The World’s Best Whiskies of 2026: World Whiskies Awards Winners
NewsThursday, 29 January 2026 at 12:48
The World Whiskies Awards 2026 have once again put the world’s finest whiskies in the spotlight. Whisky lovers and industry professionals follow these prestigious awards for the ultimate recognition of quality and craftsmanship. Discover who took home the top titles, category wins and global accolades at the World Whiskies Awards 2026.
A closer look at the world’s best whiskies
The World Whiskies Awards is one of the most prominent international whisky competitions. Each year, thousands of entries from every corner of the globe are submitted and blind-tasted by an expert panel. They assess each whisky on color, aroma, flavor and consistency.
Afterward, the scores are tallied for all whiskies tasted. The whiskies are grouped by country and category, think blended, grain, rye, single cask, single malt and small batch. In every category, an outstanding winner emerges.
It’s not just the whisky that’s judged. Beyond flavor and style categories, awards also celebrate individuals and distilleries that make exceptional contributions to the whisky world, distillery managers, master blenders and innovators among them.
Here are the winners of the World Whiskies Awards 2026
Below you’ll find an overview of the winners of the World Whiskies Awards 2026. We’ve organized them clearly by category—so you’ll know exactly which bottle to add to your shelf next.
Best Blended Whisky
| Category | Distillery/ brand | Whisky |
| Best Chinese Blended | Blender 22 | Non age statement Blender |
| Best Indian Blended | Singhasan Whisky | Finest Indian Blended Whiskey |
| Best International Blended | The Akkeshi | Kokuu |
| Best Scotch Blended | Ballantine’s | 23 Years Old |
| Best South African Blended | Three Ships | Bourbon Cask |
| Best Spanish Blended | Whisky DYC | Blended |
| Best Taiwanese Blended | Jade Supremacy | Classic Taiwan Whisky |
| Best Canada Blended | SFR Distillery | 3 Years Old Whisky |
| Best Japanese Blended | Hibiki | 30 Years Old |
Best Blended Limited Release Whisky
| Category | Distillery/ brand | Whisky |
| Best Chinese Blended Limited Release | Wolin | Oak Mate |
| Best International Blended Limited Release | Turntable | Collaboration Drop 2 with Dingle |
| Best Scotch Blended Limited Release | Johnnie Walker | Autumn/Winter Blend |
| Best Taiwanese Blended Limited Release | Dawu Whiskey | Dawu Peated Whiskey 2025 Edition |
| Best Japanese Blended Limited Release | Ichiro’s Malt & Grain | Blended Japanese Whisky 2026 |
Best Blended Malt Whisky
| Category | Distillery/ brand | Whisky |
| Best Australian Blended Malt | Archie Rose Distilling Co. | Australian Malt Whisky |
| Best French Blended Malt | Laferté | Classique |
| Best International Blended Malt | Nikka | Session |
| Best Italian Blended Malt | Ter Lignum | Ter Lignum |
| Best Malaysian Blended Malt | Timah | 12 Years Old |
| Best Republic of Korea Blended Malt | Craftbros | Collaboration |
| Best Scotch Blended Malt | Noble Rebel | Smoke Symphony |
| Best Spanish Blended Malt | Bikkun Vatted Malt | M&H Edition |
| Best Welsh Blended Malt | In the Welsh Wind | Brychan |
| Best Japanese Blended Malt | Ichiro’s Malt | Double Distilleries |
| Best Chinese Blended Malt | Kwun Cheung | Blended Malt Whisky Aged in Changbai Mountains Mongolian Oak |
Best Flavoured Whisky
| Category | Distillery/ brand | Whisky |
| Best Scotch Flavoured Whisky | Woven | WXC |
| Best Japanese Flavoured Whisky | Ohtani Whisky Niigata Kameda | Sweet & Peated |
Best Grain Whisky
| Category | Distillery/ brand | Whisky |
| Best Australian Grain | Hellyers Road | Anniversary Collection 2005 Grain Whisky 20 Years Old Single Cask 5180.11 |
| Best Belgian Grain | Waterloo | The Brancardier Single Grain |
| Best French Grain | Ernest | Single Grain Whisky |
| Best German Grain | Penninger | Kirchham Cask |
| Best Indian Grain | All Seasons | Sir E Taj |
| Best Dutch Grain | Cley | Dutch Malt & Rye Whisky Cask Strength |
| Best Scotch Grain | Thompson Bros | An Edinburgh Dram - North British Single Grain Scotch Whisky |
| Best South African Grain | Boplaas | 12 Years Old Single Grain Rum Cask |
| Best Taiwanese Grain | Grainvest | Single Grain Whisky Cask Strength - Wheat Hua Tiau Wine Cask |
| Best Japanese Grain | Fuji | Single Grain |
| Best Chinese Grain | Grand Talon | Rice Whisky |
Best Rye Whisky
| Category | Distillery/ brand | Distillery/ brand |
| Best Australian Rye | Greenbanks Tasmanian Whisky Co | Quadruple Cask Rye |
| Best Danish Rye | Stauning Whisky | Rye Cask Strength 6 Year Old |
| Best English Rye | Adnams Southwold | Rye Malt Whisky |
| Best Finnish Rye | Kyrö | Malt Oloroso |
| Best Hungarian Rye | Seven Hills Distillery | Rye |
| Best Dutch Rye | Millstone | Rye Whisky Founder’s Reserve 10yo Cask Strength |
| Best Scotch Rye | InchDairnie Distillery | RyeLaw Scottish Rye Whisky Vintage 2017 |
| Best Spanish Rye | Siderit | 2026 Whisky PX Cask Rye |
| Best Canadian Rye | Alberta Premium | Cask Strength 10 Years Old |
Best Single Cask Single Grain Whisky
| Category | Distillery/ brand | Whisky |
| Best Belgian Single Cask Single Grain | Waterloo | The Duke Rum Cask |
| Best German Single Cask Single Grain | 16 States | Bavarian Whiskey Celtic Style |
| Best Italian Single Cask Single Grain | il Signor Camillo | Whisky italiano dei Monti Liguri |
| Best Scotch Single Cask Single Grain | The Red Cask Company | Girvan 1995 #366056 First Fill PX HHD |
| Best Chinese Single Cask Single Grain | Xinliu Heshan | Single Cask Single Grain Whisky |
Best Single Cask Single Malt Whisky
| Category | Distillery/ brand | Whisky |
| Best Australian Single Cask Single Malt | Sullivans Cove | French Oak White Wine Old & Rare TD0112 |
| Best Dutch Single Cask Single Malt | Millstone | 27 Years Old Oloroso Cask Strength |
| Best English Single Cask Single Malt | Dartmoor Whisky | Sherry Cask |
| Best French Single Cask Single Malt | Armorik | Yeun Elez Single Cask 8280 |
| Best German Single Cask Single Malt | Sylter | Haven Whisky |
| Best Israeli Single Cask Single Malt | M&H | Apex - Pineau des Charentes Cask |
| Best Italian Single Cask Single Malt | Strada Ferrata | I Release |
| Best New Zealand Single Cask Single Malt | Pokeno | Port Cask |
| Best Norwegian Single Cask Single Malt | Haavaldsen | Gneis Serie |
| Best Romanian Single Cask Single Malt | Carpathian Single Malt Whisky | Vradiano Cask Finish |
| Best Scotch Highlands Single Cask Single Malt | The Whisky Firm | Ben Nevis |
| Best Scotch Islay Single Cask Single Malt | Malts of Scotland | Bowmore 1999 MoS25028 for Taiwan |
| Best Scotch Lowlands Single Cask Single Malt | The Whisky Firm | Burnside |
| Best Scotch Speyside Single Cask Single Malt | Stalla Dhu | Strathmill 14 Years Old Single Cask |
| Best Spanish Single Cask Single Malt | Destilerías Liber | Single Malt |
| Best Swedish Single Cask Single Malt | High Coast Whisky – Single Cask 2019 | 192 Exclusive for Sweden |
| Best Swiss Single Cask Single Malt | Säntis Malt | Edition Alpstein 20 |
| Best Taiwanese Single Cask Single Malt | Kavalan | Peatist Oloroso Sherry Cask Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky |
| Best Canadian Single Cask Single Malt | Macaloney’s Island Distillery | Peat Project - Washington Peat with Sugar Kelp - ex-Bourbon Cask |
| Best Japanese Single Cask Single Malt | Ohtani Whisky Niigata Kameda | Single Cask Sherry Brandy |
| Best Chinese Single Cask Single Malt | Goalong | Single Malt Single Cask Sauvignon Blanc Wine Cask |
Best Single Malt Whisky
| Category | Distillery/ brand | Whisky |
| Best Australian Single Malt | Callington Mill Distillery | Amphora |
| Best Belgian Single Malt | Filliers | Single Malt Cask Strength |
| Best Danish Single Malt | Thy Whisky | Thy Single Malt |
| Best Dutch Single Malt | Cley | Single Malt Cask Strength |
| Best English Single Malt | Hammond’s Spirits | Ironridge Whisky |
| Best Finnish Single Malt | Soidin | Single Malt |
| Best French Single Malt | Pointe Blanche | Single Malt |
| Best German Single Malt | Birkenhof Brennerei | Fading Hill Single Malt Pleat Classic |
| Best Indian Single Malt | Paul John Indian Single Malt Whisky | Port |
| Best Israeli Single Malt | M&H | Classic |
| Best Italian Single Malt | inQuota | Amarone Cask Finish |
| Best Republic of Korea Single Malt | Ki One | Tiger Korean Single Malt Whisky |
| Best New Zealand Single Malt | Moonlight Creek | West Coast Manuka Smoked |
| Best Scotch Campbeltown Single Malt | Glen Scotia | 15 Years Old |
| Best Scotch Highlands Single Malt | Aberfeldy | 21 Years Old |
| Best Scotch Islands (non Islay) Single Malt | Isle of Raasay Distillery | Cask Strength |
| Best Scotch Islay Single Malt | Bowmore | 21 Years Old Sherry Oak Cask |
| Best Scotch Lowlands Single Malt | InchDairnie Distillery | KinGlassie Double Matured Fife Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 8 Years Old |
| Best Scotch Speyside Single Malt | The Glenlivet | Founder’s Reserve |
| Best South African Single Malt | Three Ships | Cape Ruby Cask Finish 13 Years Old |
| Best Spanish Single Malt | Destilerías Liber | Toma 1492 |
| Best Swedish Single Malt | High Coast Whisky | Sherry Embers |
| Best Taiwanese Single Malt | Kavalan | Distiller’s Reserve No.1 Single Malt Whisky |
| Best Thai Single Malt | Prakaan | Select Cask |
| Best Canadian Single Malt | Macaloney’s Island Distillery | Peat Project - Washington Peat with Sugar Kelp - Portuguese Red Wine Cask |
| Best Japanese Single Malt | Yamazaki | Single Malt Whisky 18 Years Old |
| Best Chinese Single Malt | Laizhou | Bourbon Cask Peated Malt |
Best Small Batch Single Malt Whisky
| Category | Distillery/ brand | Whisky |
| Best Australian Small Batch Single Malt | Overeem Whisky | Pedro Ximenez Cask Matured |
| Best Belgian Small Batch Single Malt | Wild Weasel | Sherry Cask Finished |
| Best Danish Small Batch Single Malt | Mosgaard | Peated / Bourbon Cask |
| Best Dutch Small Batch Single Malt | Millstone | Peated Rivesaltes |
| Best English Small Batch Single Malt | The English | Small Batch Sherry Hogshead |
| Best French Small Batch Single Malt | Galaad | Origine Millesime 2020 |
| Best German Small Batch Single Malt | Doinich Daal | Riegeläcker |
| Best Indian Small Batch Single Malt | Indri | Diwali Collector’s Edition 2025 |
| Best Isle of Man Small Batch Single Malt | Manx Whisky Company | Bouramo |
| Best Israeli Small Batch Single Malt | M&H | Apex Terroir - Sea Of Galilee |
| Best Italian Small Batch Single Malt | Strada Ferrata | II Release |
| Best New Zealand Small Batch Single Malt | Pokeno | Alchemy |
| Best Romanian Small Batch Single Malt | Jaar Single Malt Whisky | Bourbon Cask |
| Best Scotch Highlands Small Batch Single Malt | Blair Athol | 20 Years Old Limited Edition |
| Best Scotch Islay Small Batch Single Malt | Caol Ila | 18 Years Old Jazz Festival Edition The Guitarist |
| Best Scotch Lowlands Small Batch Single Malt | Glasgow 1770 | Ruby Port Cask Finish |
| Best Scotch Speyside Small Batch Single Malt | Spey | Royal Choice |
| Best Swedish Small Batch Single Malt | Bröderna Bommen Single Malt Whisky | No 1 |
| Best Canadian Small Batch Single Malt | GrainHenge | Elevator Row |
| Best Japanese Small Batch Single Malt | Mars | Single Malt Tsunuki Minami-satsuma Art Collection #04 |
| Best Chinese Small Batch Single Malt | Laizhou | Sherry Harmony No 2 |
Plenty of Dutch glory and familiar names in the Hall of Fame
As you scan the list above, you’ll notice two Dutch distilleries appear several times. The whiskies from Cley and Zuidam Distillers have once again earned international recognition, proof that the Netherlands is more than holding its own on the global stage.
You can view all the results and the Hall of Fame inductees on the World Whiskies Awards website.
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LATEST COMMENTS
- There is no distillery equipment there and also no licences to produce or sell alcohol.TRC19-12-2025
- Hi Yvonne, Thank you for your response and for sharing the video. Unfortunately, the evidence you referred to consists only of two people talking about the whisky, without any explanation or identification. We have not spoken to the individuals in the video ourselves, nor can we verify who they are. We describe it as a Chinese whisky because it is released by a Chinese distillery. As you mentioned, the distillery has chosen to label the product as “pure malt” instead of “Chinese whisky.” Based on that, we do not believe they are doing anything illegal.M0nkey16-11-2025
- So - you have the proof......where's your write up?Yvonne16-11-2025
- You are absolutely right. Luckily that doesn't matter for the taste of the whisky. Have you tried it yet?M0nkey05-11-2025
- Guess what? Finland is not part of Scandinavia.Gray105-11-2025
- Throw in the towel? You mean restructure to compete and win in a challenging industry environment.WestwardFounder21-10-2025
- There is nothing legally to prevent the English whisky GI from coming into force, it complies with all the relevant laws and the single malt definition follows the precedent of Welsh whisky and US whiskyChefBear15-10-2025
- Three emails sent (two with videos, linked to a Google Drive Share). 1. The original video. 2. The video with subtitles as it was shared on YouTube 3. Screen grab of the YouTube channel where the video was blocked due to Pernod Ricard lobbying. The story was covered on Drinks Intel at the time - link here - https://drinks-intel.com/subscriber-news/pernod-ricards-the-chuan-pure-malt-whisky-not-sourced-solely-from-china-global-drinks-intel-exclusive/Yvonne10-10-2025
- Hi Yvonne, Thank you for your interesting comment. Could you share your copy with us, so we can adjust our item accordingly? Mail us at [email protected]. Thank you in advance.M0nkey09-10-2025
- Let's keep this factually correct. Pernod Ricard DID NOT release a Chinese whisky. Their first output from The Chuan (the name of the distillery in Sichuan, China) wasn't fit for bottling. What they actually bottled was imported Scotch whisky. This is why the product is called "PURE MALT" and not "Chinese Whisky" - because Pure Malt is not a regulated term - this is not a secret. This was exposed about a week after they released it. There were even videos about their own staff on site admitting it was made from imported whisky - which Pernod Ricard got the lawyers onto to get the video pulled. I've got a copy if you want it.Yvonne09-10-2025
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