The Best Scotch Single Malt, as well as the Best Scotch Speyside, is Glen Moray, Phoenix Rising, No Age Statement, 40% ABV.

The Glen Moray is a classic Speyside expression featuring notes of ripe orchard fruit deftly blended with wood spice and caramel. The whisky is not yet available in the US, but is expected to go into distribution shortly. At a recommended retail price of $35 it also represents an amazing value.

The Judging Panel described the whisky as exhibiting notes of:

Green apple, Scottish Tablet, caramel, vanilla and muscat on the nose. A nicely balanced palate that mirrors the nose with sweet oak and spice notes.

Tablet is a semi-hard sugary confection similar to a crumblier version of American fudge. It’s made by boiling sugar, condensed milk, and butter.

Making the shortlist for Best Scotch Speyside is, 12 Years & Under, GlenAllachie 12 YO, 48% ABV; 13 to 20 Years, GlenAllachie 15 YO, 48% ABV; and 21 Years & Older, Aultmore, 21 YO 46% ABV. GlenAllachie has been a single malt standout of late, consistently garnering awards in international whisky competitions under the leadership of its Master Distiller Billy Walker.

The Best Scotch Highlands is Glencadam, Reserva PX Cask Finish, NAS, 46% ABV. The Judging Panel described the whisky as showing:

Perfumed aroma with raspberry and blackcurrant jams and nutmeg. The complex palate features toffee, caramel, stewed apples, dates, nutmeg, and cinnamon.

The Best Scotch Campbeltown is Glen Scotia Victoriana, No Age Statement, 54.2% ABV. The Glen Scotia Victoriana mimics the single malt Scotch whisky bottlings of the Victorian era, hence the name Victoriana. Single malts during this period were bottled at cask strength.

The Judging Panel described the Victoriana as showing:

On the nose, muesli with milk, crème brûlée, popcorn kernels, malt, and fresh pear. Palate is beautifully oily and viscous, with well-incorporated cereal notes and tropical fruit. Salted butter and white pepper balance the sweetness of fudge, toffee, and black currant jam.

Also making the shortlist are two other Glen Scotia Expressions, 12 Years & Under, Glen Scotia Icons of Campbeltown: The Mermaid, 54.1% ABV and 13 to 20 Years, Glen Scotia, 15 YO, 46% ABV.

The Best Scotch Islands is Arran, Quarter Cask, The Bothy, NAS, 56.1% ABV. The Judging Panel described the whisky as featuring:

Whipped cream, green fruits, grassy notes, vanilla custard, and light smoke on the nose leading to a sweet palate with cream soda, tropical fruits and Swedish Princess Cake (minus the marzipan and jam). Medium finish with spiced vanilla ice cream.

On the shortlist 13 to 20 Years is Jura, 15 YO Sherry Cask, 42.8% ABV.

The Best Scotch Islay, 21 Years & Over is Ardbeg, 25 YO, 46% ABV. The Ardbeg 25 YO is a classic. It was described by the judging Panel as showing:

Sweet peat smoke, lemon citrus and grassy notes on the nose. Well-balanced palate with nice peaty notes, warming spice, light citrus, dark caramel, and vanilla. Very pleasant and harmonious.

Also on the shortlist is Ardbeg Uigeadail, NAS, 54.2% ABV; 12 Years & Under, Bowmore, 12 YO, 40% ABV, and 13 to 20 Years, Bowmore 15 YO, 43% ABV.

The Best Scotch Lowlands is Auchentoshan, Three Woods, NAS, 43% ABV.

The Judging Panel described the whisky as featuring:

Aromas of sweet sherry, blackcurrant cordial, and red grape. On the palate, ripe banana, almonds, rowanberry, and marzipan are complemented by peppery notes and gentler oak tannins. Medium finish of caramel and toffee. Well balanced and robust on the ABV.

Make the shortlist 13 to 20 Years is Bladnoch, 19 YO, 46.7% ABV.

The World Whiskies Awards is an annual event that recognizes and celebrates the best whiskies from around the globe. Organized by Whisky Magazine, the awards feature a panel of some of the world’s most esteemed whisky experts as judges who blind-taste and evaluate whiskies across various categories, including single malts, blends, bourbons, rye, and grain whiskies.

The awards aim to highlight exceptional whiskies and promote excellence in the whisky industry. They are among the first to recognize how truly international whisky has become by recognizing the top entries across both their countries of origin and by category of whisky.

The winners are selected based on their quality, character, and overall drinking experience, making the World Whisky Awards among the most prestigious honor available to whisky producers and putting it well on its way to becoming the world’s most prestigious whisky competition.

The 19 single malt Scotch whiskies featured above are truly among the world’s best. Featuring a range of styles, aromas, and taste profiles, there is a single malt whisky here to suit every palate. Regardless of your preferences, every one of them deserves a place in your home bar. Better yet, most of them are reasonably priced and readily available in the US and Canada.