The Whisky Magazine Awards 2023, the most watched by the global whisky industry and enthusiasts, and organized by Whisky Magazine, was announced today in London, UK, with the best of the best and this year's Whisky Hall of Fame inductees officially announced.
This year, more than 1,400 whiskies from more than 40 countries and regions around the world were subjected to three rounds of blind tasting competitions by more than 200 expert judges, and the world's best in 23 categories were determined, including the most watched WWA World Best Single Malt Whisky 2023, which was won by M&H Elements Sherry Cask from Israel.
In addition to the world's best in 23 categories, the ceremony also announced three new Whisky Hall of Fame winners: Bernard Walsh, founder of Walsh Whiskey Ireland, and Sukhinder, co-founder and director of The Whisky Exchange and Speciality Drinks Singh) and whisky writer and communicator Hans Offringa.
Below, I will briefly introduce you to the world's best in these 23 categories:
- WORLD'S BEST AMERICAN WHISKEY
Winner: Side Gig Whiskey
Comes from Storm King Distilling Co., 3 years old, 45% ABV.
Judges' tasting: a well-balanced whisky with aromas of corn, freshly mowed grass and nuts; The taste buds are clean, with notes of oak, honey, chocolate, and earthy notes and light spices; The aftertaste is long, mellow with a hint of mint.
- WORLD'S BEST BLENDED
Winner: Breckenridge Distillery High Proof Bourbon Whiskey
Breckenridge Distillery, the highest winery in Colorado, USA, is made of 58% corn, 36% rye and 6% malted barley with an alcohol content of 52.5% ABV.
Judges' tasting: Full-bodied, with a blend of sherry, oak and spices, the taste is sweet and powerful, but smooth with a butterscotchable finish.
- WORLD'S BEST BLENDED LIMITED RELEASE
Winner: Ichiro's Malt & Grain 2023
Note: The picture is the 2021 version
- WORLD'S BEST BLENDED MALT
Winner: Taketsuru Pure Malt
- WORLD'S BEST BOURBON
Winner: The Representative Small Batch Bourbon
Distilled at MGP in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, it is made from 75% corn, 21% rye and 4% malt, and is 4 years old and 57.8% ABV.
The judges' tasting: pleasant aromas of sweet orange peel, oak, caramel and dark fruits, soft taste of roasted nuts, custard, cinnamon, allspice and dried fruit, just the right balance and good complexity, and lingering sweetness in the finish.
- WORLD'S BEST CANADIAN BLENDED
Winner: Gibson's Finest Venerable
Produced from a distillery owned by Valleyfield, Quebec, Canada, it is made from corn, malt and rye, and is 18 years old and has an alcohol content of 40% ABV.
WORLD'S BEST CORN
Winner: Upshot Red Corn Whiskey
Whipper Snapper Distillery, established in Australia in 2014, uses 80% corn, 10% malt and 10% wheat as raw materials, matured in white oak barrels in southern Australia, with an alcohol content of 43% ABV.
Judges' tasting: sweet aroma, popcorn mixed with marzipan, apple and icing cherry; The palate is further softened with toffee, vanilla, butterscotch, and even foamy bananas; Finally, fennel and a touch of salt water, with endless complexity.
- WORLD'S BEST FINISHED BOURBON
Winner: Ironroot Republic Apotheosis
Note: The picture shows the Esoteric version
From Ironroot Republic Distillery, USA, Armagnac Barrel Finish, alcohol content 63.8% ABV.
The jury tasted: aromas of grapes, pudding and dark fruits, as well as fig biscuits, cinnamon and caramel, the aromas of grapes gradually revealed in the taste buds, the bright aromas of vanilla and honey intertwined with the perfect blend of oak.
- WORLD'S BEST FLAVOURED WHISKY
Winner: Tullamore D.E.W. Honey
From Ireland, based on Tullamore D.E.W. tri-distilled whiskey with 100% natural bohemian honey and 35% ABV alcohol content.
Judges' tasting: Aromas of new oak, raspberry and cinnamon, rich in cereals, caramel and pecan nuts. There is a subtle botanical quality which, combined with sweet spices, reaches a medium length aftertaste.
- The world's best grain whisky
Winner: Hwayo X. Premium
Coming from South Korea, using rice as raw material, ripened in American oak barrels, alcohol content 41% ABV.
Judges' tasting: fruity flavors with blackcurrant, canned peaches and citrus peel, served with roasted cereals and wet varnishes. Full-bodied with dried coconut, butter caramel and brown sugar. Blackcurrants have a long aftertaste.
WORLD'S BEST NEW MAKE & YOUNG SPIRIT
Winner: Niigata Kameda Newpot Peated
Niigata Kameda Distillery, Japan mud soot taste, sake accuracy 60% ABV.
- WORLD'S BEST POT STILL
Winner: Macaloney's Island Distillery Kildara Signature Selection
Launched by Macaloney's Island Distillery from Canada and helmed by whiskey maker Graeme Macaloney, it is distilled three times and matured in a blend of bourbon, European oak and virgin American oak barrels with an alcohol content of 58% ABV.
- WORLD'S BEST RYE
Winner: Millstone 100 Rye
From Zuidam Distillery in the Netherlands, using 100% rye as raw material, 100 months of maturation, alcohol content 50% ABV.
Judges' tasting: Buttery popcorn, green banana and licorice will energize your nose before rye bread, fennel and floral notes enter the greasy taste. Spices are everywhere, especially for medium-length aftertastes.
—WORLD'S BEST SINGLE BARREL BOURBON
Winner: Tumblin' Dice Single Barrel
In MGP distillation, a high black proportion raw material of 36% rye in the distillery is used, aged for 4 years, bottled in barrels with strong alcohol, 56.15% ABV.
Tasting by the judges: fruit salad, light surip, cocktails, fruit and pears with balanced tastes; The taste has the sweetness of corn, some oak and tropical fruits such as pineapple, guava and coconut; The aftertaste has a prominent oak flavor with a hint of coconut.
- WORLD'S BEST SINGLE CASK SINGLE GRAIN
Winner: Rare Auld Grain Invergordon 32 Years Old
Originally from Scotland, launched by independent bottler Duncan Taylor, part of the Rare Auld Grain series, the original wine from Invergordon Distillery, distilled in 1990, aged in shirley barrels for 32 years, alcohol content 48.1% ABV, limited to 330 bottles.
Judges' tasting: On the smell, there is the smell of green banana and honey drupe. On the palate, there is a hint of minty and peach. An orange note appears in a long aftertaste.
- WORLD'S BEST SINGLE CASK SINGLE MALT
Awarded by Glen Scotia First Fill Bourbon Cask No .372
Glen Scotia, from Campbell, Scotland, distilled in 2009, 13 years old, matured in barrel number 372 first filled bourbon barrel, alcohol content 56.4% ABV.
Judges' Tasting: Smell the rich sea breeze with the aroma of sea and ocean, as well as the smell of toffee and coconut. The palate brings extra sweetness with hints of raisins, vanilla sponge cake and buttered fruit bread. More salt water and a touch of pine appear in the afterglow.
- WORLD'S BEST SINGLE CASK SINGLE RYE
Winner: Stauning Whisky Rye Maple Syrup Single Cask No. 517
Stauning distillery from Denmark, distilled in 2016, 6 years old, matured in maple sugar barrels, barrel number 517, alcohol content 57.8% ABV.
Tasting by the judges: grassy, apple and spicy, almost menthol hints at the quality of rye, while raisins and currants become more prominent in the palate. Fresh ginger and earthy flavors warm the aftertaste.
- WORLD'S BEST SINGLE MALT
Winner: M&H Elements Sherry Cask
Milk and mead mills from Israel. The liquor is the first single malt whisky from kosher sherry barrels. Shirley kegs were custom-made for this Israeli brewery in Jerez, Spain. The wine is matured in Oloroso and PX Sherry barrels with an alcohol content of 46% ABV.
Judges' tasting: Citrus peel and white peach fruity notes with hints of wood lacquer, sweet and thick, with notes of golden syrup, vanilla, tropical fruits and iced tea, and finally oak tannins and fennel and lemon peel.
- WORLD'S BEST SMALL BATCH BOURBON
Awarded by Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C922
From Paradise Hill Distillery in the United States, the third and final edition of the 2022 Elijah Craig Barrel Proof bourbon whiskey is 12 years old and 62.4% ABV alcohol, distilled and bottled by Elijah Craig Distillery Company in Bardeston, Kentucky.
Tasting by the judges: the aromas of vanilla, caramel, brown sugar and sweet corn are soft and intense; The palate is mixed with notes of leather and menthol and notes of vanilla and caramel. The aftertaste is mixed with burnt sugar and, surprisingly, still easy to sip at higher alcohol levels.
- WORLD'S BEST SMALL BATCH SINGLE MALT
获得者：JJ Corry Irish Whiskey The Flintlock No. 3
From Ireland. J.J. Corry returns with another great whisky from his Flintlock range! The third edition consists of a blend of 6 bourbon single malt whiskies aged 15-19 years, then blended with Moscatel Sherry Butt, alcohol 46% ABV, non-condensing filtered, natural color.
Judges' tasting: complex fruity aromas of pears, nectarines and apples mixed with notes of leather and gingerbread; The palate is dry and warm with notes of apple and oak, accompanied by notes of allspice caramel, almonds, roasted spices and dark chocolate; The aftertaste is rounded with afternotes and notes of honey apple
WORLD'S BEST TENNESSEE WHISKEY
Winner: Jack Daniel's Bonded
Judges' tasting: fresh aroma with notes of apple and banana; There is a bright vanilla flavor on the palate, creamy and sweet with honey and meringue, and a sweetness of brown sugar in the aftertaste.
- WORLD'S BEST WHEAT
Winner: Lone Elm 4 Years Old Single Barrel
From Five Points Distillery in Texas, USA, 90% wheat and 10% malt as raw materials, 4 years old, alcohol content 64.2% ABV.
Judges' tasting: a sweet taste that holds maple syrup, apricot and roasted peanut oil; Rich on the palate, cherries, molasses, soy sauce and soft gingerbread with toasted oak. The aftertaste is long-lasting and intense.
Great Sue: WSET (International Foundation for Wine and Spirits Education) Advanced Certification, SMWA (Scottish Single Malt College) Advanced Certification, dedicated to the educational promotion of wine and spirits. Welcome to follow.