The International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC) has announced the top 22 spirits in the world following the 2021 blind-tasting.
For the IWSC’s 2021 awards – their biggest spirits tasting in history – 80 experts sampled more than 4,000 spirits across eight days to name their champions.
The winners include everything from a £12 liqueur to a £500 Cognac – here are the best spirits in the world…
The Best American Whisky: Redemption Barrel Proof High Rye Bourbon Whiskey, Deutsch Family Wine and Spirits
The Best Armagnac
Bas-Armagnac 1995, Domaine Tariquet
The Best Baijiu
Ganjiang Tiancheng Laojiao Baijiu, Zhangshu Ganjiang Brewery
The Best Blended Scotch Whisky
21 YO Blended Scotch Whisky, Matisse
The Best Cognac
50yo Grande Champagne Cognac, Hermitage Cognac
The Best Contemporary Gin
Lightning Gin, Karu
The Best Gin for a G&T
Kalas Rabarber Gin, Destilleriet Als
The Best Grape Brandy
Muscat Hamburg, Chateau Kamnik
The Best Grappa
Grappa Extrafina, Distilleria Nardini
The Best Liqueur
Gingerbread Latte Irish Cream Liqueur, Tesco Finest
The Best London Dry Gin
Hench Gin, Lucky Bee
The Best Vodka for a Vodka & Tonic
Gustav Dill Vodka, Lignell & Piispanen
The Best Mezcal
Los Vecinos Del Campo Mezcal Tobala, Casa San Matias
The Best Rum
VSOP Rum, Depaz Distillery
The Best Shochu
Akane Kaze 43 Shochu, Hombo Shuzo
The Best Single Malt Scotch Whisky (no age statement)
Octaves Batch 2 Classic Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Glenglassaugh
The Best Single Malt Scotch Whisky – 15 Years and Under
15 YO Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Speyburn
The Best Single Malt Scotch Whisky – 16 to 25 Year Old
25 YO Small Batch Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Bunnahabhain
The Best Single Malt Scotch Whisky – Over 26 Years Old
Highland Single Malt 1978 Whisky, Tomatin
The Best Tequila
Paradiso Tequila, El Tesoro
The Best Vodka
Misty Isle Vodka, Isle of Skye Distillers
The Best Worldwide Whisky
Podium Single Malt Whisky, Kavalan Distillery
For more from the IWSC, click here.
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