IWSC 2026 Whisky Trophy Winners: The Full List and How to Use It
The International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) announced its 2026 spirits trophies in October, and seven of them went to whisky: one each for American whiskey, bourbon, Irish whiskey and worldwide whiskey, plus three for Scotch. The highest score among the whisky winners was 99 points, for the Bardstown Bourbon Company Lochs of Jura Barrel Finish, according to The Whiskey Wash’s report of the results.
The 7 IWSC 2026 Whisky Trophy Winners
The IWSC awarded 24 spirits trophies in 2026 across all categories, and whisky won seven of them. This list follows The Whiskey Wash’s report, published on October 13, 2026. Age, ABV and scores are as reported there.
| Trophy category | Whisky | Age / ABV (as reported) | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Whiskey | Bardstown Bourbon Company Lochs of Jura Barrel Finish | Components 10 to 12 years; 52% | 99 |
| Bourbon | Willett Distillery Old Bardstown Bottled-in-Bond 4 Year Old | 4 years; 50% | 98 |
| Irish Whiskey | Teeling Distillery Exclusive 20 Year Old Mongolian Oak Cask Single Malt | 20 years; 45.9% | 98 |
| Worldwide Whiskey | Wan Ja Shan Distillery Dawu Malt Blended Whiskey | Age not stated; 54.9% | 98 |
| Single Malt Scotch Under 20 YO | Bowmore 9 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky | 9 years; 40% | 98 |
| Single Malt Scotch Over 20 YO | East Asia Whisky Company & Silver Seal 35 Year Old Manta Ray Seven Clean Seas Bunnahabhain | 35 years; 49.3% | 98 |
| Blended Scotch | Royal Salute 21 Year Old Signature Blend | 21 years; 40% | 96 |
The Winners in More Detail
The Whiskey Wash report includes short tasting notes for each winner. In summary:
- Bardstown Bourbon Company Lochs of Jura Barrel Finish (99): a nose of cinnamon, spiced vanilla, orange peel and caramel.
- Willett Old Bardstown Bottled-in-Bond 4 Year Old (98): oak and distillate that fuse well, with a refined, lingering finish.
- Teeling 20 Year Old Mongolian Oak Cask (98): bright tropical fruit, mango and pineapple, with well-integrated oak.
- Wan Ja Shan Dawu Malt Blended Whiskey (98): tropical and orchard fruit with toffee and woody spice, then baked apple and cherries. The report says the label states it was distilled in Ireland and aged in Taiwan, and that Wan Ja Shan is based in Pingtung, Taiwan.
- Bowmore 9 Year Old (98): delicate sea salt, crème caramel and light peat smoke.
- Manta Ray Seven Clean Seas 35 Year Old Bunnahabhain (98): lemon biscuits and chamomile, a sweet, creamy palate with floral notes, and a long finish of tropical fruit. It is a joint entry from East Asia Whisky Company and Italy’s Silver Seal Whisky Company.
- Royal Salute 21 Year Old Signature Blend (96): a layered nose of bright tropical fruit and polished oak with savoury depth.
What the 2026 Winners Tell Us
- Age is not everything. A 9 year old Bowmore and a 4 year old bottled-in-bond bourbon won trophies in the same year as a 20 year old Irish single malt and a 35 year old Scotch. Quality, balance and cask choice mattered as much as the number on the label.
- Bottled-in-bond is back in the spotlight. The bourbon trophy went to a bonded whiskey, a category with strict legal rules on age, proof and origin. Our bottled-in-bond guide and best bottled-in-bond bourbon picks cover why the label is gaining attention.
- Cask experimentation is rewarded. The top-scoring bottle is named for a barrel finish, and the Irish winner is named for Mongolian oak, a less common wood. Our guide to cask finishing explains how finishes work.
- Every region is represented. The winners come from the United States, Ireland, Scotland and the worldwide category, which shows how competitive the global whisky field has become.
What Bottled-in-Bond Means (and Why a 4 Year Old Can Win)
The bourbon trophy winner is a bottled-in-bond whiskey, which is a legal designation with strict conditions. A bonded whiskey must be the product of one distillery and one distilling season, aged for at least four years in a federally bonded warehouse, and bottled at exactly 100 proof (50% ABV). The Willett winner’s 4 year age and 50% strength match those rules.
That matters because it shows a young, well-made whiskey can compete with much older bottles. For a full explanation, read our bottled-in-bond guide.
What Each Category Tells Us
- Scotch (three trophies): an entry-level 9 year old single malt, a 35 year old independent bottling and a 21 year old blend all won, which shows Scotch recognised across price levels and bottling styles.
- Irish whiskey: the winner is a 20 year old single malt finished in Mongolian oak, a sign of Irish distillers experimenting with unusual wood.
- Bourbon and American whiskey: the winners include a bonded four year old and a barrel-finished release, two very different routes to the same level of quality.
- Worldwide whiskey: the winner, according to the report’s description of its label, was distilled in Ireland and aged in Taiwan, which reflects how global whisky production has become.
How to Use Whisky Awards When You Buy
- Know the tier. A trophy sits above gold, silver and bronze medals. A medal is still a good sign, but a trophy is a category winner.
- Compare within a category. A score in Scotch cannot be compared directly with a score in bourbon, because each category is judged against its own peers.
- Check the exact bottle. An award applies to a specific bottling. Independent and limited releases, like the 35 year old Bunnahabhain, are produced in small numbers and may be difficult to find in the United States.
- Treat awards as a starting point. They narrow the field, but your own palate and budget decide the winner. For help choosing, see our best Scotch under $100, best Irish whiskey and best bourbon guides.
Awards, Reviews and Ratings: What Is the Difference?
- Competition awards (like the IWSC) judge whiskies against others in the same category in a single event.
- Critic reviews reflect one expert’s opinion, often of a specific batch.
- Consumer ratings show broad popularity but can be influenced by price and hype.
The most reliable approach is to look for agreement between two or three of them, then confirm the bottle suits your own taste.
A Mini Tasting Flight Inspired by the Winners
You do not need the trophy bottles to taste what the judges liked. Choose a few widely available bottles in the same styles and compare them side by side. For example, pour Teeling Whiskey alongside a bourbon such as Willett Family Estate / Pot Still and a Scotch from the winners’ producers, then note which flavours stand out. Our Irish whiskey vs Scotch guide and bourbon tasting guide explain how to approach each.
Bottles to Try From the Same Producers
The trophy-winning expressions are specific or limited bottlings, so we do not list them as regular stock. These are the closest bottles we carry from the same names:
- Royal Salute: Royal Salute 21 Year (from $149.99) and Royal Salute 25 Year (from $499.99).
- Bowmore: Bowmore 25 Year (from $799.99), an Islay single malt with dark chocolate and gentle peat.
- Teeling: Teeling Whiskey (from $31.99) for an accessible introduction to the Dublin distillery. See our Irish craft distilleries guide.
- Bardstown Bourbon Company: Bardstown Bourbon Company and the Origin Series.
- Willett: Willett Family Estate / Pot Still (from $40.99).
Gift Ideas Inspired by the Winners
- For a Scotch lover: Royal Salute 21 Year, which its product page describes as presented in a flagon, makes a memorable gift.
- For an Islay fan: Bowmore 25 Year offers dark chocolate, dried tropical fruit and gentle peat.
- For a bourbon fan: a Willett or Bardstown Bourbon Company bottle introduces two of Kentucky’s most talked-about names.
For more ideas, see our guide to the best whiskey gift sets. You must be 21 or older to purchase.
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