International Whisky Competition

International Whisky Competition takes place annually in Chicago, USA and it brings whiskies from around the world to be judged for quality. These are blind tasted and rated by a professional tasting panel using the most comprehensive tasting method available with 15 different criteria. These criteria are required to produce the tasting notes as well as aroma and flavor profiles for the International Whisky Guide.^[1] This event focuses solely on whisk(e)y.

History

The International Whisky Competition ^[2] was founded in 2009 by Sylvain Allard and Michael Petrucci to gather whiskies from around the world and have them blind tasted and rated by a panel of professional judges. The competition is held annually in Chicago IL USA. In 2016 the competition launched their first International Whisky Guide with the competition entries.

Event

There are up to 60 categories depending on the variety of entries with gold, silver, and bronze awards for each. Whiskies are sampled individually to avoid palate contamination and judges are given 5 minutes to blind taste, judge, and score each liquor based on the following four criteria: A 100 point scoring system is used which was adapted from the wine industry.
Sight Colors (0 points), Visual appeal (5 points)
Nose Intensity and complexity (15 points), Distinctiveness of aromas (10 points), Balance of aromas (10 points)
Taste-Mouth Feel Palate and balance (10 points), Alcohol, body and complexity (10 points), Distinctiveness of flavors (10 points), Balance between flavors (10 points)
Finish Length and finish (10 points), Quality of finish (10 points) ^[3]

Awards

• Whisky of the Year
• Master Distiller/Blender of the Year
• Distillery of the Year
• Best Blended Whisky (All Categories)
• Best New Release
• Best Single Malt Whisk(e)y
• Best Rye Whiskey
• Best World Whisk(e)y
• Best Peated Whisk(e)y
• Best Grain Whisk(e)y
• Best Value Whisk(e)y (Whiskies under $30)
• Brand Ambassador of the Year
• Blogger of the Year
• Best Flavored Whisk(e)y
• 15 Scotch Whisky Awards
• 4 Irish Whiskey Awards:
• 8 By Country/Continent Awards:
• 19 United States Awards:

Results 2010-2015

2010 Whisky of the Year Gold: The Yamazaki 1984 – 25 Year Old Single Malt Silver: The Dalmore 40 Year Old Bronze: The Yamazaki 12 Year Old Single Malt^[4]

2011 Whisky of the Year Gold: Lark Small Port Cask Aged Cask Strength (Tasmanian Single Malt Whisky) Silver: Kilchoman Single Cask Strength (Islay’s Farm Distillery) Bronze: Royal Challenge (Finest Premium Indian Whisky)

2012 Whisky of the Year Gold: Signature Premier Grain Whisky Silver: Tomatin Decades Bronze: Kavalan Solist Vinho Barrique

2013 Whisky of the Year Gold: Kilchoman Machir Bay (Scotland)^{[5] [6]} Silver: Glenfarclas 105 (Scotland) Bronze: Bushmills 10 Year Old (Ireland)

2014 Whisky of the Year Gold: Knob Creek Rye (98%) Silver: Laphroaig 18 Year Old (97%) Bronze: Laphroaig 10 Year Old (95%)

2015 Whisky of the Year Gold: John Walker & Sons King George V (97%)^[7] Silver: Black Art 4.1 Bronze: Lagavulin 16 Years Old tied with E.H. Taylor, Jr. Single Barrel.

2016 Whisky of the Year Glenmorangie Signet^[8]

The complete list can be seen on the competition website.^[9][10]

Judges

The present panel consists of ten well known experts in the field.^[11] In 2014 Michael Petrucci stepped down from the competition and in 2015 Sebastien Gavillet took over as Head of Tasting Panel, restructuring the competition and implemented a new tasting methodology. As of 2015, the judging core panel is to remains the same each year to ensure consistency. From 2016 entry samples will be archived for referencing.

External links

• International Whisky Competition

References