The International Spirits Challenge 2021 has unveiled the best Scotch whiskies in the world, at least in their opinion. The annual competition is now in its 26th year and receives submissions from across the globe.
This year, the International Spirits Challenge 2021 received more than 1,800 entries from nearly 70 countries worldwide. The ISC Tasting Awards winners are established through a rigorous judging process – a highly controlled operation held over twelve days of intense blind tastings by panels of more than 50 respected and experienced industry professionals.
In 2021, the annual award show dubbed 16 Scotch whiskies worth of its top honor, a Double Gold medal. Chivas brothers walked away with the most awards, counting 5 total Double Golds. William Grant & Sons, meanwhile, collected three top awards of their own. Check out the entire list of top Scotch whiskies below:
The 16 Best Scotch Whiskies According To The International Spirits Challenge 2021
| Bottle | Company | Sub Category | Medal |
| Royal Salute 62 Gun Salute | Chivas Brothers | Blends 21 years old and over | DOUBLE GOLD |
| WILLIAM PEEL DOUBLE MATURATION | WILLIAM PEEL | Blends No Age Statement | DOUBLE GOLD |
| Glenfiddich Amontillado Sherry Cask Finish | William Grant & Sons Distillers | Distillers’ Single Malts 12 years old and under | DOUBLE GOLD |
| Aberlour 18 Year Old | Chivas Brothers | Distillers’ Single Malts between 13 and 20 years old | DOUBLE GOLD |
| Royal Brackla 21YO – Sherry Cask Finish – OLOROSO, PALO CORTADO & PEDRO XIMENEZ- Highland Single Malt | John Dewar and Son’s Ltd | Distillers’ Single Malts 21 years old and over | DOUBLE GOLD |
| Johnnie Walker Double Black | Diageo | Blends No Age Statement | DOUBLE GOLD |
| Royal Salute 21 Years Old The Signature Blend | Chivas Brothers | Blends 21 years old and over | DOUBLE GOLD |
| Glenmorangie The Accord | The Glenmorangie Company | Distillers’ Single Malts 12 years old and under | DOUBLE GOLD |
| Deanston 12 Year Old | Distell Group Ltd | Distillers’ Single Malts 12 years old and under | DOUBLE GOLD |
| 50 Y O Whyte and Mackay Blended Scotch Whisky | Whyte and Mackay Ltd | Blends 21 years old and over | DOUBLE GOLD |
| Chivas Regal Ultis | Chivas Brothers | Blends No Age Statement | DOUBLE GOLD |
| Royal Salute Blended Scotch Whisky 23 years old | Pernod Ricard | Blends 21 years old and over | DOUBLE GOLD |
| LAUDER’S 25 YEAR OLD BLENDED SCOTCH WHISKY | MACDUFF INTERNATIONAL (SCOTCH WHISKY) LIMITED | Blends 21 years old and over | DOUBLE GOLD |
| Aberlour 16 Year Old | Chivas Brothers | Distillers’ Single Malts between 13 and 20 years old | DOUBLE GOLD |
| Glenfiddich Gran Cortes XXII | William Grant & Sons Distillers | Distillers’ Single Malts 21 years old and over | DOUBLE GOLD |
| The Balvenie Thirty | William Grant & Sons Distillers | Distillers’ Single Malts 21 years old and over | DOUBLE GOLD |
Check out the Scotch whisky winners from the 2020 edition of the awards.
For more information, head over to the competition’s official website.