The World Whiskies Awards is a famous competition that selects the best alcoholic drinks from around the world. In 2025, it named GlenAllachie Speyside Single Malt 12 Years Old as the best whisky in the world in the Single Malt category. This whisky comes from Scotland and has a rich and strong taste. It is not smoky (unpeated) and contains 46% alcohol. What makes it special is that it keeps its natural colour and purity because no artificial colours are added, and it is not filtered to change its texture.

Why GlenAllachie won Best Single Malt

Experts who tasted GlenAllachie whisky said it has a rich and complex flavour. When you smell it, you can notice scents of sweet dried grapes (sultanas), oat biscuits (flapjacks), and creamy milk chocolate, along with a slight sharpness (acetone notes). When you take a sip, you may taste hints of dried apple, flavourful chutney, orange peel, nutmeg, and cinnamon, all mixed with a smooth vanilla custard flavour. The aftertaste lasts for a medium amount of time, feels slightly oily, and gives a gentle warmth, making it a pleasant drink to enjoy.

This whisky is made using malted barley, which comes from the Moray Firth coast. The water used to make it is taken from a nearby source, about two miles from the distillery.

The process starts with creating a sugary liquid called wort from the grains. This liquid is then fermented for 160 hours. After that, it goes through a traditional double distillation process, which helps refine the flavours.

Once the whisky is ready, it is stored in high-quality wooden barrels, where it ages for 12 years. These barrels are kept in warehouses without temperature control, allowing the whisky to develop its special taste naturally. The GlenAllachie Distillers Company is run by expert whisky maker Billy Walker.

Best Indian Single Malts of 2025

The World Whiskies Awards 2025 also selected the best whiskies from different countries, including India.

The Amrut Peated Single Malt Cask Strength won the award for Best Indian Single Malt (No Age Statement). The judges said this whisky has many different flavours, from sweet and fruity notes to vanilla and candy-like hints, along with some smoky (peat) flavours. They also mentioned that the mix of earthy and crisp flavours makes it very enjoyable.

In another category, Single Malt: 12 Years & Under, Indri Founder’s Reserve Wine Cask 11 Years Old from India won a gold award. Its taste was described as a mix of different fruits, including black cherry, plum, dates, and prunes. The whisky has a rich, jam-like taste with warm oak flavours. It also has hints of dark raisins, berries, figs, honey, and other stone fruits, with a slight smoky touch (struck match).

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