Annual Scotch Whisky Blind Tasting Results
This is the season of Scotch whisky festivals. The Spirit of Speyside whisky festival is held in April, followed by the Campbeltown Malts Festival in May. Closing with the Feis Islay whisky festival. Scotch whisky enthusiasts attend these events to meet other spirit lovers and to visit their favorite distilleries.
According to a report on The Spirits Business, whisky exports have seen an upturn since the COVID-19 era. The site stated that “While the category experienced a decline in exports in 2023 compared with 2022, there is no denying its popularity worldwide.
“When put against pre-pandemic 2019 figures, the value of Scotch exports in 2023 was up by 14%, the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) reported. Total global export figures in 2023 exceeded £5.6 billion (US$7bn), with the equivalent of approximately 1.35bn 700ml bottles exported. The category remains optimistic, despite the drop from the £6.2bn export record set in 2022, something of a ‘bumper’ anomaly, according to the SWA.”
Annual Scotch Whisky Festival Highlights
Several panels of whisky experts gathered last month at Boisdale in London’s Canary Wharf to sample all that is whisky at the Scotch Whisky Masters blind-tasting competition. GSMC’s Scotch Whisky Masters blind-tasting competition is one of its highlights,
The first panel featured Marie Cheong-Thong (The Larder at 36) and Dan Greifer (Black Parrot). It was moderated by Nicola Carruthers (The Spirits Business). The second panel included Caroline Roddis and Renata Malakauskiene.
The tasting started with a selection of blended whiskies without age statements, setting the bar high for the rest of the day. Turntable Spirits garnered two Master medals in this flight.
Among the first flight winners were four Gold medals, including Sir Edward’s Finest, whose judges praised its “well-balanced, smooth and well-made style”. Two Silver medal winners rounded out the round.
The following round of Blended–Aged up to 12 Years Old whiskies delivered a trio of Gold medals and one Silver. The Gold winners were: Islay Mist 10 Years Old, Sir Edward’s 12 Years. and Old Parr 12 Years Old.
Whiskies aged between 13 and 18 years were up next, with two reaching the Gold-standard mark. Namely, White Heather 15 Years Old, and Johnnie Walker 18 Years Old. Two Silver medals completed the flight.