Worldwide Whiskey
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Worldwide whiskey is one of the major growing categories in the IWSC Spirits Awards.
In recent years, we have seen a boom of entries from countries outside the traditional whiskey-producing regions making it an exciting category to watch.
In 2024, in addition to our London judging of worldwide whiskey, we will host our first global whiskey judging event in Kentucky.
IWSC Worldwide Whiskey Awards
In addition to the stalwarts of this category, the USA and Ireland, in 2023 we received whiskey entries from 30 countries, including Canada, Finland, Belgium, Sweden, South Africa, Denmark, China, Iceland, New Zealand, Switzerland and others. An impressive number of 51 gold medals were awarded, including 4 outstanding golds received by American whiskeys. Our judges also awarded 256 silver and 262 bronze medals.
In 2024 we will host our first global whiskey judging event in Kentucky. Find out more about our Kentucky judging here.
Mixer Awards
Whisky highball awards
We're looking for the world's best whisky highball. The whisky highball will comprise one part whisky to three parts Franklin & Sons Soda Water; no ice or garnish is used, and the drink will be tasted blind in a Riedel glass.
Whisky & ginger ale awards
New to 2024, we have added Whisky & Ginger Ale to our mixer awards. A specialist judging panel will assess how well each whisky pairs with Franklin & Sons' Ginger Ale. The Whisky & Ginger Ale will comprise one part whisky to three parts ginger ale; no ice or garnish is used, and the drink will be tasted blind.
Entry into the Mixer add-on Awards is £139 per whisky.
North American Whiskey & RTD Judging in Kentucky
For the first time in IWSC history, we will be taking our global awards to Kentucky. Our international judges - Richard Paterson OBE, Dawn Davies MW, Nate Gana, Guy Hodcroft, Shannon Tebay and Kristiane Sherry - will be joining local judges to judge all North American Whiskey & RTDs in Kentucky. It is a unique opportunity for North American producers to put their drinks on the global stage, whilst taking advantage of the convenient local delivery. The judging will take place on 9-13 September 2024 and the results will be announced on 16 September 2024.
"Worldwide whiskey is such an exciting category, even more so as we see the price of scotch going up. I think there's a lot of opportunity for whiskies from beyond Scotland. During the 2023 judging we saw new producers and new countries. As always we received some superb entrants for this category from Ireland and America. Overall, great to see the classics, but also, some real excitement for new countries in the worldwide whiskey category.”
Dawn Davies MW, IWSC Spirits Judging Committee
