The 8 Best Whiskies In The World

The World Whiskies Awards 2015 have spoken, here are the 8 best whiskies in the world - how many have you tried?

1. Kavalan Solist Vinho Barrique Single Cask Strength

Via worldwhiskiesawards.com

Winner of :- The World's Best Single Malt Whisky 2015

It seems that Scotland's crown is slipping when it comes to producing the best single malt whisky. Last year saw the Japanese, Yamazaki Single Malt Sherry Cask 2013, take the top title - now the Kavalan Solist Vinho Barrique Single Cask Strength, a Taiwanese single malt, has scooped the highly revered award; leaving the Scots feeling a little sheepish.

The fact is, there has been an extremely high standard of whisky coming from the east as of late, which has lead to a rise in popularity and lot of hype among the whisky community across the globe.

2. Thomas H Handy Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey

Via worldwhiskiesawards.com

Winner of :- World's Best American Whiskey 2015

Named after the New Orleans bartender that first used rye whisky in the Sazerac cocktail, the Thomas H Handy Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey is full of rich, deep flavours such as toffee, candied fruit and cinnamon. Uncut and unfiltered, this is straight rye whiskey the way it should be - bottled directly from the barrel.

3. Nikka Taketsuru 17 Year Old

The Whisky Shop / Via whiskyshop.com

Winner of :- World's Best Blended Malt 2015

Another Japanese whisky winning top dog again, this time the Nikka Taketsuru 17 Year Old which, for the second year running, has taken first place in the best blended malt category.

Named in honour of Nikka founder and father of Japanese whisky, Masataka Taketsuru, the Taketsuru 17 Year Old is a prime example of the masterful whisky craftsmanship flourishing in the east.

4. That Boutique-y Whisky Company Blended Whisky #1 – Batch 1

Via worldwhiskiesawards.com

Winner of :- World's Best Blended Whisky 2015

'That Boutique-y Whisky Company' bottles Scotch Single Malt Whiskies from a variety of renowned distilleries in limited batches. Their graphic-novel-style labels are quirky and amusing, often incorporating whisky industry 'in-jokes'.

Blended Whisky #1 is a superb blended whisky, dense and malty, wonderfully honeyed with touch of grain to add a gentle kick.

5. Forty Creek Confederation Oak

Via fortycreekwhisky.com

Winner of :- World's Best Canadian Whisky 2015

The colour of old gold, this sweet oaky Canadian whisky is an excellently balanced, full bodied whisky that is worthy of its latest award - Best Canadian Whisky.

Fans of butterscotch, banana, vanilla, maple syrup, honeyed nuts and candied fruits will be in good company with a bottle of this golden joy!

6. Master of Malt Speyside Whisky Liqueur 40 Years Old

Via masterofmalt.com

Winner of :- World's Best Flavoured Whisky 2015

For the third consecutive year the Master of Malt Speyside Whisky Liqueur 40 Years Old keeps its crown as the best flavoured whisky.

Having matured for 40 years in Speyside's Traditional Warehouses, this exquisite whisky is then flavoured ever so slightly with select flavours giving it a wonderfully smooth and warming character.

7. Darkness! North British 18 Years Old Oloroso Cask Finish

Via worldwhiskiesawards.com

Winner of :- World's Best Grain Whisky 2015

This years winner of best grain whisky was the Darkness! North British 18 Years Old Oloroso Cask Finish. Spending 3 months in specially made first-fill, 50 litre Oloroso Sherry casks; the result is a complex grain whisky, rich in deep Oloroso Sherry character.

8. Redbreast Single Pot Still 15 Years Old

Via worldwhiskiesawards.com

Winner of :- World's Best Pot Still Whisky 2015

For its second year running the Redbreast Single Pot Still 15 Years Old picked up the best pot still whisky award.

A pot still whisky is an term used within the Irish whiskey industry and is a style of whisky that is made at a single distillery from a mixed mash of malted barley and unmalted green barley in a single pot still - hence the name, pot still whisky.

Redbreast is luxuriously smooth and sweet with notes of cooked fruits, cinnamon, butterscotch and caramel.