Isle of Skye 25 Year has been named Best Blended Scotch Whisky in the World at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2025, claiming both the Best Blended Scotch (16 Years & Older) and Best Overall Blended Scotch categories. The awards were announced on November 12 in Edinburgh by Ian Macleod Distillers, the independent Scottish company behind the brand.
The San Francisco World Spirits Competition is considered one of the most influential spirits competitions globally, with medals serving as trusted quality benchmarks for consumers and trade partners.
“This recognition from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition is an incredible honor and a real testament to the quality of our Isle of Skye whisky,” said Pamela Stewart, Brand Manager at Ian Macleod Distillers.
Stewart revealed that judges described the whisky as “a beautifully crafted Scotch” in the blind tasting competition, which featured over 1,500 whisky entries this year.
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Isle of Skye blends island and Speyside malts to create what the company describes as a bold, rich whisky reflecting Scotland’s rugged west coast heritage.
Master Blender John Glass leads the team behind the award-winning expression. “Isle of Skye has long been part of my life, and it is gratifying to earn such a prestigious award,” Glass said.
“We have been filling the best whiskies from around Scotland for decades, selecting casks that are perfect for each expression.”
The blending team creates expressions ranging from 8 Year Old to 30 Year Old variants. “The 25 Year Old being recognised as best in class in the world is a testament to the skill, commitment and passion we all put in to creating the whole range,” Glass added.
Ian Macleod Distillers plans to leverage these awards to strengthen its position in premium and ultra-premium whisky segments, particularly among luxury and specialist audiences.
The winning Isle of Skye 25 Year is currently available through Total Wine & More and other specialist whisky retailers across the United States.
The San Francisco World Spirits Competition has been recognizing excellence in spirits since 2000, attracting entries from producers worldwide across all major spirits categories.
