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Forbes
3 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Top Scotch Whisky Winners From The 2025 SF World Spirits Competition
The 2025 SFWSC Finalists in the Single Malt Scotch Whisky 20 Years & Older category Photo, courtesy Tasting Alliance/San Francisco World Spirits Competition The San Francisco World Spirits Competition, a cornerstone in the world of Scotch Whisky, is one of the most extensive and prestigious judging events. Whisky enthusiasts and the beverage industry closely follow its results, as they often set the standard for excellence in the industry. The Top Shelf 2025 Awards Gala, a highly anticipated event in the whiskey industry, will announce the winners on November 9 at Hotel Nikko in San Francisco. Here are the finalists! From a diverse pool of several hundred entries, the distinguished panel of judges, comprising some 60 in total, has selected a range of finalists. These include five blended, four blended malts, and 20 single malt Scotch whiskies, each with its unique character and flavor profile. From these finalists will emerge the coveted title of World's Best Blended Scotch Whisky, Best Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, and Best Single Malt Scotch Whisky, and ultimately the highest prize of all: World's Best Scotch Whisky. The variety and quality of these finalists are sure to pique your interest. The 2025 SFWSC Blended Scotch Whisky Finalists in the No Age Statement category. Photo, courtesy Tasting Alliance/San Francisco World Spirits Competition Blended Scotch is a mix of grain whisky and single malt whisky. The Scotch Whisky Association, the industry's regulatory body, does not specify the proportions in the blend. Generally speaking, the higher the proportion of single malt in the blend, the more flavorful the whisky tends to be. The single malt portion of a blended whisky can range from as little as 10% to as much as 50% of the final blend. Under SWA rules, a no-age-statement whisky does not disclose the age of the youngest component of the blend. However, under SWA regulations, a whisky must be aged for a minimum of three years before it can carry the designation Scotch Whisky. Hence, a NAS whisky is guaranteed to be at least 3 years old. Most NAS whiskies are considerably older than the minimum three-year aging requirement. For a brief background and detailed tasting notes of the Blended Scotch Whisky finalists from the 2025 SFWSC, see SF World Spirits Competition Reveals Top Blended Scotch Whisky. The Finalists in the Blended Malt Scotch Whisky category at the 2025 SFWSC Photo, courtesy Tasting Alliance/San Francisco World Spirits Competition Blended malt is a mix of single malt Scotch whiskies. Unlike a single malt, which is a malt whisky from a single distillery, blended malts are a mix of malt whiskies from more than one distillery. The practice harkens back to the early days of the Scotch whisky industry when independent blenders created their whiskies by mixing single malt whisky from several distilleries. For background and detailed tasting notes on each of the Blended Malt Scotch Whisky finalists, see SF World Spirits Competition Reveals Top Blended Scotch Whisky. SFWSC 2025 Single Malt Scotch 13 to 19 Years Finalists Photo, courtesy Tasting Alliance/San Francisco World Spirits Competition Single malt Scotch whisky is a single malt from a single distillery. Each expression is typically a blend of different single malts from that distillery. The age statement listed on the bottle is the youngest component of that particular blend of single malts. Hence, 18-year-old Scotch whisky is not the 12-year-old expression aged for an additional six years, but rather a blend of single malt whiskies from that distillery, the youngest component of which is at least 18 years old. For a background and detailed tasting noteson these single malt Scotch whiskies, see SF World Spirits Competition Names Top Single Malt Scotch Whisky For a background and detailed tasting notes on these ultra-aged, single malt Scotch whiskies, see Best Ultra-Aged Scotch Whisky, According To The SF World Spirits Competition. These Scotch whiskies are among the very best, the crème de la crème of Scottish whisky. They are all outstanding, each reflective of the region and terroir that produced them. Some are historical names, while others are new distilleries, specialty bottlers, or once-silent distilleries that have been reborn. All are worth tasting, and if you like them, add a bottle or two to your Scotch whisky collection.
Forbes
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
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.
Forbes
15-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Best Ultra-Aged Scotch Whisky, According To SF World Spirits Competition
The five top rated ultra-aged single malt Scotch whiskies Five ultra-aged single malt Scotch whiskies are finalists in the 20 Years and Older category 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. Rosebank Distillery was established in Falkirk in Scotland's Lowlands in 1840. It became renowned for producing a light, floral, and elegant single malt due to its use of triple distillation and worm tub condensers—an unusual combination. Often referred to as the 'King of the Lowlands,' Rosebank developed a cult following before being mothballed in 1993 by United Distillers/Diageo. The distillery was resurrected in 2017 after Ian Macleod Distillers acquired the site and trademarks. They undertook a meticulous restoration, preserving its whiskey's historic style and character. In 2023, Rosebank officially resumed production. The nose features pronounced citrus notes, typical of Lowland distillers, vanilla, caramel, and candied almonds. The palate exhibits herbal chamomile notes and tropical and stone fruit flavors of cooked banana, peach, apricot, and red berries. The finish is long, smooth, sweet, and fruity with lingering herbal and seasoned oak notes. This whisky is a continuation of Rosebank's legacy. Like its older sibling, it represents stock laid down before the distillery's closing in 1993. Although it shares a similar DNA, its aroma and flavor profile differ slightly from the 31-Year-Old expression. The nose features pineapple, candied ginger, lemon, marzipan, white pepper, and café latte/mocha notes. It's velvety smooth on the palate, with herbal notes of thyme, cooked cereal/malt, butterscotch, tropical fruits, and assorted wood spices. The finish is long and fruity, with lingering lemon, honey, cooked cereal, and toasted walnut notes. Glen Scotia Distillery, founded in 1832, is one of the few remaining distilleries in Campbeltown, once hailed as the "whisky capital of the world." Known for its maritime influence and distinctive oil-rich character, Glen Scotia has endured industry downturns and ownership changes while maintaining its landmark aroma and taste profile. Today, the distillery produces a range of single malts that reflect Campbeltown's peated and unpeated styles. Since being revitalized under the ownership of Loch Lomond Group, Glen Scotia has gained critical acclaim and has been a perennial medalist at international spirit competitions. The nose features Campbeltown's maritime terroir, red apple, candied orange peel, vanilla syrup, and caramel. It's sweet, smooth, and creamy on the palate, exhibiting an assortment of orchard and citrus fruit and wood spices of cinnamon, ginger, and clove. The finish is long, with lingering maritime and spicy ground ginger notes. Tomintoul Distillery, established in 1964, is in the Speyside region of Scotland near Tomintoul—the highest village in the Highlands. Built to produce a light, smooth style of whisky, it uses water sourced from the Ballantruan spring and primarily crafts unpeated single malts. However, it also produces a peated line under the "Old Ballantruan" name. Known as "The Gentle Dram," Tomintoul emphasizes balance and elegance in its whiskies. Today, it is owned by Angus Dundee Distillers and is widely respected for its approachable, fruit-forward expressions. The nose features brown sugar, digestive biscuits, golden raisins, and toasted oak. Salted caramel, stone fruit, cured tobacco leaf, praline nuts, maple syrup, vanilla custard, and oak spices of cinnamon, black pepper, clove, and candied ginger are showcased on the palate. The finish is long with a nuanced complexity showcasing coffee cake, crème caramel, and burnt sugar notes. Alexander Murray is a Florida-based specialty bottler. In addition to their proprietary range, they also develop custom blends for Costco, Total Wine & More, and others. This Highland single malt is bottled at cask strength and offers a rich and complex profile. The whisky is sweet on the nose, featuring peach syrup, chocolate fudge, nougat, cooked cereal/malt, floral heather, and spicy orange peel. The palate exhibits pronounced orange fruit notes of orange oil and candied orange zest, herbal notes of dried spices, caramel, and vanilla. The finish is sweet with lingering seasoned oak and spicy notes. These ultra-aged Scotch single malt whiskies, among the rarest ones available, offer a unique tasting experience. Less than 1% of Scotch whisky is aged 25 years or more, making these expressions exceptional. The Rosebank expressions, for example, represent the last remnant stock produced before the distillery shut down. Once that inventory is gone, it will be three decades before sufficiently aged stock is again available. All these single malts are worth tasting, and if you like one, buy it. You may not have another chance.
