The complete run of winners from the World Whiskies Awards 2020 were recently announced โ 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 โ you name it.
Homegrown distilleries that managed to snag some recognition in World Whiskies Awards categories, including none other than:
- Archie Rose for Worldโs Best Rye,
- as well as Sullivans Cove for Best Australian Single Malt; eventually beaten by House of Suntory for Worldโs Best Single Malt.
Check out the list of World Whiskies Awards 2020 title winners below.
Worldโs Best Blended Whisky Award
Dewarโs (Scotland)
Double Double 32 Years Old
โBrown 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.โ
Worldโs Best Blended Limited Release
Ichiroโs Malt & Grain (Japan)
Japanese Blended Whisky Limited Edition 2020
โRich with slight hints of sulphur. A burst of fresh mint is mixed with slightly peaty notes. A powerful dramโ
Worldโs Best Blended Malt
MacNairโs Lum Reek (Scotland)
Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 21 Years Old
โFragrant 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.โ
Worldโs Best Corn Whisky
Spirit of Hven (Sweden)
MerCurious
โVery 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.โ
Worldโs Best Grain Award
Fuji (Japan)
Single Grain 30 Years Old Small Batch
โGreat depth, gentle, fruity, vanilla beans, woody notes, popcorn, tannin, sherry. Oaky.โ
Worldโs Best New Make
Macaloneyโs (Canada)
Peated Clearach
โNose 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.โ
Worldโs Best Rye
Archie Rose (Australia)
Rye Malt Whisky
โAn 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.โ
Worldโs Best Single Cask Single Malt
Tamdhu (Scotland)
Sandy McIntyreโs SC
โExcellent 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.โ
Worldโs Best Single Malt Award
House of Suntory (Japan)
Hakushu Single Malt 25 Years Old
[No comment provided]
Worldโs Best Wheat
Bainbridge (US)
Two Islands Hokkaido Cask
[No comment provided]
Worldโs Best Pot Still
Redbreast (Ireland)
21 Years Old
โBeautiful nose โ 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.โ
Worldโs Best Canadian Blended Whisky
J.P. Wiserโs (Canada)
Alumni Whisky Series Darryl Sittler
โDark 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.โ
Worldโs Best Tennessee
Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey (US)
1820 Single Barrel
โPleasing nose with roasted corn and oak. Rich on the tongue, with the notes of oak continuing throughout. Good complexity, great character.โ
Worldโs Best Bourbon
Ironroot (US)
Harbinger
โA 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.โ
Worldโs Best Single Barrel Bourbon
Rebel Yell (US)
Single Barrel 10 Years Old
โA 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.โ
Worldโs Best Flavoured
Few Spirits (US)
Cold Cut Bourbon
โNose is subtle with aromas of cold brew coffee.โ
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 โ but you can find out more about it here.
