World’s Best Whiskies According To 2021 International Whisky Competition

2021 International Whisky Competition

The results are in for the 2021 International Whisky Competition, highlighting the best whiskies from all around the world. Hosted in Estes Park, Colorado, a panel of spirits professionals blind tasted every single entrant before scoring based on a 100-point scale system. In the end, it was Scotland’s Ardbeg Uigeadail being named the world’s best whisky for 2021, racking up an impressive 95.9 points. 

In terms of overall rankings, Scotland grabbed the top 3 spots with the Glenmorangie Vintage 1997 in second place (95.1 points), followed by Dewar’s Double Double 32 Year Old in third (95 points). Overall, Scotland took 11 of the top 15 places, while Taiwan and its indisputably top distillery Kavalan grabbed three of the top 15 positions. Despite the location of the awards, only one American distillery had whisk(e)y ranked in the top 15, Black Bourbon Society’s Maker’s Mark Private Selection: Recipe 2.

Check out the full 2021 International Whisky Competition list of winners below:

2021 International Whisky Competition – Top 15

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)


SCOTLAND

Best Single Malt Scotch

1st Place: Ardbeg Uigeadail – 95.9 Pts

2nd Place: Glenmorangie Vintage 1997 – 95.1 Pts

3rd Place: Ardbeg Traigh Bhan 19 Year Old (Batch 2) – 93.4 Pts

Best Single Malt Scotch NAS (No Age Statement)

1st Place: Ardbeg Uigeadail – 95.9 Pts

2nd Place: Glenmorangie Signet – 93.1 Pts

3rd Place: Kilchoman Machir Bay – 92.97 Pts

Best Single Malt Scotch 10 Year Old and Under

1st Place: Ardbeg Wee Beastie – 91.67 Pts

2nd Place: Ardbeg Ten – 91.17 Pts

3rd Place: Glenmorangie The Original – 89.93 Pts

Best Single Malt Scotch 12 Year Old

1st Place: Glenlivet 12 Year Old – 90.93 Pts

2nd Place: Glenmorangie Nectar d’Or 12 Year Old – 90.53 Pts

3rd Place: Aberlour 12 Year Old – 89.47 Pts

Best Single Malt Scotch 13-14 Year Old

1st Place: Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 14 Year Old – 92.67 Pts

2nd Place: Glenmorangie The Elementa 14 Year Old – 89.77 Pts

3rd Place: The Glenlivet 14 Year Old – 89.07 Pts

Best Single Malt Scotch 15 Year Old

1st Place: Glenmorangie Cadboll Estate Batch No. 2 – 89.67 Pts

2nd Place: The Glenlivet 15 Year Old – 89.5 Pts

Best Single Malt Scotch 16-17 Year Old 

1st Place: Aberlour 16 Year Old – 92.33 Pts

2nd Place: Glenmorangie The Tribute 16 Year Old – 92.23 Pts

Best Single Malt Scotch 18 Year Old

1st Place: Glenmorangie 18 Year Old – 92.37 Pts

2nd Place: The Glenlivet 18 Year Old – 92 Pts

3rd Place: Aberlour 18 Year Old – 87.53 Pts

Best Single Malt Scotch 19-25 Year Old

1st Place: Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1997 – 95.1 Pts

2nd Place: Ardbeg Traigh Bhan 19 Year Old (Batch 2) – 93.4 Pts

3rd Place: Glenmorangie 19 Year Old– 90.97 Pts

Best Islay Single Malt

1st Place: Ardbeg Uigeadail – 95.9 Pts

2nd Place: Ardbeg Traigh Bhan 19 Year Old (Batch 2) – 93.4 Pts

3rd Place: Kilchoman Machir Bay – 92.97 Pts

Best Highland Single Malt

1st Place: Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1997 – 95.1 Pts

2nd Place: Glenmorangie Signet – 93.1 Pts

3rd Place: Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 14 Year Old – 92.67 Pts

Best Speyside Single Malt

1st Place: Aberlour A’Bunadh – 92.73 Pts

2nd Place: Aberlour 16 Year Old – 92.33 Pts

3rd Place: The Glenlivet 18 Year Old – 92 Pts

Best Lowland Single Malt

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

Best Cask Strength Scotch

1st Place: Ardbeg An Oa – 92.87 Pts

2nd Place: Aberlour A’Bunadh – 92.73 Pts

3rd Place: Ardbeg Corryvreckan – 89.67 Pts

Best Peated Scotch

1st Place: Ardbeg Uigeadail – 95.9 Pts

2nd Place: Ardbeg Traigh Bhan 19 Year Old (Batch 2) – 93.4 Pts

3rd Place: Kilchoman Machir Bay – 92.97 Pts

Best Blended Scotch

1st Place: Dewar’s Double Double 32 Year Old – 95 Pts

2nd Place: Dewar’s Double Double 21 Year Old – 93.6 Pts

3rd Place: Dewar’s Double Double 27 Year Old – 92.37 Pts

Best Blended Scotch 10 Year and Under

1st Place: Dewar’s Portuguese Smooth – 8 Year Old– 90.23 Pts

2nd Place: Dewar’s Japanese Smooth – 8 Year Old – 87.97 Pts

3rd Place: Dewar’s Ilegal Smooth – 8 Year Old – 87.6 Pts

Best Blended Scotch 12-15 Year Old 

1st Place: Dewar’s 12 Year Old The Ancestor – 89.6 Pts

2nd Place: Dewar’s 15 Year Old The Monarch – 88.2 Pts

3rd Place: Imperial 12 Year Old Blended Scotch – 86.2 Pts

Best Blended Scotch 16-20 Year Old

1st Place: Dewar’s 18 Year Old The Vintage – 90.4 Pts

2nd Place: Chivas 18 Year Old – 88.3 Pts

Best Blended Scotch 21-24 Year Old

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

Best Blended Scotch 25 Year Old And Over

1st Place: Dewar’s Double Double 32 Year Old – 95 Pts

2nd Place: Dewar’s Double Double 27 Year Old – 92.37 Pts

3rd Place: Dewar’s 25 Year Old The Signature – 90.03 Pts

Best New Scotch Release 2021

1st Place: Ardbeg Scorch 2021 Committee Release – 91.63 Pts

2nd Place: Dewar’s Portuguese Smooth – 8 Year Old – 90.23 Pts

3rd Place: Ardbeg Scorch 2021 Limited Edition – 90.13 Pts


USA

Best American Whiskey (All Categories)

1st Place: Black Bourbon Society’s Maker’s Mark Private Selection: Recipe 2. – 93.8 Pts

2nd Place: Weldon Mills Reserve – 92.1 Pts

3rd Place: Thomas S. Moore Cabernet Sauvignon Finished Kentucky Straight Bourbon – 92.03 Pts

Best Bourbon Whiskey

1st Place: Black Bourbon Society’s Maker’s Mark Private Selection: Recipe 2. – 93.8 Pts

2nd Place: Weldon Mills Reserve – 92.1 Pts

3rd Place: Thomas S. Moore Cabernet Sauvignon Finished Kentucky Straight Bourbon – 92.03 Pts

Best Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey (Full Proof)

1st Place: Weldon Mills Reserve – 92.1 Pts

2nd Place: Old Hamer Cask Strength Bourbon – 92 Pts

3rd Place: 1792 Full Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – 90.63 Pts

Best Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey

1st Place: Old Weller Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – 91.17 Pts

2nd Place: John J. Bowman Single Barrel Virginia Straight Bourbon Whiskey – 91.07 Pts

3rd Place: Old Hamer Single Barrel Straight Bourbon Whiskey – 90.63 Pts

Best Bottled in Bond Bourbon Whiskey 

1st Place: 1792 Bottled in Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – 88.4 Pts

2nd Place: Early Times Bottled in Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 88.2 Pts

3rd Place: TX Bottled in Bond Single Barrel Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey – 85.43 Pts

Best American Rye Whiskey 

1st Place: Old Overholt 114 Proof Straight Rye – 90 Pts

2nd Place: Old Overholt Straight Rye – 89.47 Pts

3rd Place: Colonel E.H. Taylor Rye Kentucky Straight Whiskey – 88.63 Pts

Best American Single Malt Whiskey

1st Place: Rogue Single Malt Cabernet Finish – 85.1 Pts

Best Micro Distillery Whiskey

(Under 150,000 bottles)

1st Place: Weldon Mills Reserve – 92.1 Pts

2nd Place: Old Hamer Cask Strength Bourbon – 92 Pts

3rd Place: Sisterdale Straight Bourbon Whiskey – 89.6 Pts

US STATES

Best Indiana Whiskey

1st Place: Old Hamer Cask Strength Bourbon – 92 Pts

2nd Place: Remus – 90.8 Pts

3rd Place: Hugh Hamer Double Oaked 103 – 90.07 Pts

Best Kentucky Whiskey

1st Place: Black Bourbon Society’s Maker’s Mark Private Selection: Recipe 2. – 93.8 Pts

2nd Place: Thomas S. Moore Cabernet Sauvignon Finished Kentucky Straight Bourbon – 92.03 Pts

3rd Place: Thomas S. Moore Chardonnay Finished Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – 91.83 Pts

Best Tennessee Whiskey

1st Place: Uncle Nearest 1820 Premium Single Barrel Whiskey – US-21 – 91.07 Pts

2nd Place: Uncle Nearest Master Blend Edition – 90.37 Pts

3rd Place: Uncle Nearest 1856 Premium Aged Whiskey – 90.33 Pts

Best Texas Whiskey

1st Place: TX Texas Stright Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Tawny Port Casks – 90.17 Pts

2nd Place: Sisterdale Stright Bourbon Whiskey  – 89.6 Pts

3rd Place: TX Texas Stright Bourbon Whiskey – 88.37 Pts

Best Virginia Whiskey

1st Place: John J. Bowman Single Barrel Virginia Straight Bourbon Whiskey – 91.07 Pts

2nd Place: Bowman Brothers Small Batch Virginia Straight Bourbon Whiskey – 89.2 Pts


JAPAN

 Best Japanese Whisky

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

2nd Place: Matsui Single Malt Whisky The Matsui Mizunara Cask – 91.17 Pts

3rd Place: The Kyoto Bourbon Barrel – 90.7 Pts

 Best Japanese Whisky NAS (No Age Statement)

1st Place: Matsui Single Malt Whisky The Matsui Mizunara Cask – 91.17 Pts

2nd Place: The Kyoto Bourbon Barrel – 90.7 Pts

3rd Place: Matsui Blended Whisky The San-in Bourbon Barrel – 90.67 Pts

 Best Blended Japanese Whisky

1st Place: The Kyoto Bourbon Barrel – 90.7 Pts

2nd Place: Matsui Blended Whisky The San-in Bourbon Barrel – 90.67 Pts

3rd Place: Matsui Blended Whisky The Tottori Bourbon Barrel – 89.63 Pts

 Best Pure Malt Japanese Whisky

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

2nd Place: Matsui Single Malt Whisky The Matsui Mizunara Cask – 91.17 Pts

3rd Place: Matsui Pure Malt Whisky The Kurayoshi 12 Years – 90.67 Pts

 Best Japanese Whisky 12 Year Old

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

 Best Japanese Whisky 18 Year Old

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


CANADA

Best Canadian Whisky

 1st Place: Alberta Premium Cask Strength – 90.67 Pts

2nd Place: Alberta Premium 20 Year Old – 89.8 Pts

3rd Place: Canadian Club 43 Year Old – 89.03 Pts

Best Canadian Blended Whisky

1st Place: Canadian Club 43 Year Old – 89.03 Pts

2nd Place: High River Canadian Whisky – 87.7 Pts

3rd Place: Canadian Club Classic 12 Year Old – 87.43 Pts

Best Canadian Rye Whisky

1st Place: Alberta Premium Cask Strength – 90.67 Pts

2nd Place: Alberta Premium 20 Year Old – 89.8 Pts

3rd Place: Canadian Club 100% Rye – 87.83 Pts


IRELAND

Best Irish Whiskey

1st Place: Paddy Irish Whiskey – 88.53 Pts

2nd Place: Michael Collins Irish Whiskey – 88.27 Pts

3rd Place: Grace O’Malley Blended Irish Whiskey – 87.4 Pts


WORLD

Best World Whisky*

1st Place: Kavalan Artist Series: Paul Chiang Peated Malt Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky – 94.6 Pts

2nd Place: Kavalan King Car 40th Anniversary Selected Wine Cask Matured Single Malt Whisky – 94 Pts

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

1st Place: Morris Muscat Barrel Australian Single Malt Whisky – 90.3 Pts

2nd Place: Morris Signature Australian Single Malt Whisky – 89.17 Pts


Best Austrian Whisky

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


Best English Whisky

1st Place: Cotswolds Hearts & Crafts Sauternes Cask Single Malt Whisky – 89.27 Pts

2nd Place: Cotswolds Sherry Cask Single Malt Whisky – 88.2 Pts


Best Indian Whisky

1st Place: Mithuna by Paul John Indian Single Malts – 90.7 Pts

2nd Place: Paul John Nirvana Unpeated Indian Single Malt Whisky – 89.73 Pts

3rd Place: Paul John P.X. Select Cask Indian Single Malt – 89.1 Pts


Best Malaysian Whisky

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


Best Myanmar Whisky

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


OTHER WHISKIES

Best Flavored Whiskey

1st Place: Glacier Distilling Trapline Rock and Rye Whiskey

2nd Place: Canadian Club Apple

3rd Place: Southern Comfort

Check out the 2021 International Whisky Competition official website for more information.

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