categories)
1st Place: W.L. Weller Special Reserve – 93.48 Pts
2nd Place: Jefferson's Reserve - Very Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon – 92.15 Pts
Maker's Mark Private Selection - Rico's #4 – 92.1 Pts

Best Bourbon Whiskey
1st Place: W.L. Weller Special Reserve– 93.48 Pts
2nd Place: 2nd Place: Jefferson's Reserve - Very Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon – 92.15 Pts
3rd Place: Maker’s Mark Private Select - Rico’s #4 – 92.1 Pts

Best Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey (Full Proof)
1st Place: Stagg Jr. Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – 92.03 Pts
2nd Place: Makers Mark Cask Strength– 91.37 Pts
3rd Place: Mad Paddle Bourbon - Single Barrel - Cask Strength – 90.8 Pts

Best Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey
1st Place: W.L. Weller Single Barrel – 91.3 Pts
2nd Place: Mad Paddle Bourbon - Single Barrel - Cask Strength – 90.8 Pts
3rd Place: Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel – 89.4 Pts

Best American Single Malt Whiskey
1st Place: Courage & Conviction - American Single Malt – 91.69 Pts
2nd Place: Courage & Conviction - American Single Malt - Cuvée Cask – 91.2 Pts
3rd Place: Hood River Distillery - McCarthy's Single Malt Whiskey – 90.5 Pts

Best American Corn Whiskey
1st Place: Stilhouse 100% Corn Whiskey – 88.2 Pts

Best Rye Whiskey
1st Place: Roaming Man Tennessee Straight Rye Whiskey – 89.6 Pts
2nd Place: MB Rye - Single Barrel – 89.1 Pts
3rd Place: Jefferson’s Ocean Aged at Sea Rye Whiskey – 87.2 Pts

Best Micro Distillery Whiskey
(Under 150,000 bottles)
1st Place: Courage & Conviction - American Single Malt – 91.69 Pts
2nd Place: Mad Paddle Bourbon - Single Barrel - Cask Strength – 90.8 Pts
3rd Place: McCarthy's Single Malt Whiskey – 90.5 Pts

US STATES

Best Idaho Whiskey
1st Place: Warfield Organic American Whiskey – 86.4 Pts

Best Indiana Whiskey
1st Place: Mad Paddle Bourbon - Single Barrel - Cask Strength – 90.8 Pts
2nd Place: Mad Paddle Bourbon - Single Barrel – 89.1 Pts

Best Kentucky Whiskey
1st Place: Weller Special Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – 93.48 Pts
2nd Place: Jefferson's Reserve - Very Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon – 92.15 Pts
Maker's Mark Private Selection - Rico's #4 – 92.1 Pts

Best North Carolina Whiskey
1st Place: Weldon Mills Reserve Bourbon – 87.6 Pts
2nd Place: Soldier's Cut Bourbon – 86 Pts
3rd Place: Weldon Mills Select Bourbon – 85.7 Pts

Best Oregon Whiskey
1st Place: Hood River Distillery -McCarthy's Single Malt Whiskey – 90.5 Pts

Best Tennessee Whiskey
1st Place: Uncle Nearest Master Blend Edition – 91.4 Pts
2nd Place: Roaming Man Tennessee Straight Rye Whiskey – 89.6 Pts
3rd Place: Uncle Nearest 1884 Small Batch Whiskey – 88.6 Pts

Best Virginia Whiskey
1st Place: Courage & Conviction - American Single Malt – 91.7 Pts
2nd Place: Courage & Conviction - American Single Malt - Cuvée Cask – 91.2 Pts
3rd Place: Courage & Conviction - American Single Malt - Cuvée Single Cask – 89.6 Pts

CANADA

Best Canadian Whisky
1st Place: Canadian Club 100% Rye – 92.1 Pts
2nd Place: Dunrobin Canadian Rye Whisky – 91.1 Pts
3rd Place: Bearface Canadian Whisky Wilderness Series 01 – 91 Pts

Best Canadian Blended Whisky
1st Place: Seagram's 83 – 89.8 Pts
2nd Place: Seagram's VO – 89.6 Pts
3rd Place: Canadian Club Classic - 12 Year Old – 89.3 Pts

Best Canadian Rye Whisky
1st Place: Canadian Club 100% Rye – 92.1 Pts
2nd Place: Dunrobin Canadian Rye Whisky – 91.1 Pts
3rd Place: Alberta Premium Cask Strength – 90.1 Pts

IRELAND

Best Irish Whiskey
1st Place: Athrú Annacoona – 91.2 Pts
2nd Place: Lost Irish Whiskey – 89.5 Pts
3rd Place: Grace O'Malley Blended Irish Whiskey – 89.4 Pts

Best Single Malt Irish Whiskey
1st Place: Athrú Annacoona – 91.2 Pts
2nd Place: Athrú Keshcorran – 88.6 Pts
3rd Place: Athrú Knocknarea – 86.8 Pts

Best Blended Irish Whiskey
1st Place: Lost Irish Whiskey – 89.5 Pts
2nd Place: Grace O'Malley Blended Irish Whiskey – 89.4 Pts
3rd Place: Proclamation Blended Irish Whiskey – 85.4 Pts

WORLD

Best World Whisky*
1st Place: Kavalan Distillery Reserve Peated Malt Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky – 93.43 Pts (Taiwan)
2nd Place: Starward Unexpeated – 93.4 Pts (Australia)
3rd Place: MORRIS Australian Single Malt Whisky Muscat Barrel – 92.9 Pts (Australia)

Best World Whisky - Cask Strength*
1st Place: Kavalan Distillery Reserve Peated Malt Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky – 93.43 Pts (Taiwan)
2nd Place: Kavalan Solist Madeira Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky – 92.7 Pts (Taiwan)
3rd Place: Kavalan Solist ex-Bourbon Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky – 92.3 Pts (Taiwan)

* All countries not represented in the above categories. Must score 85 Pts and above to be listed.

Best Australian Whisky
1st Place: Starward Unexpeated – 93.4 Pts
2nd Place: MORRIS Australian Single Malt Whisky Muscat Barrel – 92.9 Pts (Australia)
3rd Place: Starward Twany #2 – 92.05 Pts

Best Indian Whisky
1st Place: Indri - Single Malt - The Three Wood – 89.2 Pts
2nd Place: Amrut Indian Single Malt Whisky – 87.2 Pts
3rd Place: Amrut Peated Indian Single Malt Whisky – 86.7 Pts

Best Myanmar Whisky
1st Place: Glan Master Finest – 91.54 Pts
2nd Place: Glan Master Smooth – 91.2 Pts

OTHER WHISKIES

Best Flavored Whiskey
1st Place: Just Ledoux it - Cinnamon Clove Honey Flavored Whiskey
2nd Place: Dough Ball - Cookie Dough Whiskey
3rd Place: Devil's Sister - Peach

WHISKY BASED RTDs

Best Whisky Based RTD Cocktail
1st Place: Curation Bev Co - Sweet Tea Old-Fashioned (USA)
2nd Place: Wabasso - Whis Key Lime Whisky Beverage (Canada)
3rd Place: Just Le Doux It - Smoke & Spiced Old Fashioned (USA)

2022 Whiskies Scoring Over 90 Points

1.)   Aberlour A'bundah Batch - #70 – 95.8 Pts

2.)  Ardbeg Ardcore – 94.9 Pts

3.)  Dewar's Double Double 32-Year-Old – 94.4 Pts

4.)  Dewar's Double Double 36-Year-Old – 94.3 Pts

5.)  Ardbeg Corryvreckan – 93.8 Pts

6.)  Ardbeg Uigeadail – 93.6 Pts

7.)  Dewar's Double Double 27-Year-Old – 93.55 Pts

8.)  W.L. Weller Special Reserve – 93.48 Pts

9.)  Kavalan Distillery Reserve Peated Malt Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky – 93.43 Pts

10.) Starward Unexpeated – 93.4 Pts

11.) MORRIS Australian Single Malt Whisky Muscat Barrel – 92.9 Pts

12.) Glenmorangie The Lasanta – 92.8 Pts

12.) Ardbeg 8 Years Old For Discussion – 92.8 Pts

14.) Kavalan Solist Madeira Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky – 92.7 Pts

15.) Glenmorangie Signet – 92.65 Pts

16.) Ardbeg 25 Years Old – 92.45 Pts

17.) Aberlour A'bunadh Alba - Batch #4 – 92.43 Pts

18.) Ardbeg Wee Beastie – 92.3 Pts

19.) Kavalan Solist ex-Bourbon Single Cask Strength – 92.3 Pts

20.) Glenmorangie The Quinta Ruban – 92.2 Pts

21.) Jefferson's Reserve - Very Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon – 92.15 Pts

22.) Maker's Mark Private Selection - Rico's #4 – 92.1 Pts

23.) Starward Tawny #2 – 92.05 Pts

24.) Canadian Club 100% Rye – 92.03 Pts

25.) Stagg Jr. – 92.02 Pts

26.) Kilchoman Machir Bay – 92 Pts

27.) Dewar's Ilegal Smooth Mezcal Cask Finish – 91.9 Pts

28.) Ardbeg AN OA – 91.8 Pts

28.) Ardbeg Traigh Bhan 19 years old Batch No. 3 – 91.8 Pts

30.) Glenmorangie The Accord – 91.7 Pts

31.) Courage & Conviction American Single Malt Whisky – 91.69 Pts

32.) Glenmorangie The Original – 91.6 Pts

33.) Ardbeg Ten Years Old – 91.55 Pts

34.) Glan Master Finest – 91.54 Pts

35.) Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea Bourbon – 91.53 Pts

36.) Kavalan Concertmaster Sherry Cask Finish – 91.5 Pts

37.) Kavalan Solist Port Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky – 91.5 Pts

38.) Aberlour Casg Annamh - Batch #5 – 91.38 Pts

39.) Maker's Mark Cask Strength – 91.37 Pts

40.) Uncle Nearest Master Blend Edition – 91.35 Pts

41.) Starward Ginger Beer Cask Projects Batch #6 – 91.34 Pts

42.) W.L. Weller Single Barrel – 91.3 Pts

43.) Starward Solera – 91.29 Pts

44.) Kavalan Podium Single Malt Whisky – 91.25 Pts

45.) Glan Master Smooth – 91.2 Pts

45.) Courage & Conviction American Single Malt Whisky Cuvee Cask – 91.2 Pts

47.) Athrú Annacoona – 91.15 Pts

47.) Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series 2021 Limited Release: FAE-02 – 91.15 Pts

49.) X by Glenmorangie – 91.10 Pts

49.) Dunrobin Canadian Rye Whisky – 91.10 Pts

51.) BEARFACE Canadian Whisky Wilderness Series 01 – 91 Pts

51.) Glenmorangie Cadboll Estate - Batch 2 - 15 YO – 91 Pts

51.) Glenmorangie Cake – NAS – 91 Pts

51.) Dewar’s 8 YO Port Cask finish – 91 Pts

55.) King Car Conductor Single Malt Whisky – 90.9 Pts

55.) Glenmorangie The Tribute - 16 Year Old – 90.9 Pts

55.) Aberlour 12 – 90.9 Pts

58.) Ardbeg Fermutation - 13 Year Old – 90.8 Pts

58.) Mad Paddle Bourbon - Single Barrel - Cask Strength – 90.8 Pts

60.) Aberlour 18 – 90.7 Pts

61.) W.L Weller Full Proof - 90.6 Pts

62.) McCarthy's Single Malt Whiskey – 90.5 Pts

63.) W.L Weller CYPB – 90.4 Pts

63.) Kavalan Classic Single Malt Whisky – 90.4 Pts

65.) Starward Two-Fold – 90.3 Pts

65.) The Glenlivet 18 Year Old – 90.3 Pts

67.) MB Single Malt – 90.2 Pts

68.) W.L. Weller Antique – 90 Pts

68.) Glenmorangie 19 Year Old - Finest Reserve – 90 Pts

68.) Dewar’s 8 YO Mizunara Cask finish – 90 Pts

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.

We would also like to thank all staff members (Mo, Samantha, Leif, Shane, Ian, Wilhem, and Scott) and our independent consultants (designers, auditors and our TTB, FDA & Import specialist: Mark Newman) for the hard work they put into it making it possible.

The International Whisky Competition Committee.

Contact Information

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