The International Whisky Competition brings together some of the world’s finest whiskeys for blind tasting by a panel of expert judges every year. In 2025, the results included a range of whiskies hailing from all over the world, notable for their unique aspects.
Each year, the IWC releases a ranked list of the top 15 whiskeys based on its blind tasting scores. To keep things focused and help you zero in on the very best, we’re taking a closer look at the top five. Here’s how each one is made, what sets it apart, and why it stood out to the judges in 2025.
Kavalan Solist Fino Sherry Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky – 97.04 Pts – Whisky of the Year
Tasting Notes: Creamy toffee, rich fudge, chocolate, mango, overripe citrus, fruit flowers, green apples, smoked wood
BUY NOW: From $300
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Kavalan’s win in 2025 marks a major milestone. According to the distillery, the Solist Fino Sherry is “the first non-Scottish whisky to win the Golden Barrel Trophy”.
Made in Yilan County, Taiwan, this single malt is distilled from 100% malted barley and matured in a single fino sherry cask. Fino is the driest style of sherry, and it gives the whiskey a nutty, elegant edge. The cask is bottled at natural strength with no dilution or filtration.
Kavalan’s subtropical climate speeds up maturation, helping the whiskey develop bold character in a short time. The result is a rich, fruit-driven spirit balanced by dry oak and spice.
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READ THE STORYThis bottling scored 97.04 points (the highest of the year) and also helped Kavalan earn the title of Distillery of the Year. Each Solist release is drawn from a single cask, so no two are quite the same.
A. Smith Bowman Cask Strength (Batch #4) – 97.01 Pts
Tasting Notes: Leather, plums, apple, raspberry, chocolate, stone fruit, cinnamon, crisp apple
BUY NOW: N/A – very limited allocation
It’s a limited release, with bottles sold via lottery and quickly snapped up by collectors.
Jack Daniel’s 12 Year Old Tennessee Whiskey Batch 3 – 96.50 Pts
Tasting Notes: Sweet and creamy pipe tobacco, seasoned oak, butterscotch
BUY NOW: N/A – very limited allocations
Jack Daniel’s has long been a household name, but this release shows its strength in premium, age-stated whiskey. Batch 3 of the 12-Year-Old came in third overall at the 2025 IWC, with a score of 96.50 points.
Made in Lynchburg, Tennessee, it uses Jack’s signature mash bill: 80% corn, 12% malted barley, 8% rye. Like all Tennessee whiskey, it undergoes charcoal mellowing before maturation.
This batch was aged for 12 years in new charred oak barrels, then bottled at 107 proof (53.5% ABV). That extra time in the barrel brings depth, spice, and dry oak, with a touch of Jack’s familiar caramel and banana notes.
The 12-Year is part of Jack Daniel’s Aged Series, which revives age-stated releases from the brand’s early history. It’s limited, and bottles tend to sell out quickly.
Hogback Peated Smoke Single Malt Whiskey – 96.39 Pts
Tasting Notes: Smoke, oak, peat, glazed BBQ meat, soaked beef jerky, vanilla, pepper, blackberry and apple pie
BUY NOW: $74.99
Hogback’s Peated Smoke took top honors in the American single malt category at the 2025 IWC, scoring 96.39 points. It also placed fourth overall, an impressive result for a young craft distillery from Colorado.
Founded by Scottish-born Graeme Wallace, Hogback blends Scottish tradition with American ingredients and climate. This single malt is made from 100% Scottish peated barley, distilled in copper pot stills, and matured for at least three years in virgin American oak barrels.
It’s bottled at 100 proof (50% ABV) with no chill filtration. The whiskey combines smoke, charred oak, and subtle fruit notes, offering a profile that nods to Islay while remaining distinctly American.
This release helped shine a light on Colorado’s growing role in the American whiskey scene.
Uncle Nearest Single Barrel Whiskey – Batch 3633 – 96.34 Pts
Tasting Notes: Vanilla, leather, oak, white paper, marzipan
BUY NOW: From $85
Closing out the top five is Batch 3633 of the Uncle Nearest Single Barrel series, scoring 96.34 points at the 2025 IWC. This release continues the brand’s reputation for excellence and earned high marks for its bold yet balanced profile.
Produced in Shelbyville, Tennessee, Uncle Nearest honors the legacy of Nathan “Nearest” Green, the formerly enslaved distiller who taught Jack Daniel. The brand is Black-owned, women-led, and one of the fastest-growing names in American whiskey.
Batch 3633 was bottled at cask strength (60.9% ABV) and is believed to use a high-corn mash bill, filtered through sugar maple charcoal in the traditional Tennessee style. It was aged in new charred oak and selected for its rich flavors of butterscotch, pecan, and warm spice.
Every barrel in the series is hand-picked by Master Blender Victoria Eady Butler, Green’s great-great-granddaughter.
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