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Twenty-one of the best spirits from around the world have just been named IWSC Spirits Trophy winners, part of the annual awards that crown the best drinks in the world.
Shochu had a strong year, while gin, vodka, and tequila showcased their ability to innovate in an ever-changing drinks landscape. Still, whisky saw global recognition again, with trophies for Irish, American, Bourbon and a “Worldwide whiskey” from Korea. What about Scotch? Well, the best Blended Scotch Whisky Trophy was awarded to Dewar’s Double Double 38 YO, while Chivas Brothers’ A’glac Charrann 27 YO Single Malt took the Over 20 YO Trophy.
Our eyes are always drawn to the best Single Malt Scotch Whisky Under 20 YO Trophy, where the value and availability are. This year, Loch Lomond Distillery’s 18 YO Single Malt took out the crown as best Single Malt Scotch. Priced at AUD$130, it represents incredible value for money, and we haven’t even told you how it tastes yet.
Loch Lomond 18 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky Key Specifications
- Region: Highland (Loch Lomond)
- Strength: 46% ABV
- Volume: 700 ml (EU standard)
- Filtration: None (non-chill-filtered)
- Casks: Three expressions of American oak
Produced at Loch Lomond Distillery in Alexandria, Scotland, Master Blender Michael Henry is the man who oversaw this creation. It’s worth mentioning early on that Loch Lomond is the only Scotch distillery that uses traditional pot stills and unique straight-neck “Lomond” stills.
Seasoned whisky drinker or not, you’ll appreciate the flavour profile here, which is pure Scotch Single Malt. As the name implies, it’s aged to a minimum of 18 years. Cask treatment includes triple maturation in three types of American-oak barrels to layer complexity, while the liquid is non-chill-filtered to preserve mouth-feel and aromatic oils. Of course, as is the law, no caramel colouring has been added, retaining the whisky’s authentic hue.
Here are the tasting notes for Loch Lomond 18 Year Old Single Malt Scotch:
- Nose: Green apple, grapefruit zest, honeysuckle, mature oak |
- Palate: Toasted oak & cigar-box evolving to baked apple, gooseberry, rich toffee |
- Finish: Long, warming; dried tea, tobacco leaf, soft medicinal peat, gentle wood smoke |
When it comes to crowning a winner at the IWSC, the judges use the “double-blind” method, which means samples are tasted in pre-poured numbered glasses to ensure our experts never see a bottle. Those who pass the first few rounds of testing and receive a gold award are then re-tasted by a member of the independent Spirits Judging Committee.
So you want to try a bottle of this delicious juice before it disappears? You can pick up a bottle at the following Australian retailers right now, but you’d better be quick. Priced from AUD$130, it undercuts many more expensive 15 and 16 YO bottles from notable distilleries, and they didn’t win best Single Malt in the world.
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