The International World Spirits Competition is among the oldest ongoing and meaningful tests of a bottle of liquor’s merits in the world. The award selection process takes place over the course of seven months, with spirits touching the hands of more than 400 judges and undergoing chemical analyses to determine sugar and alcohol content (and deduct points from bottles using illegal additives).
After the seven months have passed, the competition awards each bottle submitted a 1 to 100 rating, with different score totals granting the bottle different medals (the highest score medal is “Gold Outstanding,” or 93 and up). The biggest single bottle awards, though, are more straightforward — “Bourbon Trophy 2018,” “Tequila Trophy 2018” and so on.
This week, the organization announced its winners for 2018 — these are the best spirits in the world in their respective categories.
Best Whiskey (Overall): Tullamore Dew 18 YO
The judge’s final tasting notes for the William Grant & Sons scotch doesn’t mince words: “Full flavoured, unusual and bold yet showing great elegance and balance. Outstanding.” Aged in bourbon casks and finished in ex-sherry, madeira and port casks, this was the highest rated brown liquor in competition at the event.
