The complete run of winners from the World Whiskies Awards 2020 were recently announced – and let it be known that Australians punch above their weight in many regards. Especially when it comes to grog.
Hosted by Whisky Magazine via virtual ceremony, distilleries from all across the globe entered their very finest for a chance to be crowned Best Whiskey / Best Whisky. Single malt whisky, grain, whisky, blended whisky – you name it.
Homegrown distilleries that managed to snag some recognition in World Whiskies Awards categories, including none other than:
- Archie Rose for World’s Best Rye,
- as well as Sullivans Cove for Best Australian Single Malt; eventually beaten by House of Suntory for World’s Best Single Malt.
Check out the list of World Whiskies Awards 2020 title winners below.
World’s Best Blended Whisky Award
Dewar’s (Scotland)
Double Double 32 Years Old
“Brown sugar-glazed roasted pineapple on the nose. Polished oak develops. Thick, sweet palate with caramel, vanilla, molasses and toffee with soft spice and baked apples. Raisin notes build. Water brings out tropical fruit notes. Rich and rather complex.”
World’s Best Blended Limited Release
Ichiro’s Malt & Grain (Japan)
Japanese Blended Whisky Limited Edition 2020
“Rich with slight hints of sulphur. A burst of fresh mint is mixed with slightly peaty notes. A powerful dram”
World’s Best Blended Malt
MacNair’s Lum Reek (Scotland)
Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 21 Years Old
“Fragrant and sweet, with floral and fruit aromas. Fruit Pastilles and a touch of honey. Rich with a gentle mouthfeel, fruitiness of plums and black grapes with a touch of cinnamon, tobacco and liquorice. Lingering pepper and spice on the finish. Great balance.”
World’s Best Corn Whisky
Spirit of Hven (Sweden)
MerCurious
“Very creamy on the nose, sweet corn with vanilla pastries, subtle berries, pear drops, red apples and white chocolate. Well-integrated wood. The palate offers pear drops, caramel popcorn and chocolate nibs. The finish lingers on with gentle wood spice, vanilla, pastries and a little spearmint.”
World’s Best Grain Award
Fuji (Japan)
Single Grain 30 Years Old Small Batch
“Great depth, gentle, fruity, vanilla beans, woody notes, popcorn, tannin, sherry. Oaky.”
World’s Best New Make
Macaloney’s (Canada)
Peated Clearach
“Nose is reminiscent of barbecue, smoky and meaty with vegetal notes. Palate has a beautiful fruity note with green pepper. Sweet spirit on the palate well done. Palate stands out with a beautiful fruity note.”
World’s Best Rye
Archie Rose (Australia)
Rye Malt Whisky
“An apple-led nose with dried apples and dry cider, some anise, caraway and toasted bread crust. Palate has a thick, almost creamy texture. Spiced sponge, light ginger and star anise. Initial sweetness dries out with a medium, nutty, dry fruit finish.”
World’s Best Single Cask Single Malt
Tamdhu (Scotland)
Sandy McIntyre’s SC
“Excellent complexity and depth. Nose has notes of rosewater and wildflowers with rich manuka honey, flapjacks, vanilla and overripe nectarines. Velvety palate with orange oil, dried papaya, cherry chocolates and some gentle spice. Superb.”
World’s Best Single Malt Award
House of Suntory (Japan)
Hakushu Single Malt 25 Years Old
[No comment provided]
World’s Best Wheat
Bainbridge (US)
Two Islands Hokkaido Cask
[No comment provided]
World’s Best Pot Still
Redbreast (Ireland)
21 Years Old
“Beautiful nose – oaky, fruity, zingy. Soft, creamy and fruity with small zaps of oak spice. A honey softness on the tongue. The fruit intensifies throughout too, with a hint of wine alongside. Some nutty notes. Delicious.”
World’s Best Canadian Blended Whisky
J.P. Wiser’s (Canada)
Alumni Whisky Series Darryl Sittler
“Dark amber in colour. Nose is quite oaky, herbal, lots of tobacco. Palate is dark caramel. Very little spice. Pleasant. Finish is medium length, peppery. Semi sweet on the nose with a vanilla backbone. Integrated and smooth on the palate. Very good rye notes, grassy on the finish with a splash of citrus.”
World’s Best Tennessee
Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey (US)
1820 Single Barrel
“Pleasing nose with roasted corn and oak. Rich on the tongue, with the notes of oak continuing throughout. Good complexity, great character.”
World’s Best Bourbon
Ironroot (US)
Harbinger
“A punch of alcohol on the nose, kettle corn, oak, salted caramel and vanilla. Full bodied and strong with a caramel sweetness, liquorice and dried fruits. Rounding out with a long finish of oak and spice.”
World’s Best Single Barrel Bourbon
Rebel Yell (US)
Single Barrel 10 Years Old
“A sweet, buttery nose with salted caramel, vanilla and chocolate. Nice balance of spice in flavour with pink peppercorns and candied fruit. Hot, drying and a long finish.”
World’s Best Flavoured
Few Spirits (US)
Cold Cut Bourbon
“Nose is subtle with aromas of cold brew coffee.”
Find out more about the World Whiskies Awards by heading over to worldwhiskiesawards.com.
In other news from the aged in a cask world, the first ever peanut butter whiskey has won gold at the New York World Wine & Spirits Competition 2019. A little different in terms of focus and whisk(e)y-related prestige from the World Whiskies Awards – but you can find out more about it here.
