Whole team at Glenmorangie Distillery for winning Whisky of the Year with Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1991

Master Blender at John Dewar and Sons, Stephanie won the prestigious award with Dewar's Double Double 32 Year Old, 94.3 Points

Colin Graham, Brand Home Assistant, Karen McGillivray, Business Analyst, with Anna Mitchell, Brand Experience Assistant

Struan is the Global Brand Ambassador for Glenfiddich. Elected by the IWC Committee based on achievements, exposure, and popularity

Congratulations to the whole team! The whole range scored over 90 Points!

Darren Brown, Distillery Operations Technician, with Nicola Topp, Brand Home Assistant

Neil McEachern, Production Operator, Anthony Wills, Master Distiller and Founder, with Robin Bignal Production Manager

Jirutthaya Chomjit, Brand Home Assistant, with Jamie Yates, Senior Brand Home Assistant

Alex Foulis, Hugh McMurray, Thomas Kerr and Liam Hughes

Whisky of the Year with 97 Points, recipient of the Golden Barrel Trophy

Cheering the arrival of the Golden Barrel Trophy. (From the left) Nicola Topp, Rob Morrison, Graeme Cruickshank, Rikki Scott, and Iain Stronach

Sitting in front of bottles of Aberlour A’Bunadh, Whisky of the Year

Celebrating their awards. Ardbeg was selected 2018 IWC Distillery of the Year

Master Distiller at Bunnahabhain Distillery, with his award

Master Distiller at The Glenlivet, with his award

Some of the team members at Glenmorangie Distillery showcasing their awards

Brand Home Supervisor at Strathisla Distillery, Home of Chivas Regal, receiving one of their awards from Sebastien Gavillet, our Head of Tasting Panel.

Distillery Manager at Bowmore Distillery, with his award

Master Distiller at Laphroaig Distillery, with his award

Awarding the team

Sylvain Allard, Managing Partner at International Whisky Competition, presenting the Golden Barrel Trophy to Graeme Cruickshank, Master Distiller of the Year at Aberlour Distillery

Master Distiller at Aberlour Distillery with the Golden Barrel Trophy

Brendan McCarron and Dr Bill Lumsden are presented with the Golden Barrel Trophy at Ardbeg Distillery

The Golden Barrel Trophy staying for a year at the Ardbeg Distillery Tasting Room

George Grant from Glenfarclas Distillery was chosen as Brand Ambassador of the Year

Sandy McIntyre, Distillery Manager at Tamdhu, received the winning award certificate from Sébastien Gavillet, Head of Tasting Panel at theInternational Whisky Competition

he Glenlivet was named Distillery of the Year at the 2017 International Whisky Competition. Jenna Collins, Visitor Centre Supervisor, was glad to receive the award at the distillery

Boa Andersson, Supervisor at Strathisla Distillery, was presented the winning certificate for Chivas Regal Ultis

Graeme Cruickshank, Distillery Manager, and Susan Stables, Visitor Center Assistant at Aberlour Distillery

Celebrating the awards won at the 2017 International Whisky Competition by the Glenmorangie Distillery with their staff

(From the left) Colin McRae, Shift Operator, with Allan McConnochie, Distillery Manager, and Neil Cameron, Shift Operator, at The GlenDronach Distillery

Stewart Buchanan, Brand Ambassador at The BenRiach Distillery

Brian Kinsman, Master Blender at William Grant & Sons

Birds eye view through the glass.

This year the competition was moved from Chicago to Las Vegas and hosted at UNLV in the Sam Fulton Building.

The many colors of Whisky....

The BV17 - Johnson's Whisky Tot by Bottega del Vino Crystal is the official glass of the IWC.

Many thanks to JD which managed the event staffs as well as the pouring of each whisky.

Not only are the whiskies sampled at the IWC tasted blind but the whiskies themselves are repoured into "numbered" bottle to ensure the anonymity of each whisky.

The Chairman's seat was left empty in honor of the late Dr. Jim Swan. He was not part of the IWC tasting panel but admired by all and the IWC tasting committee wanted to pay him tribute.

The Executive boardroom at Stan Fulton Building where the 2017 IWC took place.

All staff members serving this year were UNLV students. A great thank you to each and every one.

Reviewing the freshly revised tasting sheet with Max Solano which was invited this year as guest judge and will be replacing one of our panel members next year. He will be a great addition to our panel.
 

The IWC tasting panel in a pre-tasting discussion.

In 2017 Adam Carmer took over as competition director and organized the venue for the 2017 IWC.

Alex Renshaw completing the tasting sheet. Each whisky sampled has it's own tasting sheet. It is the most comprehensive tasting sheet in the industry for competitions.

Adam Carmer the creator of the CSTEM hard at work.

Debbi Peek doing her thing... Debbi is from SGWS in Tampa, FL where she is a mixologist.

Max Solano nosing away... new to the IWC but not to spirit competitions.

Adam Carmer nosing away as well... and feeling at home at UNLV where Adam is a professor at William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration.

A dram was poured and left at the chairman's seat to honor the late Dr. Jim Swan.

Our beer expert and whisky aficionado Ron Smith at work...

The synergy between panel members is excellent and humourous at times...

Art in a glass...

Sebastien Gavillet in his 3rd year as Head of the Tasting Panel sampling away... Something he is used to as a professional taster and nose-for-hire.

Agi Toth in her element... All data is gathered and compiled as one.

Alex Renshaw sniffing away... Mixologists account for 1/3 of our panel.

Some of the tasting panel members enjoying the amedities UNLV has to offer for a perfect Las Vegas photo op.

Sébastien Gavillet (left), IWC Head of Tasting Panel, with Sylvain Allard (right), IWC Managing Director, present the winning certificate for Glenmorangie Signet.

The Golden Barrel Trophy for Whisky of the Year started his journey from Diageo Archives in
Menstrie.

Celebrating 8 winning certificates for exceptional Johnnie Walker expressions that made it in the top three positions in 6 categories.

Kiln Embers took the 1st Place in Best New Release with 93.2 points.

The Glenlivet Nàdurra Peated Whisky Cask Finish came in 3rd Place for Best Cask Strength and the 18 Year Old expression won 1st Place for Best Single Malt 18 Year Old.

Inside The Lost Distillery Company Whisky Lounge with the award certificate for Lossit Classic Selection who came 3rd Place in Best New Release with 86 points.

Whisky is about passionate people. Jura Superstition and Origin 10 Year Old, 1st Place and 3rd Place in Best Islands Single Malt category.

Aberlour was named Distillery of the Year.

Celebrating a 1st Place in Best Single Malt Scotch Over 20 Year Old with Prometheus 26 Year

Old, 91.6 points. (From left to right: Lachlan McIntyre, Distiller, Liam Hughes, CEO, Jack Mayo, Master Distiller, Freddie Talbot-Ponsonby, Distiller, Calum Brittain, Distiller - and Laika, the distillery dog.)

For Chivas Regal 18 Year Old, 2nd Place for Best Blended Scotch Whisky Over 18 Year Old with 88.8 points.

Kilchoman Machir Bay won the 1st Place for 2016 Best Islay Single Malt.

Celebrating five awards won at the 2016 IWC with the warehouse boys at Ardbeg Distillery

Receiving his award certificate from Sylvain Allard, IWC Managing Director, for Rock Oyster, 2nd Place in Best Blended Malt Scotch with 91.1 points.

"Fresh" Islay Peat - only takes peat 100 years to be formed.

Somewhere on Islay

(From left to right: John Paddon, Sir Adam Carmer, Debbi Peek, Sébastien Gavillet, Alex Renshaw, Agi Toth, Ron Smith, with the pouring staff. (missing from photo: Mark Gruber, Bridget Alberts, Adam Seger)

Tasting and reviewing a blind sample

It was a great honour to be able to present the Award for Best Single Malt Scotch 10 Years (Ardbeg 10 Years Old) to the men working at the warehouse.

Bruce Mackenzie, Master Distiller at Dalwhinnie accepting the 3rd place award for Dalwhinnie 15 Years Old in the Best Single Malt Scotch 13-17 Years category.

Andrew Brown, Master Distiller at Bunnahabhain was presented the award for Bunnahabhain 25 Years Old which ranked 3rd in the Best Single Malt Scotch 25 Years Old category.

Boa Andersson accepted on behalf of Colin Scott the 1st place award for Chivas Regal 18 Years Old in the Best Blended Scotch (18 Years Old) category.

Alex Renshaw, Dogma's Group chief mixologist and whisky aficionado assessing the color and viscosity in great detail.

Agi Toth - Sommelier and whisky aficionado nosing one of the exceptional whiskies entered at the IWC 2015

Debbi Peek rating a whisky using the Official Tasting Sheet developed by Sebastien Gavillet

A judge assessing the color of the whisky and its clarity.

Sir Adam Carmer, Whisky & Beer expert and owner of the Whisky Attic (Las Vegas) hard at work.

Each panel member was given the International Whisky Competition Tasting Chart to best describe each whisky

Sebastien Gavillet - Wine & Whisky expert and Author of Discovering & Mastering Single Malt Scotch immersed in his element

Whisky expert Mark Gruber sharing tasting notes with Adam Carmer at the 2015 International Whisky Competition

There's a reason why they call it the water of life

Debbi Peek - Expert Mixologist knows that attention to details is key. Each whisky is evaluated on an individual basis by each panel member for 5 minutes.

Master Mixologist Bridget Albert profiling the aromas of each whisky with great detail

Wine, Sake & Spirits Expert John Paddon concentrating on identifying the aromas of the whisky

Judges, competition staff and organizer Sylvain Allard in motion

The Barley duo. The IWC has 2 beer experts on its panel.

The mixologist maestro in action

After two days of tasting exceptional whiskies, time for a family portrait