Seven whiskies have scooped the titles of ‘World’s Best’ in the final round of Whisky Magazine’s World Whiskies Awards 2010.

The competition, open to proprietary bottlings only, is chaired by Dave Broom, international whisky expert and exists to inform and educate consumers throughout the world about the very whisky. Winners progressed through three rounds of blind tastings to emerge as the victors in their categories, with the World’s Best New Release being chosen from the magazine’s tastings section and tasted during the final round.

 Categories are based upon the commonly held whisky groupings which define the style and process of whisky/whiskey production; malt whisky, blended whisky, blended malt whisky, American whiskey and whisky liqueurs. 

The 2010 winners are:

World’s Best Single Malt Whisky

Ardbeg Corryvreckan.

World’s Best Blended Whisky

Hibiki 21 Years Old.

World’s Best Blended Malt Whisky

Taketsuru 21 Years Old.

World’s Best American Whiskey

Rittenhouse Straight Rye 100 proof.

World’s Best Whisky Liqueur

Wild Turkey American Honey.

World’s Best Grain Whisky

Greenore 15 Years Old.

World’s Best New Release

Parker's Heritage Collection Golden Anniversary.

 

SINGLE MALT WHISKY Category winners

Best Campbeltown Single Malt Whisky ~ Springbank 18 Years Old.

Best Islay Single Malt Whisky ~ Ardbeg Corryvreckan.

Best Island Non Islay Single Malt Whisky ~ Highland Park Earl Magnus.

Best Speyside Single Malt Whisky ~ Tomintoul 33 years old.

Best Irish Single Malt Whiskey ~ Bushmills 21 Years Old Maderia finish.

Best Japanese Single Malt Whisky ~ Yamazaki Sherry Cask.

Best Rest of the World Single Malt Whisky ~ Solist.

Best Highland Single Malt Whisky ~ Balblair 1975.

 

Sub-category winners

Highland no age ~ Ardmore Traditional Cask.

Highland 12 and under ~ Old Pulteney 12 Years Old.

Highland 13-20 ~ Glenmorangie 18 Years Old.

Highland 21 and over ~ Balblair 1975, 32 Years Old.

 

Campbeltown no age ~ Longrow CV.

Campbeltown 12 and under ~ Springbank 10 Year Old.

Campbeltown 13-20 ~ Springbank 18 Years Old.

 

Island Non Islay no age ~ Talisker 57°.

North Island Non Islay 12 and under ~ Highland Park, Hjarta, 12 Years Old.

Island Non Islay 13-20 ~ Highland Park, Earl Magnus Edition 1, 15 Years Old.

Island Non Islay 21 and cover ~ Highland Park, Vintage 1964, 45 Years Old.

 

Islay no age ~ Ardbeg Corryvreckan.

Islay 12 and under ~ Bunnahabhain 12 Years Old.

Islay 13-20 ~ Laphroaig 18 Years Old.

Islay 21 and over ~ Bunnahabhain 25 Years Old.

 

Speyside no age ~ The Glenrothes, Alba Reserve.

Speyside 12 and under ~ BenRiach Sherry Matured, 12 Years Old.

Speyside 13-20 ~ The Balvenie 15 Years Old Single Barrel.

Speyside 21 and over ~ Tomintoul, Speyside Glenlivet Single Malt, 33 Year Old.

 

Irish no age ~ Connemara Cask Strength.

Irish 12 and under ~ Tyrconnell Single Malt Sherry Finish, 10 Years Old and Redbreast 12 Years Old.

Irish 13-20~ Bushmills 16 Years Old.

Irish 21 and over ~ Bushmills 21 Years Old Madeira Finish.

 

Japanese no age ~ Yamazaki Sherry Cask.

Japanese 12 and under ~ Ichiro’s Malt, Six of Clubs, 10 Years Old.

Japanese 13-20 ~ Nikka, Yoichi 1989, 20 Years Old.

Japanese 21 and over ~ Ichiro’s Malt, Card King of Hearts, 23 Years Old.

 

Rest of the World no age ~ Solist.

Rest of the World 12 Years and under ~ Chapter 6 3 years Old.

 

BLENDED MALT WHISKY Category winners

Best Scotch Blended malt whisky ~ Big Peat from Douglas Laing and Co.

Best Non-Scotch Blended Malt no age ~ Ichiro's Malt Mizunara Wood Reserve.

Best Non-Scotch Blended Malt 12 and Under ~ Nikka - Taketsuru 12 Years Old.

Best Non-Scotch blended malt 21 years and over ~ Taketsuru 21 Years Old.

 

BLENDED WHISKY Category winners

Best Scotch Blended Whisky ~ Whyte and Mackay 40 Years old.

Best Japanese Blended Whisky ~ Hibiki 21 Years Old.

Best Irish Blended Whiskey ~ Kilbeggan 15 Years Old.

Best Canadian Blended Whiskey ~ Crown Royal Limited Edition.

 

Sub-category winners:

Scotch Blended 12 and under ~ Black Dog 12 years old.

Scotch Blended 13-20 ~ Label 5 18 Years Old.

Scotch Blended 21 and Over ~ Whyte and Mackay 40 years old.

Scotch Blended no age ~ Black Bottle and Dewar's signature.

Japanese Blended no age ~ Nikka from the barrel Japanese.

Blended 12 and under ~ Hibiki 12 Years Old.

Japanese Blended 13-20 ~ Hibiki 17 Years Old.

Japanese Blended 21 and Over ~ Hibiki 21 Years Old.

Irish Blended 13-20 ~ Kilbeggan 15 Years Old.

Irish Blended no age ~ Bushmills Black Bush.

 

AMERICAN WHISKEY Category winners

Best American Whiskey – Bourbon ~ George T Stagg.

Best American Whiskey – Non Bourbon ~ Rittenhouse Straight Rye 100 proof.

 

Sub category winners

Bourbon no age ~ William Larue Weller.

Bourbon 7 Years and under ~ Four Roses Yellow label.

Bourbon 8 Years and over ~ George T Stagg.