World Whiskies Awards 2008 revealed

The result of World Whiskies Awards 2008 are in.

Getting to them requires wading through a huge field of entries, with judging by Whisky Magazine’s independent editorial panel drawn from what the UK magazine's editor Rob Allanson calls "the best journalists and retailers across the world, and also by industry representatives made up of master blenders, distillers and brand ambassadors."

Three rounds of blind tastings were held. Round one was conducted by the editorial panel at their homes. The judges were simply sent sample bottles marked with the ABV and category. Whiskies were split up by regions and styles. The entries, which increased from last year’s competition, then were divided among the judges, who then tasted and marked the spirits out of a high score of 10 down to 0. The highest scoring whiskies in this round gave us the subcategory winners, which then went to the second round of tastings, held in London. Winners in London decided the category champions.

• CATEGORY WINNERS

World’s Best Highland Single Malt Whisky
Glenmorangie Nectar D’Or

World’s Best Speyside Single Malt Whisky
The Glenrothes 1978

World’s Best Irish Single Malt Whiskey
Bushmills 16 Years Old

World’s Best Japanese Single Malt Whisky
Yoichi 20 Years Old

World’s Best Other Single Malt Whisky
Privus 05

World’s Best Island Non Islay Single Malt Whisky
Talisker 30 Years Old

World’s Best Islay Unpeated Single Malt Whisky
Bunnahabhain 25 Years Old

World’s Best Islay Peated Single Malt Whisky
Lagavulin 16 Years Old

World’s Best Island Single Malt Whisky
Talisker 30 Years Old

• SUB-CATEGORY WINNERS

Highland 12 and under
Glenmorangie Nectar D’Or
Highland 13-20
Old Pulteney 17 Years Old
Highland 21 and over
Old Pulteney 21 Years Old
Highland no age
Balblair 1989 Vintage

Speyside 12 and under
The Balvenie 12 Years Old
Speyside 13-20
The Glenlivet 18 Years Old
Speyside 21 and over
The Glenrothes 1978
Speyside no age
The Glenrothes Select Reserve

Irish 12 and under
Tyrconnell Sherry Finish
Irish 13-20
Bushmills 16 Years Old
Irish no age
Connemara Cask Strength

Japanese 12 and under
The final vintage of Hanyu
Japanese 13-20
Yoichi 20 Years Old
Japanese 21 and over
Ichiro 23 Years Old

Other no age
Privus 04
Other no age
Privus 05
Other no age
Penderyn

Island Non Islay 12 and under
Talisker 10 Years Old
Island Non Islay 13-20
Highland Park 16 Years Old
Island Non Islay 21 and over
Talisker 30 Years Old
Island Non Islay no age
The Arran Malt

Islay Unpeated 12 and under
Bruichladdich 12 Years Old
Islay Unpeated 13-20
Bunnahabhain 18 Years Old
Islay Unpeated 21 and over
Bunnahabhain 25 Years Old

Islay Peated 12 and under
Ardbeg 10 Years Old
Islay Peated 13-20
Lagavulin 16 Years Old
Islay Peated 21 and over
Lagavulin 21 Years Old
Islay Peated no age
Lagavulin Distillers Edition

• JUDGING PANEL

Chairman of Judges: Dave Broom

U.S. Judges: William M. Dowd of Dowd On Drinks, Charles Cowdry, Mike Miller of Delilah’s, Tonya LeNell of LeNell's.

European Judges: Rob Allanson of Whisky Magazine, Thierry Benitah of La Maison du Whisky, Robin Laing, Charles MacLean, Martine Nouet, Dominic Roskrow, Keir Sword, Royal Mile Whiskies.

Japanese Judges: Masashi Goto of Main Malt bar, Nobuyuki Nakamura of Campbelltoun Loch bar, Koukichi Kuribayashi, Mejiro Tanakaya, Hideo Yamaoka of Shogakukan Inc.

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