Islay distillery Ardberg has taken out top honors at the International Whisky Awards with their Uigeadail Single Malt expression.

Ardbeg Uigeadail will receive the prestigious Golden Barrel Trophy for scoring an impressive 95.9 points, taking top place from Glenmorangie Vintage 1997 in second (95.1 points) and Dewar’s Double Double 32 Year Old in third (95 points).

Ardberg Distillery

According to Ardberg Distillery, Uigeadail (‘Oog-a-dal’), is “a special vatting that marries Ardbeg’s traditional deep, smoky notes with luscious, raisiny tones of old ex-Sherry casks.”

Dr. Bill Lumsden, Director of Distilling, Whisky Creation & Whisky Stocks at Glenmorangie & Ardbeg Distillery won the 2021 Master Distiller of the Year for crafting Ardbeg Uigeadail.

The International Whisky Awards, now in their 12th year, were held in Estes Colorado. A panel of professionals blind-tasted each competition entrant, grading on a 100-point scale system.

Scores were built on the following four categories, and 11 subcategories:

• Sight – Color (0 points) and Visual Appeal (5 points)
• Nose – Intensity and Complexity (15 points), Distinctiveness of Aromas (10 points), and Balance of Aromas (10 points)
• Taste/Mouth Feel – palate and Balance (10 points), Alcohol, Body, and Complexity (10 points), Distinctiveness of Flavours (10 points), and Balance Between Flavours (10 points)
• Finish – Length and Finish (10 points) and Quality of Finish (10 points)

While Scottish distilleries dominated the top 10, Taiwanese distiller Kavalan continued to build its impressive resume of quality drams, with its Paul Chiang Peated Malt Single Cask Strength and Solist Vinho Barrique Single Cask Strength single malt expressions both finishing in the top 10.

Black Bourbon Society’s Maker’s Mark Private Selection: Recipe 2, was the leading entrant from the United States, finishing in 6th position with a score of 93.9. Check out the top 10 below and check out all the winners at Whisky Competition.