The results are out: IWSC 2025 Spirits Judging in China
Following a highly successful inaugural year, the IWSC is delighted to announce the results of the 2025 Spirits Judging in China.
Bringing together judges from across China and overseas, the competition showcased a diverse selection of Chinese-made spirits. Entries ranged from traditional and modern styles of Baijiu and Huangjiu to an extensive array of single malt and blended whiskies, brandies, liqueurs, gins, and vodkas.
This year’s judging was organised with the support of the Beijing International Wine and Spirits Exchange and the Qionglai Spirits Bureau.
A total of 272 medals were awarded. Of these, 2% achieved the IWSC’s top accolade of Gold Outstanding (98–100 points), while a further 6% were awarded Gold (95–97 points).
Chinese Excellence: this year’s Gold Outstanding awards
Six entries received Gold Outstanding medals in 2025. Five of these were awarded to different Baijiu producers, each representing a distinct aroma style: medicine, strong, light, rice, and sauce. This diversity reflects both the quality and range of Baijiu, as well as its growing importance in export markets.
One of the five Gold Outstanding Baijiu was Dongwan Shenmi Dongxiang 1927, a medicine-aroma Baijiu described by IWSC judge Marie Cheong Thong as having “straw aromas with Chinese sweet herbal roots. Sweet liquorice, bitter root, grass, and a hint of clove. The palate is rounded with savouriness, soya notes, cheesy, funky, earthy. The finish is excitingly interesting and long.”
The sixth Gold Outstanding medal went to Laizhou Bourbon Cask (Peated Version) Single Malt Whisky, praised by judge Guy Hodcroft for its “BBQ sauce, bonfire embers and chilli powder aromas. Nice roundness on the palate, peat nicely integrated. Ginger spice with a touch of heat. Good length.”
Chinese Single Malt Whisky: Global and Domestic Potential
Following Baijiu, whisky emerged as one of the most significant categories at this year’s IWSC Spirits Judging in China.
Billy Abbott of The Whisky Exchange observed: “In the UK especially, people are very interested in whiskies from around the world. At The Whisky Exchange, we have seen strong enthusiasm for Asian whiskies. I believe there is a great deal of potential for Chinese whisky to gain international recognition, if the people of China will let us have any.”
Entries covered both peated and non-peated styles, including the Gold Outstanding whisky mentioned above, along with three Gold medals and sixteen Silver awards.
Fellow judge Guy Hodcroft echoed Billy’s view: “Though a relatively new category, Chinese single malt already shows great promise, with several very good examples, including a Gold Outstanding. It is an exciting prospect for both domestic and international markets.”
This year’s Gold medal winners were Goalong Single Malt New Make 63% (95 points), Laizhou Finest Select Single Malt Whisky (95 points), and Mellow Valley 46% Single Malt Chinese Whisky (95 points).
The Gold Standard
At Gold medal level, the diversity of Chinese spirits was especially evident, with medals awarded to Baijiu, Huangjiu, brandy, whisky, vodka, and gin.
A particular highlight was a pair of Gold medal-winning gins from Hai Seas Distillery. Both barrel-aged, Crazy Eight Barrel-Aged Gold Gin (Christmas) and Crazy Eights Barrel-Aged Gold Gin (Summer) impressed the judges.
Rose Brookman described the Christmas edition as having “nice depth of character, some tannins that give a pleasant drying finish, but not overpowering. Clear vanilla and spice on the palate and good botanical character.” Guy Hodcroft noted the Summer gin’s “peach pie on the nose, ripe and fruit-forward. Tropical fruit character and a Baijiu-like fermented tone on the palate, with good length and a soft grape-leaf note.”
Strong-aroma Baijiu was particularly successful at the Gold level, accounting for six of the nine Baijiu Gold medals. The top-scoring entries, Guanyun Prestorm and Xiaohutuxian Enigma, each achieved 96 points.
Chinese Grape Brandy
Chinese grape brandy was another strong category in this year’s competition, with 27 medals awarded, including five Golds. The highest-scoring brandies were Western Region Sacred Flame Wine Distilled Spirit 2008 and Western Xia Night Flame 52% vol. Grape Spirit.
Guy Hodcroft described Western Xia Night Flame as “fresh, fruity, with some spice on the nose. Clean and floral on the palate with good length and weight of fruit.” Rose Brookman noted that Western Region Sacred Flame displayed a “melon nose, subtle palate with sweetness towards the end. Well-balanced aromas and a delicate texture, with warmth from the alcohol that does not overpower.”
Reflections from Antony Moss MW, IWSC Spirits Judging Committee Member
“It was a huge pleasure to observe the teams of local and international judges applying their expertise in lively discussions throughout the judging. These expert perspectives bring the IWSC’s rigorous approach to life and help to highlight exceptional spirits. I was especially pleased to see so many Baijiu subcategories represented among the top medals, and I hope this encourages exploration beyond the Strong and Sauce aroma categories, which also performed brilliantly.”
A list of Gold and Gold Outstanding awards follows.
To explore the full results of the IWSC 2025 Spirits Judging in China, please visit our results page and for more insights from our judges on quality and market potential, read our deliberations post.
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