Every year, the World Whiskies Awards crown the best of the best from across the globe, shining a spotlight on the craft, character, and innovation that define today’s finest spirits. While dozens of single malts took top honors in their respective categories, some names rose above the rest, either through the strength of their reputations or the standout nature of their latest releases.
In this article, we’re taking a closer look at a selection of the ‘Best Single Malts’ from across the globe that triumphed in the 2025 competition. From a Speyside icon earning global recognition, to a rising English malt crafted in an old wire factory, this is a rundown for whiskey lovers who want to understand not just what won, but why.
Let’s walk through some of the best single malts in the world, how they were made, the distilleries behind them, and the awards they brought home.
The GlenAllachie 12 Year Old – Best Scotch Speyside Single Malt & World’s Best Single Malt
Tasting Notes: “A nose of rich sultanas, flapjacks, and milk chocolate, alongside acetone notes. On the palate, dried apple, gourmet chutney, orange zest, nutmeg, and cinnamon emerge, complemented by vanilla custard. The finish is medium-long, oily, and slightly warm, making for a very enjoyable dram.”
BUY NOW: $56
The GlenAllachie 12 Year Old is an unpeated Speyside single malt made from 100% Scottish barley and fermented for an unusually long 160 hours to build complexity. It’s matured in a mix of Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks, with smaller portions from red wine barriques and virgin oak. Master Distiller Billy Walker personally oversees cask selection and re-racking to maintain the distillery’s signature honeyed, fruit-forward style.
Founded in 1967, GlenAllachie spent decades supplying blends before Walker transformed it into a single malt powerhouse after taking over in 2017. The 12 Year Old, launched as the brand’s flagship in 2018, reflects that shift.
In 2025, it was named World’s Best Single Malt and Best scotch Speyside Single Malt at the World Whiskies Awards.
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Balcones Texas 1 Single Malt – Best American Single Malt
Tasting Notes: “Tart fruit on the nose with a slight brine. A spicy palate with hints of rye. A long finish.”
BUY NOW: $80
Balcones Texas 1 is a bold, full-bodied single malt made from 100% Golden Promise barley and distilled in Waco, Texas. Fermented with a mix of ale and distiller’s yeast, and double-distilled in custom copper pot stills, the whisky is then matured in new American oak barrels—an unusual choice for single malt, but one that suits the intense Texas climate. The result is rich, malty, and unmistakably Texan.
Balcones was founded in 2008 and helped pioneer the American single malt category. Known for its hands-on, experimental approach, the distillery quickly earned a reputation for pushing boundaries while honoring tradition.
In 2025, Texas 1 took home the title of Best American Single Malt at the World Whiskies Awards.
Teeling Notre Dame Edition Rivesaltes 24 Year Old – Best Irish Single Malt
Tasting Notes: “Honey, pear, and blossom, with gentle spice.”
BUY NOW: $499.99
This limited-edition single malt from Teeling was distilled in the late 1990s, triple-distilled, and aged for 21 years in ex-bourbon casks before a final 3-year finish in Rivesaltes wine barrels from France. The result is a complex, fruit-driven whiskey with depth built over nearly a quarter of a century. It was bottled at 46% ABV, with no chill filtration or added color. Only 1,000 bottles were produced.
Teeling Whiskey Company was founded in 2012, reviving a family legacy dating back to 1782. Though their Dublin distillery opened in 2015, this expression comes from older stocks, likely laid down at Cooley when the Teelings ran it.
In 2025, the Notre Dame Edition Rivesaltes 24 Year Old was named Best Irish Single Malt at the World Whiskies Awards.
Glen Breton Rare 21 Year Old – Best Canadian Single Malt
Tasting Notes: “Initially a soft citrus, with a very light floral touch. Vanilla, leather, apple, hay, and a light, spicy finish.”
BUY NOW: $305.99
Glen Breton Rare 21 is a Canadian single malt made from 100% malted barley and double-distilled in copper pot stills at Glenora Distillery in Nova Scotia. Aged for 21 years in ex-bourbon barrels, it develops a smooth, mellow character shaped by the region’s seasonal temperature swings and maritime climate. It’s bottled at 43% ABV with no added color.
Glenora Distillery, founded in 1989, is North America’s first single malt distillery. Built with guidance from scotch whisky experts, it helped establish Canadian single malt as a credible category.
In 2025, Glen Breton Rare 21 was awarded Best Canadian Single Malt at the World Whiskies Awards.
Wire Works Madeira Finish – Best English Single Malt
Tasting Notes: “Fragrant and aromatic peat smoke, zesty tangerines, wine gums, and plenty of spices, with an intense and eventful palate. Clean and lively.”
BUY NOW: $101
Made by White Peak Distillery in Derbyshire, Wire Works Madeira Finish is a lightly peated English single malt aged first in ex-bourbon barrels, then finished in first-fill Madeira wine casks. Distilled from 100% malted barley and fermented with a mix of distiller’s and brewer’s yeast, it’s bottled at 53.6% ABV with natural color and no chill filtration.
White Peak was founded in 2016 in a former wire factory on the banks of the River Derwent. Known for its small-batch focus and use of local ingredients, it has quickly become a leader in English whisky.
In 2025, Wire Works Madeira Finish was named Best English Single Malt at the World Whiskies Awards.
Mars 2024 Tsunuki – Best Japanese Single Malt
Tasting Notes: “Dried leafy nuance and a broth-like flavour. A rich, well-balanced palate of caramel, smoke, persimmon, stewed fruit, hardwood.”
BUY NOW: $120
The Tsunuki 2024 Edition is a no-age-statement Japanese single malt distilled at Mars’s Tsunuki Distillery in southern Japan. Made from 100% malted barley and double-distilled in copper pot stills, it’s matured in a mix of ex-bourbon and sherry casks. Bottled at 50% ABV, it is non-chill-filtered and naturally colored.
Tsunuki is the second malt distillery from Hombo Shuzo, a historic Japanese producer. Opened in 2016, it contrasts with the company’s alpine Shinshu site by offering a warmer, southern climate that accelerates maturation and deepens flavor.
In 2025, the Tsunuki 2024 Edition was named Best Japanese Single Malt at the World Whiskies Awards.
Amrut Peated Single Malt Cask Strength – Best Indian Single Malt
Tasting Notes: “A lot to offer, from sweet to zesty fruit, vanilla and other confectionery, and some peat notes. Earthy and crisp goes well together here.”
BUY NOW: $96
Distilled in Bangalore using Scottish peated barley, Amrut’s Peated Cask Strength is a bold Indian single malt aged in ex-bourbon barrels. The high-altitude tropical climate accelerates maturation, packing intense flavor into just a few years. It’s bottled at around 62.8% ABV, with no chill filtration or added color.
Amrut, founded in 1948, was the first distillery to release Indian single malt globally. Known for pushing boundaries, it helped put India on the whisky map with releases like Fusion and its acclaimed cask strength range.
In 2025, this peated expression was awarded Best Indian Single Malt at the World Whiskies Awards.
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