SF World Spirits Competition Names Top Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Some of the finalists for World's Best Single Malt Scotch Whisky from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition
Fifteen single malt Scotch whiskies are finalists at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The SFWSC is among the world's largest and most prestigious whisky judging events. Whisky enthusiasts and the beverage industry closely follow its results. Below are brief backgrounds and tasting notes on the finalists. The Top Shelf 2025 Awards Gala, a highly anticipated whiskey industry event, will announce the winner on November 9 at Hotel Nikko in San Francisco.
These whiskies have no age statement (NAS). To be classified as Scotch whiskies, they must be at least three years old. However, the full length of their aging is undisclosed.
Smoky Quarter Cask is crafted from unpeated and peated spirit. Initially matured in ex-bourbon barrels, it undergoes a second maturation in 33-gallon quarter casks. These smaller-sized casks provide more wood-spirit interaction, enhancing the whisky's flavor and texture and increasing its sweet and smoky profile.
The nose features poached pear, grilled apricot, cooked cereal/barley malt, and a persistent cold smoke. The palate exhibits cooked stone fruit, vanilla, milk chocolate, nuts, almond praline, seasoned oak, and a pervasive smokiness. The finish is long with lingering nuts, earthy peat, white pepper, and smoky notes.
Smoke Season is a small batch release celebrating the period when Benriach distills peated spirit. It's matured in American virgin oak and ex-bourbon barrels to amplify the toasted, sweet, and smoky notes.
Caramel, citrus zest, oak wood spices, earthy peat, and smoke are featured on the nose. The palate exhibits vanilla, charred fruit notes of apple and orange, cinnamon, caramel, and a persistent smoky character. The finish is long, sweet, and smoky with lingering roasted fruit notes.
Inspired by the Scottish coastal village of Sandend, this whisky is matured in bourbon and manzanilla Sherry casks, capturing the seaside's maritime character.
The nose features salt-laden sea breezes, honey, cooked cereal/malt, and a hint of citrus. The palate exhibits salted caramel with fruity pineapple, cherry, and grapefruit flavors. The finish is long and savory, with lingering fruit, seasoned oak, and spicy notes.
Named after the harbor village of Portsoy, this richly peated single malt is matured in Sherry, bourbon, and Port casks.
The nose features a distinct maritime character of salt-laden air and sea kelp strewn beach at low tide, fresh tropical fruit, dried sherried fruit, soy sauce, and anise/licorice. The whisky is robust and full-bodied on the palate, featuring dark chocolate, soy sauce, charred mango, molasses, and freshly ground sea salt. The finish is long, with lingering spicy and smoky notes.
Remarkable Alchemy, a travel retail exclusive, showcases Loch Lomond's unique distillation methods, combining various still types and fermentation techniques.
The nose features green apple, kiwi, vanilla, smoke, and a hint of caramel. The palate showcases brown sugar, poached orchard fruit, especially pear, lemon zest, and a rich smoke. The finish is long and smoky with lingering green apple and lemon zest notes.
Some of the finalists for World's Best Scotch Whisky from the 2025 SFWSC
A Speyside single malt, from one of the region's largest distillers, The Singleton is known for its smooth and approachable character.
The whisky is fruity on the nose, featuring ripe pear, stewed apples, vanilla, caramel, and roasted nuts. The palate is sweet, exhibiting caramel, sweet barley sugar, vanilla, honey, coffee, and white chocolate flavors. The finish is smooth and medium length, with lingering honey and vanilla notes.
A peated Speyside single malt matured in bourbon, Jamaican rum, and toasted, virgin oak casks.
The nose features brown sugar, chocolate, candied citrus zest, and a pervasive cold smoke. The palate exhibits apple, honey, black pepper, vanilla, caramel, and a hint of chili pepper. The finish is medium length with lingering notes of seasoned oak, cold smoke, and a hint of char.
Forgue is a Highland single malt matured in sherry casks. It offers a rich and complex flavor profile.
Brown sugar, golden raisins, caramel, maple syrup, plum cake, cocoa, and blackcurrants are featured on the nose. The palate showcases typical Sherry influences of raisins, blackcurrants, dark chocolates, dried fruits, nuts, along with oak, mint, and cardamom. The finish is long and dry with lingering caramel and Sherry notes.
A Highland single malt known for its peated character and complex profile.
The nose features dry peat smoke, vanilla syrup, and cracked black pepper. The palate is sweet and flavorful, exhibiting medicinal peat, smoked bacon, roasted coffee bean, clove, star anise, green apple, and pear. The finish is long, with lingering spicy and smoky notes.
Highland Park is an Orkney single malt known for its balance of sweet, floral, and smoky flavors.
The nose features light heather smoke, maritime aromas, and cooked cereal/malty notes. The palate is semi-sweet with savory sea salt, honey, cooked cereal/malt, and smoke. The long finish has lingering maritime, smoky, and cooked cereal notes.
Some of the finalists for World's Best Scotch Whisky from the 2025 SFWSC
A Highland single malt finished in Madeira casks, enhancing its rich, fruity, and honeyed character.
Aberfeldy's nose features honey, vanilla, citrus, and nuts. The palate is sweet and fruity, exhibiting honey, vanilla, citrus, spices, cinnamon, and fruit notes. The finish is long and sweet, with lingering cinnamon, vanilla, chocolate, and nuts.
A Highland single malt finished in Palo Cortado sherry casks, offering a complex and enticing semi-sweet and savory profile.
The whiskey features green apple, seasoned oak, and a savory/maritime character. It's dry and spicy on the palate, with Sherry influences, almond, and a hint of citrus zest. The finish is long and dry, with lingering maritime notes, salted almonds, and a hint of lemon.
Alexander Murray is a Florida-based specialty bottler. In addition to their proprietary range, they also develop custom blends for Costco and Total Wine & More. This Highland single malt is matured in first-fill ex-sherry casks, delivering rich, fruity Christmas cake flavors.
The nose features dried fruits, golden raisins, fresh apricot, hazelnut, and a hint of spice. It's rich and viscous on the palate with typical sherried Christmas cake flavors of golden raisin, dried apricot, fig, candied orange zest, nuts, and spice notes of cinnamon and clove. The finish is long and sweet with lingering dried fruit and spicy notes.
An unpeated Islay single malt known for its fruity style and complex character.
The nose features stone and tropical fruit flavors of peach, apricot, melon, and mango, cooked cereal/malt, and yeasty bread dough notes. The palate is sweet and creamy, showcasing cooked peaches, butterscotch/caramel sauce, hints of old leather, vanilla, and seasoned oak. The finish is long and smooth with lingering dried fruit sweetness.
Glenmorangie is a Highland single malt leader in innovative cask finishing and experimental whisky making.
The nose is rich and floral, featuring honey, caramelized orange, jasmine, and lemon blossom. The fruity palate features dried figs, orange marmalade, butterscotch, vanilla, and subtle wood smoke. The finish is long, with a layered complexity and lingering notes of dried fruit and cold smoke.
These single malt Scotch whiskies are all outstanding. They are varied, showcasing a range of proofs, cask finishes, and diverse aroma and taste profiles. They represent well-known legacy producers as well as less familiar brands. Several represent outstanding values. If you are a Scotch whisky enthusiast, there is plenty here to try out and explore.
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