These Scotch Whiskeys Just Swept Trophies for the Best in the World

Scotland is known for producing some of the world's best whiskey, and this year's best-in-show trophies at the International Wine & Spirit Competition prove that Scotch reigns supreme.

Earlier this year, spirits professionals tasted more than 4,000 spirits to pick out their favorites and awarded gold and silver medal rankings to various winners. Some of the contest's judges recently reunited to hand out trophies to the best of the best of this year's standouts, giving out just 24 trophies in total to the top liquors.

Of those 24, five of them went to Scotch entries: Tomatin Distillery Legacy Single Malt Scotch Whisky, East Asia Whisky Company 35 YO Manta Ray Genesis Bunnahabhain Distillery Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Cask 88 Imperial Distillery The Bothy 25 YO Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Loch Lomond Whiskies 12 YO Inchmurrin Single Malt Scotch Whisky, and Diageo Johnnie Walker High Rye Blended Scotch Whisky.

Tomatin's single malt choice is described by IWSC judges as filled with "succulent aromas of lychee, creamy vanilla, and warm cinnamon," producing "a fabulously luscious flavor profile with a heavenly finish, defined by apricot sweetness."

The Manta Ray whisky contains "an elegant and rich expression of wonderful aromas, dried fruit, lime peel, sea salt, lovely floral hints, dates, and figs" resulting in a "rich, velvety, and savory palate, waxy notes, and oak tannins ending on a finish that lasts forever."

Cask 88 's option has a" gorgeous citrus-driven nose with rhubarb and custard sweets," creating "a lovely, complex palate with citrus, rhubarb, cinnamon, and chocolate notes." The finish has "a hint of biscuity sweetness" to cap off an experience of "lovely fruity complexity."

Related: We've Tasted Hundreds of Scotch Whiskies. These 16 Bottles Are the Best of 2024

The Loch Lomond choice is a bit earthier than the other whiskeys while still maintaining some fruity sweetness. "The nose offers a subtle whisper of peat with underlying white fruits and a palate of lingering sweet blackcurrant-citrus, soft peat, and an impressive long and elegantly sweet finish," the IWSC remarked.

The only blended whisky of the bunch, the Johnnie Walker High Rye , earned high praise from the IWSC's professionals. "Treacle toffee aromas swirled with subtle smoke textures give complexity on the palate with well-integrated characters and an elegant sweetness on the finish gives a delightful all-rounded mouthfeel," they gushed.

If you're in need of some Scotch to fill out your home bar, why not go for the best in the world?