At the 2025 New York World Spirits Competition, five Scotch whiskies took home medals in the blended and blended malt categories. Among them were both household names and lesser-known labels, showcasing the range of styles within this corner of the whisky world.
Two of the winners are technically blended malts (made entirely from single malts, with no grain whisky), but all five reflect a commitment to quality blending worth exploring.
Johnnie Walker Black Ruby
Award: Double Gold, Best Blended Scotch
Tasting Notes: Berries, honeyed sweetness, figs, plums, maraschino cherries, smoke
Find Your Next Bottle: $45/ÂŁ26 US availability limited
Awarded Best Blended Scotch and a Double Gold medal, Johnnie Walker Black Ruby is a limited-edition release that reimagines the familiar Black Label profile. Crafted by Master Blender Dr. Emma Walker, this blend incorporates malts and grains from across Scotland, including spirit from Diageo’s modern Roseisle distillery.
What sets Black Ruby apart is its finishing in Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry-seasoned casks, which lends a deep red fruit character to the classic notes of soft smoke, vanilla, and oak. Bottled at 40% ABV, it’s approachable but layered, with flavours of caramel, dark berries, and subtle spice emerging on the palate.
Johnnie Walker, owned by Diageo, has long been known for consistency at scale, but this release shows the brand’s willingness to innovate within its established framework. Black Ruby balances accessibility with complexity, offering a polished introduction to sherried Scotch without straying far from the brand’s DNA.
The Sassenach Spirit of Home Blended Scotch Whisky
Award: Double Gold
Tasting Notes: Fruity, Madeira, round, rich
Find Your Next Bottle: $110/ÂŁ82
The Spirit of Home from Sassenach Spirits earned a Double Gold medal, marking a significant accolade for this relatively new name in the category. Founded by actor Sam Heughan, the brand draws on his Scottish roots, and this release was crafted as a tribute to that sense of place.
The whisky is a blended Scotch, built from Highland and Island malts, and finished in Madeira wine casks. Bottled at a generous 46% ABV, it balances malty richness with bright fruit and soft spice. The cask finish imparts notes of stone fruit, toasted sugar, and a gentle warmth on the palate.
Blended by Michael Henry (of Loch Lomond), the whisky pairs storytelling with serious technical execution. While celebrity-owned brands can be divisive, The Spirit of Home impressed judges on its own merits, offering a layered and inviting dram with real structure behind the marketing.
Imperial 12 Year Old Blended Scotch
Award: Double Gold
Tasting Notes: Complex, well-rounded
Find Your Next Bottle: $26 / Not available in the UK
Taking home a Double Gold medal, Imperial 12 Year Old may not be widely known in Western markets, but it has long held a strong following in parts of Asia. Produced by Chivas Brothers, this blended Scotch features a combination of malt and grain whiskies, all aged for a minimum of 12 years.
While specific component distilleries aren’t publicly disclosed, the profile leans toward a classic Speyside style. Think gentle orchard fruit, soft honeyed notes, and a clean, rounded finish. Bottled at 40% ABV, it’s designed to be approachable and versatile.
Imperial 12 is often praised for offering surprising quality at a modest price point. Its recognition at the NYWSC positions it for broader appreciation, showing that well-crafted blends don’t need bold branding or limited-edition status to deliver real value.
Big Peat Islay Blended Malt Scotch
Award: Gold
Tasting Notes: Grain, fruit, Madeira, richness, and complexity
Find Your Next Bottle: $45/ÂŁ36
A Gold medal winner, Big Peat is a blended malt that wears its Islay origins proudly. Made entirely from single malts sourced from the island — including Ardbeg, Caol Ila, Bowmore, and a trace of the closed Port Ellen distillery — it captures the region’s signature maritime smoke and rugged charm.
Produced by Douglas Laing & Co., a family-run independent bottler, Big Peat is part of their “Remarkable Regional Malts” range. Unlike traditional blends, it contains no grain whisky, allowing the Islay malt character to come through with clarity and punch. It’s bottled at 46% ABV.
With notes of tar, bonfire smoke, brine, and sweet malt, Big Peat is both bold and balanced. Since its launch in 2009, it has built a cult following, and this medal win reaffirms its status as a standout in the smoky end of the Scotch spectrum.
Scallywag Speyside Blended Scotch
Award: Silver
Tasting Notes: Vanilla, stewed fruits, chocolate, nutmeg, zesty orange, ginger, cocoa, fruitcake
Find Your Next Bottle: $47/ÂŁ38
Scallywag, awarded a Silver medal, is a blended malt Scotch focused entirely on the Speyside region. Produced by Douglas Laing & Co., it’s crafted from single malts including Mortlach, Macallan, and Glenrothes, blended to showcase the rich, fruity side of the region.
A significant portion of the whisky is matured in sherry butts, with the remainder aged in ex-bourbon casks. This combination delivers a profile full of dark chocolate, dried fruit, warm spice, and vanilla sweetness. Like its stablemate Big Peat, Scallywag is bottled at 46% ABV, non-chill filtered, and free of added colour.
The packaging, featuring a one-toothed fox terrier on the label, hints at the playful spirit behind the brand, but the liquid inside is anything but a gimmick. It’s a robust and characterful dram that appeals to fans of sherried single malts, offering complexity and richness without the single malt price tag
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