27-03-2025
The World Best Blended Scotch Whisky, According To The World Whiskies Awards
A glass of Blended Scotch whisky being sampled (Photo by Jeff)
The World Whiskies Awards (WWA) are among the world's most prestigious whisky competitions. Below is a brief background and tasting notes on the top Blended Scotch Whiskies from the 2025 WWA. Although the list includes some legacy distillers, there are also some lesser-known producers, some of which represent exceptional value.
The Borders Distillery was the winner in the NAS category. It is the first Scotch whisky distillery in the Scottish Borders since 1837, focusing on malt and grain whiskies. Their products often emphasize local heritage and innovative craftsmanship. This whisky is not yet available in the US but is expected to be released sometime in 2025. It is currently available from UK internet-based vendors.
The whisky showcases a balanced mix of grain and malt whiskies, offering flavors of fig jam, butterscotch, and raisins along with orange zest and ripe apples. The finish is sweet, slightly floral, with lingering fruit notes.
Ardray, a new blended whisky from Suntory, was a Gold Medalist in the NAS category. Blended by Suntory's Japanese team, the whisky is 'a Scottish expression based on Japanese blending principles.'
It features subtle notes of peat smoke and vanilla around a core of orchard and stone fruit, described as a 'lightly-peated Hibiki with just a bit more punch.'
Woven, a Leith, Scotland-based whisky blender that uses innovative finishing techniques to create unusual aroma and taste profiles, was the other Gold Medalist in the NAS category. Its Homemade Blended Scotch Whisky was crafted from two Speyside single malt whiskies that were finished in Palo Cortado and Pedro Ximenez Sherry casks.
The blend is roughly 72% malt whisky and 28% grain whisky. The unusually high proportion of malt whisky makes Homemade more of a blended malt than a blended whisky. Woven is not yet available in the US but is available from UK internet vendors.
Glencairn whiskey glasses on a wooden server with a whisky barrel in the background.
Scottish Leader, produced by Burn Stewart Distillers, was the highest rated whisky in the 12 Years & Under category. The whisky is known for its exceptional smoothness and balanced flavor profile. At an average retail price of $17, it's also one of the best values for a blended Scotch whisky and is a perennial medalist in whisky competitions.
The whisky offers a smooth profile with hints of cooked cereal/malt, toffee sweetness, honey, candied citrus zest and light peat smoke. The finish is relatively short but satisfying with a lingering spiciness and oak notes.
Dewar's, one of the most recognized Scotch whisky brands globally, was a Gold Medalist in the 12 Years & Under category. It was founded in 1846 by John Dewar and has been crafting blended Scotch for over a century. It is among the best-selling blended Scotch whiskies in the US and another perennial medalist in whisky competitions.
Dewar's 12 YO, also known as 'The Ancestor,' is double-aged for extra smoothness, featuring a complex array of honey, fruit, and floral heather notes, with a subtle oak background. It finishes long and creamy with a hint of almond.
White Heather, a lesser-known blended Scotch whisky, won the 13 to 20 Years category. The whisky is a carefully crafted blend with a high proportion of malt whiskies, matured and blended by GlenAllachie distillers. It features malt whiskies from Speyside, Islay, and the Highlands that have been matured in American and Spanish Oak casks.
The whisky is elegant and balanced, presenting layers of fruit compote, vanilla, and caramel, intertwined with mild smoky notes. A subtle maritime saltiness enriches the palate, and the finish is long and fruity with lingering spice notes.
The Dewar's Double Double series is known for its unique four-step aging process, which includes a final stage in Sherry casks, enhancing complexity and smoothness.
The whisky is rich and luxurious, with deep notes of ripe fruits, sweet honey, and dark chocolate, enhanced by a hint of spice. The palate is velvety, leading to a beautifully long, sherried finish.
These Scotch whiskies were all Gold Medalists at the 2025 World Whiskies Awards. Some like Dewar's are among the world's best-known blended Scotch whiskies, legacy brands that have been sold worldwide for over a century and are readily available.
Others like Woven or The Borders are new craft distillery startups, testing the boundaries of blended Scotch whisky's aroma and taste profile. The established, though little-known brands like Scottish Leader and White Heather are even more intriguing. They represent exceptional quality and value and are relatively easy to find.
Either way, if you like Blended Scotch whisky, there are a few new brands to discover and a few more to reacquaint yourself with among this list of the World's Best Blended Scotch Whisky. See also The World's Best Blended Scotch Whiskies and The World's Best Single Malt Whisky According To The World Whiskies Awards for additional recommendations.
