The World’s Best Scotch Whiskey – by TAG Global Spirits Awards

The TAG Global Spirits Awards haven’t been around that long. The Las Vegas-based contest was launched in 2022 by a group of industry experts as a way to “celebrate the world’s great up-and-coming spirits brands and their creators,” according to a statement on its website. . And the startup appears to be doing just that by attracting dozens of big-name liquor brands to join the fray. Ahead of TAG’s third annual iteration this March, let’s take a look at some of its latest results.

TAG judges will categorize participants into one of six medal levels: Best in Show, Platinum, Double Gold, Gold, Silver, and Bronze. When it comes to Scotch, there is one producer in particular that clearly captivated the palates of these esteemed panelists. We’re talking about Glenfiddich, the legendary Speyside distillery that pioneered the global popularity of single malt in the early 1960s.

Out of the hundreds of Scotch entries received, only three achieved Best in Show status. Two of them were from Glenfiddich. The first was the 21 Year Reserve Rum Cask Finish. As the name suggests, this 80 proof single malt underwent part of its maturation in barrels flavored with sugarcane spirit. As a result, the liquid poured into the drum has pleasant tones of molasses, marzipan, and brown sugar – a rum-like character. Usually on American shelves he sells for just over $200 a bottle.

The second Glenfiddich bottling to score highly on TAG was a 23 year old Grand Cru. This elegant expression spends time in what the brand calls “rare French cuvée casks.” In other words, it is a high-quality white wine that aims to evoke the image of Champagne without mentioning its name. Top notes are brioche and baked apple. Of course, you can’t expect foaming properties. Another 80 proof product, this product became part of our permanent portfolio in 2019. Within two years, it also won the coveted double gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Awards. But it’s not cheap. It costs almost twice as much as my 21-year-old brother.

The final Scotch from three Best in Show winners remains something of a dark horse in the U.S. market. Glen Murray 21 Year Old Port Wood Finish is a sensational spirit with an alcohol content of 46.3%. Aged for two full years in Portuguese sweet wine barrels, resulting in a deep oak color, dark chocolate flavor, and full, rich body. This reliable Speyside distillery has yet to garner mainstream adoration on this side of the pond, so this bottle should be easily available for well under $200. Their loss is your gain.

We will report more details about TAG 2024 once the results are announced later this spring.