IWSC 2021 results announced

In this year's edition of the International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC), over 37 winners of the main prize and over 140 winners in the Scottish Whisky category were selected.

IWSC is an annual competition in the category of wines and spirits. The organization was founded in 1969 by the German-British oenologist, Anton Massel. The original name of Club Oenologique has evolved over the years into the current name of the International Wine and Spirit Competition.

IWSC is currently the largest alcohol competition in the world. The organizers receive samples for evaluation from over 86 countries around the world. Over 250 judges take part in the competition, assessing thousands of wines and spirits in 1,500 different categories. Alcohols are assessed on a 100-point scale and are awarded according to the following classification: Gold Outstanding (98-100 points), Gold (95-97 points), Silver (90-94 points) and Bronze (85-89 points).

Single malt whisky won over 30 gold medals, while blended whisky won 7 gold statuettes.

The prices of the awarded bottles range from several dozen pounds (Ben Bracken, Lidl) to several hundred pounds (Bunnahabhain 25 YO, Master of Malt). Some of the awarded whiskies are available only in the travel retail, although they will eventually be avaiable in a broader distribution.

Contrary to last year's ratings, where Speyside producers almost completely snagged Gold Outstanding medals, this year's results were more balanced, with all of Scotland's key whisky producing regions.

A complete listing of the Gold Outstanding whiskies is below:

Single Malts

Bowmore, 12 YO, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 40% ABV

Aberlour, 12 YO, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 40% ABV

Aberlour, 14 YO, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 40% ABV

Speyburn Distillery, 15 YO, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 46% ABV

Bunnahabhain, 25 YO, Small Batch, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 46.3% ABV

Aberlour, A’bunadh Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 61% ABV

Ardbeg, 19 YO, 2020 Edition, Traigh Bhan Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 46.2% ABV

Isle of Arran Distillers, Arran Quarter Cask “The Bothy” Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 56.2% ABV

Isle of Arran Distillers, Arran Sherry Cask “The Bodega” Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 55.8% ABV

John Dewar & Sons, Aultmore, 18 YO, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 46% ABV

John Dewar & Sons, Aultmore, 21 YO, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 46% ABV

Lidl Great Britain Ltd, Ben Bracken Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 40% ABV

Chivas Brothers, Caperdonich, 18 YO, Peated Whisky, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 48% ABV

Chivas Brothers, Glen Keith, 25 YO, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 43% ABV

Aldi, Glen Marnoch, 12 YO, Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 40% ABV

Ballantine’s Glenburgie, 15 YO, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 40% ABV

White & Mackay, Glencairn Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 40% ABV

Glenmorangie, Signet, Ristretto Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 46% ABV

Glenmorangie, The Lasanta, 12 YO, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 43% ABV

Glenmorangie, The Tribute, 16 YO, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 43% ABV

Ballantine’s Glentauchers, 23 YO, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 40% ABV

Tomatin, Highland 1978, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 47% ABV

Tomatin, Decades 2, Highland, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 46% ABV

Chivas Brothers, Longhorn, 18 YO, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 48% ABV

Glenglassaugh, Octaves Batch 2 Classic, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 44% ABV

Laphroaig Quarter Cask, Islay, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 48% ABV

Ian Macleod Distillers, Tamdhu, 10 YO, Gran Reserva, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 46% ABV

White & Mackay, Tamnavulin No. 1 French Cabernet Sauvignon Cask, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 40% ABV

William Grant & Sons Distillers, The Balvenie Doublewood, 12 YO, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 40% ABV

William Grant & Sons Distillers, The Balvenie Forty Rare Marriage, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 48.5% ABV

Blended Scotch Whisky

Matisse, 21 YO, Blended Scotch Whisky, 40% ABV

Royal Salute, 62 Gun Salute, Blended Scotch Whisky, 43% ABV

Clan Campbell, Dark Whisky, Blended Scotch Whisky, 40% ABV

William Grant & Sons Distillers, Grant’s Triple Wood, Blended Scotch Whisky, 40% ABV

William Grant & Sons Distillers, House of Hazelwood, 18 YO, Blended Scotch Whisky, 40% ABV

MacDuff International Islay Mist, 8 YO, Blended Scotch Whisky, 40% ABV

Bardinet, Sir Edward’s Smoky Whisky, Blended Scotch Whisky, 40% ABV