The best 22 Scotch whiskies according to the 2026 World Whiskies Awards - including world's best single malt

The world’s best whiskies have been named in the World Whiskies Awards. The awards

were announced on Wednesday 25 March at a ceremony held at the Waldorf, London. The event brought together members of the global whisky community for an evening of celebration and reflection.

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The World Whiskies Awards reward the patience, creativity, and dedication represented in a whisky bottle.

The 2026 competition has seen World’s Best titles conferred on both well-established brands from countries with long histories with the spirit, such as Bowmore and Ballantine’s of Scotland, as well as younger distilleries from the new frontiers of production, including Australia, Belgium, and China.

OurWhisky/Jo Hanley

Each year, whiskies from around the globe are rigorously blind judged by an independent panel of the world’s top whisky experts to determine the best in each category and, ultimately, the best in the world.

Judges blind taste and are always looking for the next best product to crown ‘World’s Best’ within each category. There are two separate strands to these awards – one is for taste and the other is for design excellence.

While over 20 Scotch whiskies won awards, three picked up the title of ‘world’s best’ including single malt, blended and flavoured whisky.

Also at the London ceremony, the global winners in the Icons of Whisky 2026 were named.

World Whiskies Awards 2026 | contributed

The Icons of Whisky recognise the people and places whose work is the foundation of the whisky industry. Global winners are selected following region-specific rounds, which saw Icons named for Scotland, Ireland, the US, China, and Rest of World.

At the close of the evening, Paragraph Publishing managing director Damian Riley-Smith welcomed Serge Valentin, founder of the long-running blog Whisky Fun, and Tadashi Sakuma, former chief blender for Nikka Whisky, into the Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame inducts those individuals whose decades-long careers have made a significant impact on the whisky industry.

Loch Lomond Group’s Gary Mills was named Best Scotch Whisky Ambassador at World Whisky Awards | contributed

Anita Ujszaszi, awards director, commented: “The announcement of the World’s Best winners is a special moment every year, as these winners represent the absolute pinnacle of whisky craftsmanship. The winners this year represent not just quality, but the diversity, innovation, and heritage that make up the whisky world today. The same can be said for our lauded Icons of Whisky, whose work in shaping the modern face of the whisky industry is truly exciting.”

Bradley Weir, chair of judges for the World Whiskies Awards and editor of Whisky Magazine, said: “Looking at this year’s list of winners, it’s apparent how lucky we are to have so many incredible brands working at the top of their game right now. What has been most exciting about this year is how truly global the World’s Best have been.

Woven won the World's Best Flavoured Whisky | contributed

“We have winners from Australia, Japan, US, Scotland, Spain and many more, emphasising the strength of whisky production worldwide.

“It’s been an honour to taste and judge these whiskies across the different rounds over the past few months, and none of this would have been possible without the talents of the entire international judging pool.

“Their expertise, consideration, and care have led us to this exciting moment, and I think we can all be proud of those determined World’s Best. Congratulations all.”

Bowmore 21 year old sherry cask was named World's Best Single Malt | contributed

Here are all the Scotch whiskies that won accolades in the 2026 World Whiskies Awards, plus where you can buy a bottle.

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Best Scotch Grain

• Thompson Bros - An Edinburgh Dram — North British Single Grain Scotch Whisky

Best Scotch New Make & Young Spirit

• 8 Doors Distillery New Make Spirit

Best Scotch Single Cask Single Grain

• The Red Cask Company Girvan 1995 #366056 First Fill PX HHD

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 Scotch Rye

• InchDairnie Distillery RyeLaw Scottish Rye Whisky Vintage 2017

Best Scotch Blended Limited Release

• Johnnie Walker Autumn/Winter Blend

Best Scotch Blended Malt

• Noble Rebel Smoke Symphony

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 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 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

World’s Best Single Malt

• Bowmore - 21 Years Old Sherry Oak Cask

Judges said of this whisky: “Super medicinal peat with TCP smoke with alcohol vapour. Palate balances medicinal peat, sweetness and warming winter spices into an evaporative finish.”

World’s Best Blended

• Ballantine’s 23 Years Old

Judges said of this whisky: “The nose has oranges, apple blossom, honeyed sweetness and vanilla. The palate is well balanced and complex with red fruits, caramelised candies and a short spicy finish.”

World’s Best Flavoured whisky

• Woven WXC

The judges said of this whisky, from Woven who are based in Edinburgh: “Nose of fresh coffee grounds, milky latte, and a touch of hazelnut yogurt, with subtle orchard fruit and lemon oils. The palate continues the coffee theme—slightly bitter, lightly sour, and rich with good body—balanced by gentle sweetness. Finish is clean.”

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