World Whisky Awards 2025

World Whiskies Awards and Icons of Whisky 2025 Scotland Regional Results Announced

The winners of the Scottish regional awards for the World Whiskies Awards and Icons of Whisky 2025 were revealed at a prestigious ceremony held at Edinburgh's historic Signet Library. Located in the heart of the city, the venue provided a fitting backdrop for an evening celebrating the very best in Scotch whisky.

The event featured insightful talks from Damian Riley-Smith, the founder of Whisky Magazine, and Tony Singh, the award-winning chef and restaurateur. Attendees also heard from the team behind the World Whiskies Awards, and the evening marked the return of key sponsors including Brindiamo, Glencairn, Rankin, and Amorim Top Series, as well as several new sponsors joining this year's event.

Numerous individuals, brands, and teams were named Icons of Whisky for 2025, with Holyrood Distillery being named Distiller of the Year, Laura Sharp of Cardhu Distillery receiving Visitor Attraction Manager of the Year, and Allan Bartlett of Tomatin Distillery honored as Cooper of the Year.

In the World Whiskies Awards, the regional winners for Best Single Malt and Best Blended Whisky were also unveiled. Recognized brands included Rosebank, Craigellachie, The GlenAllachie, Ardbeg, Bonnington, and many others.

These Scottish winners will now go on to compete against regional champions from countries such as France, Ireland, Canada, Japan, and the US at the World’s Best awards, set to take place in March 2025.

Two distinguished figures from the Scotch whisky industry were inducted into the Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame during the ceremony: Stephanie Macleod, Master Blender at John Dewar & Sons, and Leonard Russell, Managing Director of Ian Macleod Distillers.

Icons of Whisky Scotland 2025 – Winners & Highly Commended

Sponsored by Brindiamo and Glencairn

• Advertising Agency of the Year
  Winner: Northport

• Brand Ambassador of the Year (Sponsored by McLaren Packaging)
  Winner: Andrew Lennie, Whyte and Mackay

• Cooper of the Year
  Winner: Allan Bartlett, Tomatin Distillery

• Cooperage of the Year
  Winner: Alba Cooperage

• Craft Producer of the Year
  Winner: Isle of Raasay Distillery

• Digital Agency of the Year
  Winner: Northport

• Distiller of the Year (Sponsored by Glencairn)
  Winner: Holyrood Distillery

• Distillery Manager of the Year (Sponsored by McLaren Packaging)
  Winner: Roselyn Burnett, Cardhu Distillery

• Independent Bottler of the Year
  Winner: Caskshare
  Highly Commended: Brave New Spirits

• Master Distiller/Master Blender of the Year (Sponsored by Brindiamo)
  Winner: Stephanie Macleod, Dewar’s
  Highly Commended: Alasdair Day, R&B Distillers, Emma Walker, Johnnie Walker

• PR Agency of the Year
  Winner: Spey

• Sales Team of the Year
  Winner: The Team, Isle of Raasay Distillery

• Single Estate of the Year
  Winner: Arbikie Highland Estate
  Highly Commended: Lochlea Distillery

• Sustainable Distillery of the Year (Sponsored by IPL Packaging)
  Winner: Nc'nean Distillery

• Visitor Attraction Manager of the Year (Sponsored by Larkfire)
  Winner: Laura Sharp, Cardhu Distillery

• Visitor Attraction of the Year
  Winner: The Scotch Whisky Experience
  Highly Commended: The Port of Leith Distillery

• Visitor Attraction Team of the Year
  Winner: The Team, Johnnie Walker Princes Street
  Highly Commended: The Team, Isle of Raasay Distillery Borodale House

World Whiskies Awards Scotland 2025 – Category Winners

New Make & Young Spirit (Sponsored by Brindiamo)

• New Make: Stirling, New Make Spirit

Rye Whisky

• No Age Statement: Arbikie Highland Rye 1794, The Original

• 12 Years & Under: Arbikie Highland Rye 1794, Distillers Edition: No 1

Grain Whisky

• No Age Statement: Loch Lomond, Single Grain

Blended Limited Release (Sponsored by Sarten)

• No Age Statement: Woven, Project 04 Inverarity Morton

• 21 Years & Over: Rare Find, Blended Scotch Refill Sherry Butt 34 Years Old

Blended Malt Whisky

• No Age Statement: Clydebuilt, Draughtsman

• 12 Years & Under: GreatDrams, Campbeltown

• 21 Years & Over: Dewar's, Double Double 37 Years Old

Blended Whisky

• No Age Statement: The Borders Distillery, WS:02 The Long and Short of It

• 12 Years & Under: Scottish Leader, Original

• 13-20 Years Old: White Heather, 15 Years Old

• 21 Years & Older: Dewar's, Double Double 21 Years Old

Small Batch Single Malt (Sponsored by Sarten)

• Scotch Highlands, 12 Years & Under: Glenlaird, Lightly Peated 12 Years Old

• Scotch Islay, 21 Years & Over: Rare Find, Bunnahabhain 40 Years Old

• Scotch Islands (Non-Islay), No Age Statement: Isle of Raasay, Dùn Cana — Sherry Quarter Cask Release: Second Edition

• Scotch Lowlands, No Age Statement: Holyrood Distillery, Ambir

• Scotch Speyside, 12 Years & Under: Whisky Of Voodoo, Mask Of Death Batch #2

Single Cask Single Malt (Sponsored by IPL Packaging)

• Scotch Campbeltown, 12 Years & Under: Glen Scotia, Exclusive Cask 23/380-4 1st Fill Caribbean Rum

• Scotch Highlands, 12 Years & Under: Tri Carragh, Glen Garioch 11 Years Old

• Scotch Islands (Non-Islay), 21 Years & Over: Malts of Scotland, 1994 Highland Park MoS24012

• Scotch Islay, 12 Years & Under: Stalla Dhu, Oran Isla 11 Years Old

• Scotch Speyside, 21 Years & Over: Glenburgie, The Collection: Edition One

Single Malt Whisky (Sponsored by Rankin)

• Scotch Campbeltown, No Age Statement: Glen Scotia, Double Cask Rum Finish

• Scotch Highlands, No Age Statement: Glenmorangie, Signet Reserve

• Scotch Islands (Non-Islay), No Age Statement: Arran, The Bodega — Sherry Cask

• Scotch Lowlands, No Age Statement: Holyrood Distillery, Embra

• Scotch Speyside, 12 Years & Under: The GlenAllachie, Speyside Single Malt 12 Years Old