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Home - Stories - Whisky Magazine Announces 2013 World Whiskies Awards Winners

Whisky Magazine Announces 2013 World Whiskies Awards Winners

March 23, 2013 – Ardbeg’s Galileo Islay Single Malt took top honors as the “World’s Best Single Malt” in the 2013 World Whiskies Awards presented by Whisky Magazine. The winners were announced Thursday (March 21) at a banquet in London on the eve of Whisky Live London, along with the Icons of Whisky Awards and Hall of Fame honorees. The World Whiskies Awards are conducted in two rounds of blind judging by a panel of whisky writers, joined by a panel of retailers, bar managers, and industry leaders for the third round of blind judging. (Editor’s note: Mark Gillespie of WhiskyCast served as a judge for all three rounds.) The competition is open to official distillery bottlings only, with more than 300 entries from distilleries around the world.

Other “World’s Best” winners included George T. Stagg Bourbon as the “World’s Best American Whiskey”, Hibiki 21 from Suntory as the “World’s Best Blended Whisky”, Mars Maltage Plus 25 as the “World’s Best Blended Malt”, Bain’s Cape Mountain from South Africa as the “World’s Best Grain Whisky”, and the Master of Malt 40 Speyside Liqueur as the “World’s Best Whiskey Liqueur”. Each was selected from the various winners within their categories. A complete list of winners and short-listed finalists appears in Issue 111 of Whisky Magazine.

Here’s a list of the winning whiskies:

SINGLE MALTS

Best Islay Single Malt (and World’s Best Single Malt): Ardbeg Galileo
Best Speyside Single Malt: The Balvenie 30
Best Highland Single Malt: Glenmorangie 25
Best Lowland Single Malt: Glenkinchie 12
Best Islands Single Malt: Talisker Distiller’s Edition
Best Campbeltown Single Malt: Longrow
Best Irish Pot Still Whiskey: Redbreast 12 Cask Strength
Best Irish Single Malt: Tyrconnell Sherry Finish
Best Japanese Single Malt: Yamazaki 25
Best European Singe Malt: Armorik Double Maturation (France)
Best American Single Malt: The Notch 10
Best Australian Single Malt: Sullivan’s Cove French Oak Cask
Best Asian Single Malt: Kavalan Solist Fino
Best African Single Malt: Three Ships 10

AMERICAN WHISKEYS

Best Bourbon (and World’s Best American Whiskey): George T. Stagg Bourbon
Best Tennessee Whiskey: George Dickel 12
Best Rye Whiskey: WhistlePig 11
Best Wheat Whiskey: Bernheim Original Straight Wheat Whiskey
Best Non-Bourbon: Balcones True Blue

BLENDED WHISKIES

Best Japanese Blend (and World’s Best Blended Whisky): Hibiki 21
Best Scotch Blend: Cutty Sark Tam O’Shanter
Best European Blend: Armorik Breizh
Best Irish Blend: Kilbeggan 18
Best Canadian Blend: Pike Creek 10
Best American Blend: Kinnickinnic Whiskey from Great Lakes Distillery
Best Australian Blend: The New Zealand Whisky Company DoubleWood
Best African Blend: Three Ships 5