1、001 Cover AdmiredWhisky 2022.indd 1001 Cover AdmiredWhisky 2022.indd 118/10/2022 17:1418/10/2022 17:14MOST ADMIRED WHISKIES 2022DRINKS INTERNATIONAL 3Supplement EditorSHAY WATERWORTHProduction Editor JAQ BAYLESAdministrator&contributorOLI DODDoli.doddagilemedia.co.ukELEANOR YATESArt Editor JAMES DOW

2、NCommercial Director ROB CULLEN+44(0)1293 590043 Publisher JUSTIN SMITH+44(0)1293 590041 Managing DirectorRUSSELL DODD+44(0)1293 590052 Drinks InternationalJubilee House,56-58 Church Walk,Burgess Hill,West Sussex,RH15 9SNT:+44(0)1293 590040 F:+44(0)1293 Cover image:iS Now in its second iteration,The

3、 Worlds Most Admired Whiskies is gathering momentum.The level of investment in and excitement around whisky is greater than ever and thats not just in traditional markets like Scotland,the US and Ireland,but Australia,Japan and the Nordics.Up to now,whiskies have only ever been ranked on either volu

4、me or taste,but now they can gauge their admiration within the trade,based on a host of factors see How We Did It on page four.One of the biggest challenges for us has been assembling our Academy of industry experts with enough authority on the global whisky trade to give the list substance.However,

5、as well as ensuring knowledge and reputation,its also important that the Academy has a relevant geographical spread as well as an even gender split so that the industry is ref ected appropriately.Now,turning to the results.Af er Yamazakis triumph in 2021,Springbank has become the f rst Scotch to top

6、 our poll.The traditional brand is one of the few remaining Campbeltown distilleries,a former honeypot of the Scottish whisky industry and,while this word iconic has been all-but banned by our sub-editor,Springbank has earned the right to be labelled so.From the quaint settlement of Campbeltown we m

7、ove to the US,where Michters has taken the runner-up spot and therefore the Most Admired American Whiskey title.Former champ Yamazaki completes the podium retaining its Most Admired World Whisky trophy.Redbreast is the f nal brand in the list to get its own special recognition as the Most Admired Ir

8、ish Whiskey brand,but in truth,every single whisk(e)y producer in the top 50 deserves to celebrate particularly as these rankings are voted for by the trade,for the trade.shay waterworthSUPPLEMENT EDITORCONTENTS4 HOW WE DID IT5 THE TOP 50 Worlds Most Admired Whiskies from number one8 BEST OF THE BES

9、TThe top whiskies across the four main categories27 THE LIST An at-a-glance guide to our top 50ISTOCK.COM/AGE BARROS003 Contents AdmiredWhisky 2022.indd 3003 Contents AdmiredWhisky 2022.indd 318/10/2022 17:0818/10/2022 17:084 DRINKS INTERNATIONALD Drinks Internationalhas used its widespread contacts

10、 within the global whisk(e)y industry to choreograph an elite voting Academy to determine this list of The Worlds Most Admired Whiskies.Our Academy consists of buyers,bar owners,writers,educators and other specialists who carry no af liation with any brand to ensure that the results burden no bias a

11、nd retain integrity across the board.We asked each of our experts to name 10 whisk(e)y brands they most admire,in descending order.They were asked to consider the following criteria:The quality and consistency of the whiskies in the brand range The price-to-quality ratio across the brand portfolio T

12、he strength of the branding and marketingThe votes are weighted,so a brand was awarded 10 points if it secured a f rst-place vote,nine points for second,eight points for third and so on.However,given the specialist nature of whisk(e)y and the widespread geography of our Academy,voters were limited t

13、o f ve brands from the same category.We then compiled the numbers to determine the f nal ranking.Our Academy features some of the most respected whisk(e)y names from around the world and we work hard to ensure that there is a broad geographical and demographic spread.We consider it to be the most in

14、f uential group of global whisk(e)y experts ever assembled.Voting took place during September 2022.OUR ACADEMY FEATURES SOME OF THE MOST RESPECTED WHISK(E)Y NAMESISTOCK.COM/ALEAIMAGEshay waterworth explains the methodology behind the listHOW WE DID IT004 How we did it AdmiredWhisky 2022.indd 4004 Ho

15、w we did it AdmiredWhisky 2022.indd 418/10/2022 15:4518/10/2022 15:45MOST ADMIRED WHISKIES 2022COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:SCOTLAND OWNER:JA MITCHELL&COH Having entered the list in the top 10 last year,Springbank has risen to the very top to become the Worlds Most Admired Whisky brand.As one of the few remain

16、ing Campbeltown distilleries,Springbank was first established in 1828 by the Mitchell clan,who remain the owners to this day.Its 200-year history has seen various struggles,from brutal storms causing the collapse of 1 SPRINGBANKthe distillerys chimneys and the roof of the tun room being torn off,to

17、a 10-year gap in production due to the effects of Prohibition in the US.However,its safe to say the Springbank name has not only survived,but is now thriving in the premium single malt whisky industry.The brand takes tradition seriously and remains the only Scottish whisky distillery to perform ever

18、y step of production on site and is one of a handful to still use its own malting floor.At the core of the brand is the 10-year-old,which is aged in a combination of bourbon and sherry casks,and its simple and classic packaging makes it one of the most recognised labels by whisky aficionados.The 10-

19、year-old sits alongside a portfolio of single malts aged from 12 to 30 years to complete a special range of drams which are officially the most admired among some of the trades most authoritative whisky experts.For further context,a miniature(50ml)of Springbank 1919 50-year-old set a new record at a

20、uction earlier this year,selling for 7,360.ITS SIMPLE AND CLASSIC PACKAGING MAKES IT ONE OF THE MOST RECOGNISED LABELS005 W1 AdmiredWhisky 2022.indd 5005 W1 AdmiredWhisky 2022.indd 526/10/2022 11:4526/10/2022 11:456 DRINKS INTERNATIONAL COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:US OWNER:CHATHAM IMPORTERST The Worlds Most A

21、dmired American Whiskey is Michters.Up two places from last year,its safe to say the brand,which was reborn in Kentucky during the 1990s,has rocketed up the hierarchy of respected brands among the global drinks trade.The distillery which would become Michters was founded in the mid-18th century by b

22、rothers Johann and Michael Shenk in Schaefferstown,Pennsylvania.2 MICHTERSIts said that Shenks was among the earliest American whiskies to use rye from its own grain fields and,after it grew a fine reputation,George Washington bought the whiskey to warm his soldiers during the winter of 1778.However

23、,it wasnt until the 1950s that the distillery gained the name we know today,which combined the names of the then co-owners sons Michael and Peter.In 1989,the distillery declared bankruptcy due to the lack of demand for American whiskey and,in the mid-90s,Joseph J Magliocco and his consultant Richard

24、 Dick Newman adopted the trademark and moved the brand to Kentucky the heart of modern-day American whiskey.Today Michters is one of the most sought-after brands on the market.Speaking to Drinks International earlier this year,Magliocco declared that demand was so high for its rye expressions that i

25、t struggles to keep up.On top of its highly acclaimed liquid,Michters also made history in 2016 when Pam Heilmann took on the role of master distiller becoming the first female master distiller at a Kentucky Distillers Association distillery since Prohibition.DEMAND WAS SO HIGH FOR ITS RYE EXPRESSIO

26、NS THAT IT STRUGGLES TO KEEP UP006 W2 AdmiredWhisky 2022.indd 6006 W2 AdmiredWhisky 2022.indd 618/10/2022 15:4718/10/2022 15:47MOST ADMIRED WHISKIES 2022COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:JAPAN OWNER:BEAM SUNTORYY Yamazaki completes the podium in this years list.Having won the inaugural Worlds Most Admired Whiskies

27、last year,the Japanese brand is one of the most revered across the industry.Of course,it retains its impressive title as Worlds Most Admired Japanese Whisky and the Suntory brand makes,without doubt,some of 3 YAMAZAKIthe most in-demand malts on the market.Its annual Mizunara cask edition is one of t

28、he rarest out there,fetching ultra-premium price points at the top end of its portfolio.Yamazaki is Japans first malt distillery and was founded by Shinjiro Torii in the early 20th century.Today it is Suntorys flagship distillery and led by master blender Shinji Fukuyo,one of the industrys most resp

29、ected members and a key member of the International Spirits Challenge judging panel.Fukuyo is only the third person to hold this prestigious role and in 2021 he and his team released 100 bottles of a 55-year-old expression,each fetching$60,000 at retail.While this was one of the most talked-about wh

30、iskies of last year,2023 will be Yamazakis 100th anniversary and no doubt there will be a show-stopping whisky coming to market under this world-renowned label.YAMAZAKI IS JAPANS FIRST MALT DISTILLERY,FOUNDED BY SHINJIRO TORII IN THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY007 W3 AdmiredWhisky 2022.indd 7007 W3 AdmiredWh

31、isky 2022.indd 718/10/2022 15:4718/10/2022 15:478 DRINKS INTERNATIONAL MOST ADMIRED SCOTCH WHISKYSpringbank automatically takes the title of Worlds Most Admired Scotch whisky having already topped the entire list.Of our Academy of experts,the Campbeltown brand received a top-10 choice from around a

32、third of those who voted.Looking at the overall picture,Scotch was the most popular category on the list with nearly half of the total brands.Within the 22 Scotch whiskies on the list,19 were single malts,which demonstrates just how popular this style is among the industry experts.While its an incre

33、dible achievement to feature on the list of 50 Most Admired Whiskies,further recognition must go to those brands topping the four major categories our Academy was invited to vote on Scotch,Irish,American and World whiskiesBEST OF THE BESTMOST ADMIRED WORLD WHISKYBy our definition,world whiskies enco

34、mpasses anything outside Scotland,the US and Ireland.This category continues to grow in reputation through the eyes of the trade,particularly driven by the Japanese whisky scene.Suntorys Yamazaki has retained its title as the Worlds Most Admired World Whisky having topped the entire list in last yea

35、rs edition.In fact,Yamazaki got more first-choice votes than any other brand on the list and,in total,10%of the brands in the top 50 originate from Japan.MOST ADMIRED AMERICAN WHISKEYMichters has taken this years glory as the Most Admired American Whiskey for 2022.The Kentucky-based brand not only h

36、as a fantastic history and makes world-class whiskies,but supports the trade at most major awards presentations and events each year.Michters was voted number two in the list of Most Admired Whiskies by around 10%of our experts and in fact got more first choice votes than Springbank,which sits atop

37、the overall list.MOST ADMIRED IRISH WHISKEYIrish Distillers Redbreast can add a second consecutive Most Admired Irish Whiskey trophy to its cabinet.The premium pot still whiskey received just under 10%of the second choice votes in this years poll,while Irish whiskies overall accounted for 16%of the

38、list.This result demonstrates how Irish Distillers continues to drive the Irish whiskey sector forward in both volume and quality,and the respect with which Redbreast is held within the trade is tangible.008 Best of the best AdmiredWhisky 2022.indd 8008 Best of the best AdmiredWhisky 2022.indd 818/1

39、0/2022 15:4918/10/2022 15:49MOST ADMIRED WHISKIES 2022COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:SCOTLAND OWNER:RMY COINTREAUB Bruichladdich is widely regarded as one of the most progressive Scotch brands in the business.The distillery was built in 1881 on the western shore of Islay and has changed ownership on a few occasi

40、ons throughout its long history.Prior to its acquisition by Rmy Cointreau in 2012,Bruichladdich exploded on to 4 BRUICHLADDICHthe international scene under the ownership of industry figure Mark Reynier.Known for its contemporary packaging and innovative style,the brand retains the traditions of Scot

41、ch production.The brand also holds traceability and provenance in high importance and The Classic Laddie is made from 100%Scottish-grown barely,with every bottle carrying the promise“to push the boundaries of the concept of terroir in artisanal single malt whisky”.Bruichladdich produces unpeated sin

42、gle malt,which is unusual as Islay whiskies generally use the local peat to create a smoky profile.It is the only distillery to bottle its liquid on the island and The Classic Laddie is said to get its salt-citrus notes from the impact of the Atlantic ocean,to which the distillery is exposed on the

43、coast.The light-blue packaging also makes it one of the most recognisable whiskies behind any bar around the world.KNOWN FOR ITS INNOVATIVE STYLE,THE BRAND RETAINS THE TRADITIONS OF SCOTCH PRODUCTION009 W4 AdmiredWhisky 2022.indd 9009 W4 AdmiredWhisky 2022.indd 918/10/2022 15:4918/10/2022 15:4910 DR

44、INKS INTERNATIONAL MOST ADMIRED WHISKIES 20226 REDBREASTCOUNTRY OF ORIGIN:IRELAND OWNER:IRISH DISTILLERSRedbreast has retained its title as The Worlds Most Admired Irish Whiskey.The Irish Distillers brand is the bestselling single pot still Irish whiskey on the market and one of the best loved drams

45、 among the trade.Now headed up by master blender at Irish Distillers Billy Leighton,also a longstanding member of the International Spirits Challenge whisky panel,the brand has been elevated to new heights.The first mention of Redbreast dates back to the early 20th century,when wine merchant W&A Gil

46、bey began referencing it on bottles in Dublin.By 1925 premium whiskey was a luxury beyond the means of most people due to the post-war depression and political turmoil,meaning it gained popularity among wealthy clergymen and Redbreast was tagged with the nickname the priests bottle.Since its acquisi

47、tion by Pernod Ricards Irish Distillers in the 1980s,the brand has been a driving force behind the renaissance of premium Irish whiskey and today,its 12-year-old expression is the flagship of Redbreast.There are also a number of cask strength and barrel-aged finishes such as its US-exclusive America

48、n Oak range,which launched in 2022 with Redbreast Kentucky Oak Edition.“Redbreast is renowned for its heavy sherry influence,”says Leighton.“This can often mean that its ex-bourbon counterpart is overlooked,even though Kentucky white oak barrels,which have previously held bourbon,are central to the

49、Redbreast DNA.“This series explores the role American white oak plays in the composition of Redbreast,and takes it one step further,with a final flourish in virgin casks to enable the wood contribution to truly take centre stage.”6 65 ARDBEGCOUNTRY OF ORIGIN:SCOTLAND OWNER:LVMHArdbegs rise to the to

50、p of the Islay whisky region hasnt been smooth.The McDougall family officially established the distillery on the south coast of Islay in 1815 and by 1886 it was producing 300,000 litres a year.However,due to the global whisky downturn in the 1970s,the distillery ceased all production in 1981.Sporadi

51、c production resumed in 1989,but by 1996 it was silent again.In 1997,the distillery was bought by Glenmorangie,full production resumed a year later and,at the turn of the millennium,Ardbeg 10 Year Old launched alongside the Ardbeg Committee,ensuring“the doors of the distillery never close again”.Sin

52、ce then,numerous acclaimed bottlings have been released,usually carrying Ardbegs distinctive profile of smoke,kept in balance by seaspray and fruit.In 2011,samples of Ardbeg spirit and wood particles were sent to the International Space Station for an investigation into zero gravity maturation.In 20

53、15,Ardbeg celebrated its bicentenary by launching Ardbeg Perpetuum and releasing the findings from the zero-gravity maturation.More recently,the distillery has gone through a transition.Mickey Heads,an Islay native and the distillerys general manager since 2007,retired last year after a 13-year tenu

54、re.Ardbeg marked the departure by launching Arrrrrrrdbeg,a whisky matured in ex-rye whisk casks and exclusively available to the brands Committee members.The release is one of several new bottlings,including a 25-year-old expression and the limited-edition Ardbeg Scotch,released for Islays annual Fi

55、s le Festival of Music&Malt.The distillery has grown too for much of its life the two pot stills have produced about 10,000 barrels,or 1.4 million litres,of spirit annually,but less than two years ago a new shoreline stillhouse was unveiled,doubling Ardbegs output.5 5010 W5-6 AdmiredWhisky 2022.indd

56、 10010 W5-6 AdmiredWhisky 2022.indd 1018/10/2022 15:5018/10/2022 15:5012 DRINKS INTERNATIONAL MOST ADMIRED WHISKIES 20227 KAVALANCOUNTRY OF ORIGIN:TAIWAN OWNER:KING CAR GROUPWhen King Car Group released the first Kavalan whisky in 2008,Taiwans relationship with whisky was one of consumption,but the

57、groups founder,Lee Tien-Tsai,aspired to create a“new whisky homeland”.Set on producing quality single malt without compromise,King Car imported two copper stills from Scotland and brought in the legendary Dr Jim Swan as the distillerys technical consultant.Since mid-2013,when Kavalan whiskies were f

58、irst made available outside of Taiwan and China,the brands bottlings have received international plaudits and have built a reputation for outperforming the competition in blind tastings.One of the styles which Kavalan is becoming best known for is its sherry cask whiskies,which fetch top price point

59、s at auctions and retailers around the world.Kavalans portfolio is also gaining more and more respect from industry leaders.At the 2022 International Spirits Challenge,the brand amassed a medal haul that included three gold medals and 18 silver,showcasing both quality and consistency.The brand was a

60、lso named World Whisky Producer for the third year running,cementing its place among the elite of the global whisky scene.8 NIKKACOUNTRY OF ORIGIN:JAPAN OWNER:ASAHINikka has climbed the ranks from last year and made its way into the top 10.The brands story began in 1918,when Masataka Taketsuru trave

61、lled to Scotland to enrol at the University of Glasgow,before taking on three separate apprenticeships at Scotch distilleries.He returned to Japan in 1920 and was employed by Shinjiro Torii to help build the Yamazaki distillery before setting up his own site in Yoichi,Hokkaido,where in 1940 he launc

62、hed the first expression of Nikka.Today Nikka is one of the worlds most respected whiskies and its Nikka Whisky From The Barrel can be found in most of The Worlds 50 Best Bars.Its popularity among the elite on-trade is so strong that it currently sits top of the Bestselling and Top Trending lists in

63、 Drinks Internationals annual Brands Report.The blended whisky was first released in 1985 and uses more than 100 batches of malt and grain whiskies during production.As well as being a reliable whisky for the trade for nearly 40 years,its distinguishable square bottle makes it recognisable all over

64、the world.Along with its bestseller,Nikka Coffey Grain Woody&Mellow earned a gold medal at the International Spirits Challenge 2022 demonstrating the range of top tier expressions being bottled under the brands now prestigious name.9 JOHNNIE WALKERCOUNTRY OF ORIGIN:SCOTLAND OWNER:DIAGEONot only is J

65、ohnnie Walker one of the highest-volume Scotch whisky blends on the market,its now the highest-ranking blended Scotch in our list of the Most Admired Whiskies.One of its major whiskies is its Black Label,a 12-year-old blend first introduced in 1909 and which uses 40 different whiskies from a selecti

66、on of Diageos extensive portfolio of distilleries to make up the final formula.The brand is now under the watch of Emma Walker,who took over as master blender from Dr Jim Beveridge,who held the role for the past few decades,and now has the mammoth task of looking after more barrels of whisky than th

67、e population of Scotland more than 10 million.In 2021 the brand opened its new visitor centre in Edinburghs Princes Street as the centrepiece of Diageos 185m investment in Scotch whisky tourism.The 71,500sq ft space takes whisky experiences to new heights and showcases the influence of and admiratio

68、n for the brand worldwide.9 9ONE OF THE STYLES WHICH KAVALAN IS BECOMING BEST KNOWN FOR IS ITS SHERRY CASK WHISKIES012 W7-9 AdmiredWhisky 2022.indd 12012 W7-9 AdmiredWhisky 2022.indd 1218/10/2022 15:5018/10/2022 15:5014 DRINKS INTERNATIONAL MOST ADMIRED WHISKIES 202211 CHICHIBUCOUNTRY OF ORIGIN:JAPA

69、N OWNER:VENTURE WHISKYTheres an element of mystique surrounding the Chichibu brand.Founded in 2004 by Ichiro Akuto,the Japanese brand has gained a cult following within the whisky industry for its unusual and rare bottlings,which are highly sought after.Akuto takes a different approach to making Jap

70、anese whisky,such as malting the brands barley in England and building its own casks,making him one of the most talked-about members of the Japanese whisky industry.In fact,his reputation is so high that he received the Master Blender of the Year award at the International Spirits Challenge in 2019.

71、In 2008 Chichibu built the first new distillery in Japan since the 1970s and,while production remains limited,the excitement around every release is quite the opposite.12 LAGAVULINCOUNTRY OF ORIGIN:SCOTLAND OWNER:DIAGEO With a rich history spanning more than 200 years,Diageos Islay Lagavulin is one

72、of the most respected whisky brands in the world.The distillery makes use of the peat bog to provide the raw material which imbues the barley with a distinct smoky flavour,along with the peaty water that runs down from the Solan Lochs and into the distillery.There have been distilleries at Lagavulin

73、 since the 18th century.The first legal operation was founded by farmer John Johnston in 1816,which would later unite with the second distillery,run by Archibald Campbell,under Glasgow trader Peter Mackie in 1887,to then be named Lagavulin.Renowned for smoky,peaty whiskies,the distillery uses pear-s

74、haped stills to create its spirits.Recently,Diageo launched its annual special releases,including Lagavulin 12-year-old single malt scotch,which comes from virgin oak casks and smoky reserves.10 THE MACALLANCOUNTRY OF ORIGIN:SCOTLAND OWNER:EDRINGTONThe Macallan produces some of the most sought-after

75、 whiskies on the market.For example,in 2018 two rare bottles of 1926 sold for$1.2m in Dubai airport duty free and that same year Edrington unveiled its 140m state-of-the-art distillery in Speyside,which remains one of the biggest tourist attractions in the region.The site has 36 copper pot stills an

76、d a single 17-tonne mash tun,thought to be the biggest in the industry.The brand has an impressive inventory of old whiskies,which was highlighted by the release of The Reach earlier this year an 81-year-old single malt which was distilled during the Second World War and retails at 92,000.The streng

77、th of The Macallan has attracted collaborations with some of the most luxurious brands in the world,such as its ongoing partnership with Bentley and appearances in several James Bond movies.1010THE JAPANESE BRAND HAS GAINED A CULT FOLLOWING FOR ITS UNUSUAL AND RARE BOTTLINGS014 W10-12 AdmiredWhisky

78、2022.indd 14014 W10-12 AdmiredWhisky 2022.indd 1418/10/2022 15:5118/10/2022 15:5116 DRINKS INTERNATIONALMOST ADMIRED WHISKIES 202213THE BALVENIECOUNTRY OF ORIGIN:SCOTLANDOWNER:WILLIAM GRANT&SONSSticking to tradition,The Balvenie still grows the barley for malting on its own farm,which overlooks the

79、Scottish Highlands-based distillery,built by William Grant in 1892.The brand operates a working fl oor maltings,one of only a handful left in Scotland,while also keeping a coppersmith and team of coopers on site.Crucial to its creation,the shape and size of the Balvenies stills have changed little s

80、ince the distillery fi rst opened.They maintain the Balvenie ball shape,with a bulge or boil ball at the base of the swans neck,a feature replicated in the neck of The Balvenie bottle.Known for its old and rare whiskies,ranging up to 50 years old,The Balvenie has introduced its series of cask fi nis

81、hed whiskies,a process developed by David C Stewart,the longest-serving malt master in the Scotch whisky industry and a key member of the International Spirits Challenge judging panel.15 HIBIKICOUNTRY OF ORIGIN:JAPANOWNER:SUNTORYLaunched by Suntory in 1989 to commemorate the companys 90th anniversar

82、y,Hibiki has gone on to be recognised as Japans most notable blended whisky.At the beginning of the brand in 1987,master blender Keizo Saji decided to develop a whisky that refl ected the sophistication of Suntorys techniques.Chief blender Koichi Inatomi then sampled and tasted aged malt whiskies fr

83、om a million casks at Suntory,where he and Saji found the fl avour by blending 30 distinctive malt and mellow grain whiskies.Hibikis master blender tastes more than 300 malt whisky samples a day,with refl ection on the words of founder Shinjiro Torii:“To become a blender at Suntory,one needs to be a

84、ble to communicate with whiskies that cannot speak.”Hibiki aims to refl ect Japanese nature and its artistic sensibilities,which it does through its 24-faceted decanter bottle symbolising time as it relates to Hibiki.Each element of the handcraft ed label refl ects the Japanese aesthetic,with the ne

85、ck of the bottle encircled by a band of deep purple,Japans noblest colour.14 BUNNAHABHAINCOUNTRY OF ORIGIN:SCOTLANDOWNER:DISTELLSince 1881 Bunnahabhain has been making whisky on Islay.Initially,the brand traded its whisky for goods from mainland Scotland before the fi rst road was built to the disti

86、llery in 1960.This led to a spike in demand for the single malt and the installation of two more stills and less than 20 years later Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old launched,which would go on to become one of the most popular Islay drams ever produced.Located on the sheltered north eastern coast of Islay,B

87、unnahabhain is best known for its lightly peated malts and,while the brand now produces more smoky expressions,the distinctive oily and light style has elevated the brand around the world.1414THE BRAND OPERATES A WORKING FLOOR MALTINGS,ONE OF ONLY A HANDFUL LEFT IN SCOTLAND016-017 W13-18 AdmiredWhis

88、ky 2022.indd 16016-017 W13-18 AdmiredWhisky 2022.indd 1618/10/2022 15:5218/10/2022 15:52MOST ADMIRED WHISKIES 202218 GLENDRONACHCOUNTRY OF ORIGIN:SCOTLAND OWNER:BROWN-FOREMANBuilt in 1826,Glendronach was one of the first licensed distilleries in Scotland and by the 1860s it was one of the largest du

89、ty-paying producers in the Highlands.Having changed hands several times over the years,it was bought by current owner Brown-Forman in 2016,a company which has begun reintroducing more oloroso sherry casks for ageing-a style for which Glendronach gained a lot of its popularity under previous regimes.

90、Today,the core range consists of 12,15,18 and 21-year-olds,as well as some more special-edition releases which make use of the brands extensive inventory.The Grandeur range in particular is highly commended by the industry and some of the finest work produced by master blender Rachel Barrie.181816 L

91、APHROAIGCOUNTRY OF ORIGIN:SCOTLAND OWNER:BEAM SUNTORYA brand that celebrated its 200th year in 2015,Laphroaig comes out of Islay with an extensive history.Laphroaigs whisky making tradition has been passed down by distillery managers since 1815 when it was founded by Donald and Alexander Johnston.La

92、phroaig,named after its location,broad hollow by the bay,remained in family hands for the next 139 years.Famed for its green bottle,making it recognised across the globe by whisky drinkers,Laphroaig recently unveiled its Taste Trailblazers,a global celebration of culinary pioneers aimed at pushing t

93、he boundaries of flavour.Inspired by Islay,Taste Trailblazers captures the stories of pioneers who take their passion for taste into areas of salt,fire and peat,as it announced fire chef Francis Mallmann as global culinary ambassador,a partnership that will extend to a series of announcements and ev

94、ents in 2023.17 GLENMORANGIE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:SCOTLAND OWNER:LVMHIts been 179 years since William Matheson secured a whisky production license for a Tarlogie Springs brewery in the Scottish Highlands,and somehow the distillery continues to evolve and reinvent.The brains behind the brands experiment

95、ation and sense of fun is Dr Bill Lumsden,one of Scotchs great innovators and the figure behind some of the distillerys most beloved single malts.Brand owner LVMH must be given credit for backing this font of creativity by opening multi-million-pound experimental distillery The Lighthouse last year.

96、This year saw the release of the experimental single malt A Tale of the Forest,a whisky made with barley kilned with woodland botanicals.But its not just in the liquid where the brand is looking ahead this year also saw the brands three core single malts undergo a redesign,part of a concerted effort

97、 to welcome a new generation of drinkers.And its working.Last year,The Glenmorangie Company recorded its best-ever sales performance not bad for a brand pushing 180 years old.016-017 W13-18 AdmiredWhisky 2022.indd 17016-017 W13-18 AdmiredWhisky 2022.indd 1718/10/2022 15:5218/10/2022 15:52MOST ADMIRE

98、D WHISKIES 2022 DRINKS INTERNATIONAL 1919 MAKERS MARKCOUNTRY OF ORIGIN:US OWNER:BEAM SUNTORYThe red wax top of Makers Mark is fast becoming one of the most recognisable trademarks of the American whiskey market.The Beam Suntory brand has grown significantly over the years while retaining some of its

99、 traditional production methods,such as every bottle being hand-dipped in the molten wax by a rotating team of employees.In terms of style,Makers Mark is best known for its easy-drinking whiskey,which is distilled to some of the lowest proof of any US producer to retain its rich notes.As well as ret

100、aining its traditional methods,Makers 22 BOWMORECOUNTRY OF ORIGIN:SCOTLAND OWNER:BEAM SUNTORYAnother classic whisky from Islay on this years list,said to be the first licensed distillery on the island,Bowmore from Beam Suntory still operates in traditional ways,honouring its original whisky-making t

101、echniques for over 240 years.To create its spirits,the brand uses its own proprietary malt barns,hand-turning barley day and night,while being home to one of the worlds oldest Scotch maturation warehouses,the No.1 Vaults.Most recently,the brand,following its partnership with Aston Martin in travel r

102、etail,launched its ARC-52 single malt whisky in the US.The 52-year-old expression,served in a decanter,was crafted in partnership with Aston Martin,with only 100 decanters available worldwide.The expression launched to the New York City and Los Angeles markets at a suggested retail price of$75,000.M

103、ark pushes innovation.The brand was one of the first to launch a barrel selection programme called Private Select,which invites consumers and accounts to personalise their own barrels for finishing a programme which has been replicated by many brands today.20 STARWARDCOUNTRY OF ORIGIN:AUSTRALIA OWNE

104、R:NEW WORLD WHISKY DISTILLERYStarward was a whisky brand born to match the exciting and eclectic food culture of its home town,Melbourne.That was founder David Vitales mission when he created the brand in 2007 to produce a modern,affordable,100%Australian whisky that speaks to the place where it was

105、 made.Having just celebrated its 15th birthday,Starward and Vitale can claim with confidence that they are achieving what they set out to.The brands purpose-built distillery in Melbournes Docklands precinct produces New World whiskies,aged in apera and red wine casks from its native Victoria,that ar

106、e as comfortable mixed in a cocktail as they are sipped neat.Its in its limited-releases that the brands sense of play shines.This years Dolce uses Australian barley and brewers yeast and is finished in barrels that held an Australian interpretation of a Sicilian dessert wine,to produce a liquid wit

107、h notes of marshmallow and cola.21 CRAIGELLACHIECOUNTRY OF ORIGIN:SCOTLAND OWNER:BACARDIProduction of Craigellachie began in 1898 and in the 1960s it underwent a significant expansion,with the number of stills doubling to four.In 1998 the distillery was bought by Bacardi and is now run by John Dewar

108、&Sons,producing a core range of 13,17 and 23-year-old single malts which are regular winners at the International Spirits Challenge each year.The brands most significant launch in recent years was the 13 Year Old Bas-Armagnac Cask.It was finished in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks before being rested

109、 in Bas-Armagnac casks sourced from the northernmost part of Gascony.STARWARD AND VITALE CAN CLAIM WITH CONFIDENCE THAT THEY ARE ACHIEVING WHAT THEY SET OUT TO019 W19-22 AdmiredWhisky 2022.indd 19019 W19-22 AdmiredWhisky 2022.indd 1918/10/2022 15:5318/10/2022 15:5320 DRINKS INTERNATIONALMOST ADMIRED

110、 WHISKIES 202224WATERFORDCOUNTRY OF ORIGIN:IRELANDOWNER:RENEGADE SPIRITSAs the brainchild of industry pioneer Mark Reynier,the Waterford Distillery is doing things diff erently in the Irish whisky sector.Reynier is best known for reinventing Bruichladdich on Islay and,having opened Waterford in 2015

111、,the quest was to prove the terroir of barley and its eff ect on the fi nal liquid.The distillery itself is an old Guinness brewery and,as part of his mission,Reynier commissioned a group of scientists to research his theory on terroir.They produced a paper named The impact of terroir on the fl avou

112、r of single malt whisky new make spirit.With this research,Reynier and his team work closely with local farms to create single farm origin single malt whiskies and,on top of that,the brand launched the fi rst Irish whiskey to be certifi ed organic.25 AMRUTCOUNTRY OF ORIGIN:INDIAOWNER:AMRUT DISTILLER

113、IESIndias status as a serious producer of world whiskies can be traced back to Bangalores Amrut.When the brand launched its fi rst single malt in 2004,it was the fi rst to be produced in what is the worlds most lucrative whisky market.Since then,Amrut has put Indian single malt on the map in no smal

114、l part due to the hustle and perseverance of the companys head of distilling and international sales,Ashok Chokalingam,who in the early days tirelessly campaigned to get the message out.Having broken the international market,the brand is now enjoying domestic success and has increased single malt pr

115、oduction from 350,000 litres in 2019 to a million litres this year.Amrut continues to launch forward-thinking bottlings which have recently included the Spectrum 004,a whisky matured in barrels with four diff erent kinds of staves.26 THE DALMORECOUNTRY OF ORIGIN:SCOTLANDOWNER:WHYTE&MACKAYMaking its

116、debut in the list is ultra-luxury The Dalmore.Headed up by master blender and industry heavyweight Richard Paterson,The Dalmore is one of the most respected highland whiskies.The distillery itself was founded in 1839 and is now the largest under the Whyte&Mackay portfolio,producing a range of age st

117、atement drams from 12 to 21 in its core line,as well as some ultra-rare expressions which fetch top prices.The house style is a rich,full-bodied whisky,which Paterson has delivered consistently and successfully for nearly 60 years.In fact his importance to the brand is so signifi cant that his nose

118、was insured for around$2.5m and as the longstanding chair of the whisky panel at the International Spirits Challenge,his infl uence on the category is more than signifi cant.23 JAMESONCOUNTRY OF ORIGIN:IRELANDOWNER:IRISH DISTILLERSThe world of Irish whiskey has developed beyond recognition in the pa

119、st two decades,but one thing that remains unchanging is Jamesons position as its market leader.And 2022 proved to be a landmark year for the Irish Distillers-owned brand as it rebounded from the Covid-19 pandemic to surpass 10 million nine-litre cases in the 12 months to 30 June.While its the fi rml

120、y established US market that accounts for 4.5 million of those cases,the brand can thank for its accelerated post-pandemic growth strong performances in Nigeria and India,both now top 10 markets for Jameson.Now with sights turned to Latin America,the brand continues to seek growth and has predicted

121、that itll surpass 15 million cases by 2030.This year saw the brand teamed up with comedian Aisling Bea for an advertising campaign that urged viewers to widen their circle,and in March,it unveiled its fi rst single pot still since 2000,which kicked off The Jameson Anthology series.2323THE HOUSE STYL

122、E IS A RICH,FULL-BODIED WHISKY,WHICH PATERSON HAS DELIVERED CONSISTENTLY020-21 W23-30 AdmiredWhisky 2022.indd 20020-21 W23-30 AdmiredWhisky 2022.indd 2018/10/2022 16:0518/10/2022 16:05MOST ADMIRED WHISKIES 202227 GLENFIDDICHCOUNTRY OF ORIGIN:SCOTLAND OWNER:WILLIAM GRANT&SONSGlenfiddich began in 1886

123、 with William Grant,his seven sons and two daughters.This family enterprise was the start of the single malt distillery,which was named Glenfiddich after the Gaelic for valley of the deer.From its first distilled drop on Christmas day of 1887,it has become one of the biggest single malt Scotch brand

124、s in the world.Its recent release,the Time Re:Imagined collection featuring aged and exclusive single malt whiskies,is presented in a casing of artwork.The rarest within this collection is the 50 year old,a portrayal of Simultaneous Time which takes whiskies from three different American oak refill

125、casks.Since the 1960s,just three malt masters have been at the helm,overseeing the development of these casks.Glenfiddich has also launched The Perpetual Collection exclusively into travel retail,a range of whiskies in perpetual motion within vats that have never been emptied.The brand is said to ha

126、ve pioneered the technique,named the Solera Vat process,as it adds continuous layers of flavours to the whisky,by only bottling half the whisky in the vats before refilling.272728 UNCLE NEARESTCOUNTRY OF ORIGIN:US OWNER:UNCLE NEARESTNamed after emancipated slave Nathan Nearest Green,the first Jack D

127、aniels master distiller and the worlds first-known African American master distiller,Fawn Weavers Uncle Nearest has been making fans of whiskey enthusiasts since its launch in 2016.And Greens influence on the brand extends beyond a name too Uncle Nearests master blender 29 KYRCOUNTRY OF ORIGIN:FINLA

128、ND OWNER:KYR DISTILLERY COMPANYIn 2012 Miika Lipiinen,Mikko Koskinen,Kalle Valkonen,Miko Heinil and Jouni Ritola founded the Kyr Distillery Company.The story goes that they questioned why nobody was making whisky in Finland while they enjoyed a sauna.Then,just a decade later,the brand is making its

129、second appearance in The Worlds Most Admired Whiskies,highlighting its steep rise to fame.In August 2020,the brand launched its Kyr malt rye whisky,which is a double pot stilled rye aged in new American oak barrels for three to five years.Kyrs rise to success in such a short period of time isnt due

130、to big marketing budgets or PR,but the undeniable quality of the liquid it produces,which has earned the respect of the industry around the world.30 ABERFELDYCOUNTRY OF ORIGIN:SCOTLAND OWNER:BACARDIAberfeldy is home to one of the industrys most recognised 12-year-old single malts.The Bacard-owned di

131、stillery was the only one to be built by John Dewar&Sons in 1986 and is situated in Perthshire in the Scottish Highlands.Sitting in the core range alongside the 12 are a 16 and 21-year-old,while the brand also produces regular limited editions with whiskies longer aged in Madeira and red wine casks.

132、Under the stewardship of master blender Stephanie Macleod,Aberfeldy continues to thrive on the global stage,consistently winning top honours at the International Spirits Challenge and earning the respect of the industry.is Victoria Eady Butler,a fifth-generation descendant of Nearest Green.In 2020,t

133、he distillery partnered with Jack Daniels to create the Nearest&Jack Advancement Initiative,pledging$5m to boost diversity within the American whiskey sector.This year,the brand launched its first rye expressions and unveiled new packaging.Uncle Nearest proudly claims to be the most-awarded American

134、 whiskey,a trophy cabinet that was added to at the 2022 International Spirits Challenge where the brand collected two golds,one for the 1856 Premium Aged Whiskey and another for the Master Blend Edition Batch 009.020-21 W23-30 AdmiredWhisky 2022.indd 21020-21 W23-30 AdmiredWhisky 2022.indd 2118/10/2

135、022 16:0518/10/2022 16:0522 DRINKS INTERNATIONAL 31 GLENFARCLASCOUNTRY OF ORIGIN:SCOTLAND OWNER:J&G GRANTThe Glenfarclas distillery sits in the moors of Banffshire,just a mile from the River Spey.The Highlands distillery remains family run and ages nearly all of its whisky in sherry butts,making it

136、an authority when it comes to this stylish form of ageing.In 1973 the brand opened one of the first visitor centres in Scotland,demonstrating the forward-thinking mentality of Glenfarclas while simultaneously keeping traditions firmly at the heart of production.Its liquids are so well respected that

137、 its 10-year-old was awarded a gold medal at this years International Spirits Challenge.32 TEELINGCOUNTRY OF ORIGIN:IRELAND OWNER:TEELINGBrothers Jack and Stephen Teeling were destined to become distillers.The pair are descendants of Walter Teeling,who in the late 18th century established a distille

138、ry in the Liberties area of Dublin,and sons of John Teeling,founder of the Cooley Distillery.When the duo opened the Teeling Distillery in 2015,in the same area of Dublin as Walter Teeling had,it was the Irish capitals first new distillery to open in more than 125 years.This year saw a slew of new r

139、eleases from the brand,including a 30-year-old single malt,a travel retail-exclusive range launched by Bacardi GTR with China Duty Free Group,and United We Stand,a charity bottling that saw all proceeds go to Ukrainian humanitarian efforts.Now the rumours that drinks giant Bacardi is looking to buy

140、a controlling stake in the brand ensure the future is looking bright for the Teeling brothers.33 COTSWOLDSCOUNTRY OF ORIGIN:ENGLAND OWNER:COSTWOLDS DISTILLERYFor the second year running,the Cotswolds Distillery in the English countryside has made it into this authoritative list.Having launched just

141、five years ago,its a remarkable achievement to already have the respect and admiration of top members of the whisky industry.The brands flagship expression is made from local barley,which is matured in a combination of first-fill ex-bourbon barrels and re-charred red wine casks.Cotswolds also has a

142、series of cask-finished expressions,including ex-sherry,Sauternes and Pineau des Charentes.As well as producing excellent whiskies,the brand has now secured a 3m funding package from Santander,which will allow Cotswolds to expand production and look to further its impact overseas.34 HIGHLAND PARKCOU

143、NTRY OF ORIGIN:SCOTLAND OWNER:EDRINGTON GROUPHighland Park is based in the Orkney archipelago of some 70 islands only 20 of which are inhabited 10 miles from the northernmost reaches of the Scottish mainland.The brand has been distilled on the mainland of Kirkwall since 1798,the same site where its

144、founder,Magnus Eunson,set up his original illicit still at High Park.This year the brand added a new whisky to its Cask Strength series,designed to challenge whisky drinking norms.Launched as a permanent addition to the Highland Park range and created using the traditional straight from the cask met

145、hod,Highland Park Cask Strength Release No.3 has no water added after maturation.The release contains whisky made with a higher proportion of Orkney peated malt and has been matured predominantly in first-fill sherry seasoned American and European oak casks and a small quantity of refill casks.34340

146、22-023 W31-38 AdmiredWhisky 2022.indd 22022-023 W31-38 AdmiredWhisky 2022.indd 2218/10/2022 15:5518/10/2022 15:55MOST ADMIRED WHISKIES 202238 METHOD&MADNESSCOUNTRY OF ORIGIN:IRELAND OWNER:IRISH DISTILLERSMethod&Madness is one of the biggest head turners of the Irish whiskey category.Its contemporary

147、 packaging has grabbed the attention of consumers around the world,while the liquid has gained the respect of the industry.Its yet another successful branch of Irish Distillers which brings together both the experience of its top-level master blenders and the younger apprentices at the Midleton Dist

148、illery,who come together to create a range of progressive whiskeys.The ever-growing portfolio includes single grain,single malt and single pot still whiskey as well as a significant range of limited editions to showcase whats possible with the strong inventory at the brands disposal.One of its most

149、recent headline acts was a 33-year-old single pot still whiskey finished in Japanese mizunara oak puncheon,which had just 252 bottles and was limited to one bottle per person,adding to the exclusivity of the brand.383835 CAOL ILACOUNTRY OF ORIGIN:SCOTLAND OWNER:DIAGEOBuilt in 1846,Diageo-owned Caol

150、Ila is the largest of the eight working distilleries on the island of Islay,with a production capacity of 3 million litres per year.A new visitor experience was recently unveiled at the distillery,following a multi-million pound transformation,with Caol Ila holding a Green Tourism Gold Award,the hig

151、hest sustainability accolade for a visitor attraction.Four years in the making,the visitor experience includes vistas of the neighbouring island of Jura,a retail space,a bar with floor-to-ceiling windows,and immersive storytelling rooms showcasing Caol Ilas history and craft.Barbara Smith,managing d

152、irector of Diageos Scotland Brand Homes,said:“Islay is known around the world for its whisky and weve ensured that our visitor experience not only tells the story of the Caol Ila brand but also the role whisky plays in the islands history.”36 BUSHMILLSCOUNTRY OF ORIGIN:IRELAND OWNER:JOSE CUERVOMakin

153、g its debut in The Worlds Most Admired Whiskies is Bushmills,the Irish whiskey brand located next to one of Irelands great landmarks Giants Causeway.While this World Heritage site has a fascinating history,so does Bushmills.It is Irelands oldest distillery and produces a whiskey made from a blend of

154、 malted and unmalted barley,distilled three times in copper stills,and aged for a minimum of five years in oak casks.Along with its original expression,the brand also produces a sherry cask version known as Black Bush,as well as a range of single malts which are overseen by master blender Alex Thoma

155、s,who was appointed in late 2021.37 TALISKERCOUNTRY OF ORIGIN:SCOTLAND OWNER:DIAGEOFounded in 1830 by brothers Hugh and Kenneth McAskill,Talisker is the oldest working distillery on the Isle of Skye.The brands intense,maritime single malts have achieved cult status the world over,but its not always

156、been plain sailing for the Loch Harport distillery.The distillery opened to protests from the local parish minister and,in the early years,was fortunate to escape financial ruin.Later,in the 1960s,an improperly shut coal-fired still resulted in an inferno that destroyed the stills and still house.Bu

157、t the brand overcame hardships and today ranks among Scotchs most beloved.Its been a busy year for the Isle of Skye distillery.The brand released its oldest whisky yet,the 44-year-old Forests of the Deep and,as part of a 185m investment into Scotch whisky tourism by Diageo,the brand unveiled a disti

158、llery renovation and new visitor experience.A NEW VISITOR EXPERIENCE WAS RECENTLY UNVEILED,FOLLOWING A MULTI-MILLION TRANSFORMATION022-023 W31-38 AdmiredWhisky 2022.indd 23022-023 W31-38 AdmiredWhisky 2022.indd 2318/10/2022 15:5518/10/2022 15:5524 DRINKS INTERNATIONALMOST ADMIRED WHISKIES 202239 WOO

159、DFORD RESERVECOUNTRY OF ORIGIN:USOWNER:BROWN-FORMANWoodford Reserve is one of the most respected American whiskey brands on the market.While it was only introduced by Brown-Forman in 1996,the distillery which now makes the whiskey was originally known as Old Oscar Pepper Distillery and was built in

160、1838,making it one of the oldest in Kentucky.Following a series of acquisitions,Brown-Forman purchased the property for a second time in 1993 and master distiller Chris Morris has played a key role in the brands development for the past couple of years.The latest innovation from the brand is the Woo

161、dford Reserve Honey Barrel Finish as part of its Distillery Series.The whiskey has been f nished in barrels that once stored honey and the distiller regularly releases unusual expressions which make headlines.40 BUFFALO TRACECOUNTRY OF ORIGIN:USOWNER:SAZERAC COMPANYBuf alo Trace has broken into the

162、list of The Worlds Most Admired Whiskies for the f rst time at number 40.Now owned by Sazerac Company,the distillery has changed hands and names a few times over the years,having previously been known as the George T Stagg Distillery and the Old Fashioned Copper Distillery.The brands namesake bourbo

163、n,Buf alo Trace Kentucky Straight,was introduced in August 1999 and has grown in both reputation and volume to earn the respect of the trade.The f agship bourbon won gold at the most recent iteration of the International Spirits Challenge 42 WILD TURKEYCOUNTRY OF ORIGIN:USOWNER:CAMPARIFor such a hug

164、e brand,its surprising to see Wild Turkey only entering the list for the f rst time.The Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey is said to have got its name when an Austin Nichols executive Thomas McCarthy took some warehouse samples on a wild turkey hunting trip in 1940,and it was so popular among his fr

165、iends that he began bottling it in 1942.The brand changed hands several times through the years before Campari acquired Wild Turkey from Pernod Ricard in 2009 and the whiskey itself uses a low level of corn in its mashbill and is distilled at just 55%abv.In 2016 the brand was also endorsed by Hollyw

166、ood star Matthew McConaughey,elevating its exposure around the world.4242and is now one of the most recognised bottles coming out of Kentucky.41 GEORGE T STAGGCOUNTRY OF ORIGIN:USOWNER:SAZERACAn entrepreneurial whiskey lover called George T Stagg built one of the most dominant American distilleries

167、of the 19th century,during a time fondly referred to as the Gilded Age of Bourbon.Today the distillery is known as the Buf alo Trace Distillery and it continues to produce the George Y Stagg brand a whiskey which is traditionally distributed just once a year on a strict allocation basis.This uncut a

168、nd unf ltered bourbon ages for nearly a decade before its release and is one of the most respected small batch Kentucky straight bourbons to constantly be produced,fetching prices at the very top of the whiskey market.The brand sits just one place behind its distillerys namesake brand,Buf alo Trace.

169、024-025 W39-46 AdmiredWhisky 2022.indd 24024-025 W39-46 AdmiredWhisky 2022.indd 2418/10/2022 15:5618/10/2022 15:5624 DRINKS INTERNATIONALMOST ADMIRED WHISKIES 202246 YOICHICOUNTRY OF ORIGIN:JAPANOWNER:NIKKANikkas f rst distillery,built in 1934 by founder Masataka Taketsuru and previously known as th

170、e Hokkaido distillery,was specif cally located in the town of Yoichi in Hokkaido because of its similar climate to Scotland.The distillery still uses traditional,direct coal-f red distillation to produce full-bodied peaty whiskies with its six stills.The brand launched its f rst single malt in 1982

171、and has played a key role in driving the premium Japanese whisky sector forward over the past 40 years.Today,Yoichi has its non-age statement single malt as well as a vast array of cask-f nished whiskies and limited-edition bottlings,highlighted by a 2019 release to celebrate the 50th anniversary of

172、 sister distillery Miyagikyo.464643 MIDLETONCOUNTRY OF ORIGIN:IRELANDOWNER:IRISH DISTILLERSMidleton Distillery,part of Pernod Ricards Irish Distillers,has been in operation since 1975 and takes the position as Irelands largest distillery,producing more than 70 million litres of pure alcohol per year

173、.It is home to some of the worlds most well-known Irish whiskeys,including Jameson,Powers and Redbreast.The distillery is undergoing an ambitious plan to become carbon neutral by the end of 2026,with Irish Distillers investing 50m as it phases out the use of fossil fuels.Since 2010,Irish Distillers

174、has invested more than 100m to improve operational ef ciency at the distillery,which has so far resulted in a 30%reduction in energy consumption and 47%reduction in CO2 emissions per litre of alcohol produced over the past 12 years.The company has recently announced plans for a new distillery,with a

175、 250m investment,that will be situated on a site adjacent and connected to the existing Midleton Distillery.It is expected to be operational in 2025.44BAINSCOUNTRY OF ORIGIN:SOUTH AFRICAOWNER:DISTELLSince launching in 2009,Bains has put South Africa on the world whisky map.Thats thanks,in no small p

176、art,to Yorkshire-born founder and distiller Andy Watts who,af er learning the ropes at Morrison Bowmore Distillers in Scotland under the tutelage of Jim McEwan,launched South Africas f rst 100%South African single grain whisky.The pioneering brand has gained an international audience with its easy-g

177、oing liquids produced in The James Sedgwick Distillery near the foothills of the Bainskloof Pass in South Africas Western Cape,still the only commercial whisky distillery in Africa.In 2022,the Distell International-owned brand launched the super-rare,21-year-old Pinotage Special Reserve as a travel

178、retail exclusive and the brands f agship Cape Mountain whisky was awarded a gold medal at the 2022 International Spirits Challenge.45 OLD RIP VAN WINKLECOUNTRY OF ORIGIN:USOWNER:SAZERACYet another highly regarded brand coming out of the Buf alo Trace Distillery is Old Rip Van Winkle.The primary bran

179、d is aged 10 years,but the brand is best known for its highly sought-af er Pappy Van Winkle,which sells for thousands of dollars a bottle.The Van Winkle family came to an agreement with Buf alo Trace in 2002 to produce the whiskey and all of the bourbon sold under the Van Winkle name is distilled fr

180、om a mashbill with no rye,but wheat instead.THE BRAND HAS GAINED AN INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCE WITH ITS EASY-GOING LIQUIDS024-025 W39-46 AdmiredWhisky 2022.indd 25024-025 W39-46 AdmiredWhisky 2022.indd 2518/10/2022 15:5618/10/2022 15:5626 DRINKS INTERNATIONAL 47 TAMDHUCOUNTRY OF ORIGIN:SCOTLAND OWNER:IA

181、N MACLEOD DISTILLERSNestled in the Speyside whisky region,in the north east of Scotland,Tamdhu comes from an area famous for whisky production due to the fertile glens and the River Spey,which runs through it.With records showing the arrival of its founders first shipment of sherry casks from bodega

182、s in Spain in 1897,Tamdhu matures its whisky exclusively in oloroso sherry casks.The brand launched a new edition this year to its Batch Strength series,the Batch Strength 007,which is bottled un-chill filtered and has a natural copper hue that comes from the use of these casks.Tamdhu also released

183、a limited-edition single cask expression to mark the brands 125th anniversary this year,selected by the Tamdhu Dedication Society and distilled on November 21,2003.Single Cask No:5982 is matured in first-fill European oak sherry butts,with a limited run of 640 bottles.48 FOUR ROSESCOUNTRY OF ORIGIN:

184、US OWNER:KIRIN BREWERY COMPANYLast year,Four Roses was the third Most Admired American whiskey on the list and the Lawrenceburg-based brand has returned in 2022.It is the only bourbon distillery to combine five separate yeast strains with two different mashbills to create 10 whiskies,which are then

185、combined to create the headline Four Roses expression.The brand was founded in the 1800s by Paul Jones Jr and,having become the top-selling bourbon in the US,it was acquired by Seagram in 1943,discontinued domestically and converted into an export whiskey.However,when it was bought by the Kirin Brew

186、ery Company in 2002,the brand once again returned to the US market,where it remains a fan favourite today.Every year Four Roses launches a limited-edition small batch,which sells out almost immediately from its distillery.49 DEWARSCOUNTRY OF ORIGIN:SCOTLAND OWNER:BACARDIBacardis biggest Scotch brand

187、 by volume is Dewars,and the blended malt has gained the respect of the industry to make its debut in The Worlds Most Admired Whiskies list at number 49.Dewars White Label remains one of the bestselling Scotch whiskies in the US and the brand itself was founded in 1846 by John Dewar Sr.Dewar would s

188、ell blended whisky under his own name from a wine and spirits merchant in Perth,Scotland.Today there are five distilleries under the Dewars name and its flagship White Label is made up of around 40 single malts.To highlight the quality of the whiskies,the brand won 11 gold medals at the Internationa

189、l Spirits Challenge 2022.50 SPOT WHISKEYCOUNTRY OF ORIGIN:IRELAND OWNER:IRISH DISTILLERSIf single pot is the jewel in the crown of Irish whiskey,then Green Spot is the categorys most enduring gem,having remained in production since the early 1900s.Its this commitment to producing single pot that con

190、tinues to set the Midleton-based distiller apart in the Irish whiskey renaissance.The brands origins are found in Mitchell&Son,a Dublin-based wine and spirit merchant that began maturing distillate from Jamesons nearby Bow Street Distillery in sherry casks.Today,Spot Whiskey is still produced by Iri

191、sh Distillers specifically for Mitchell&Son and this year saw the release of Gold Spot a single pot matured for a minimum of nine years released to celebrate 135 years since the Mitchell family began bonding whiskey.With the relaunch of Blue Spot in 2020,the range is back to full strength and collec

192、ting acclaim in the 2022 International Spirits Challenge,the full range of Green Spot,Yellow Spot,Red Spot,and Blue Spot all collected gold medals.5050DEWARS WHITE LABEL REMAINS ONE OF THE BESTSELLING SCOTCH WHISKIES IN THE US026 W47-50 AdmiredWhisky 2022.indd 26026 W47-50 AdmiredWhisky 2022.indd 26

193、18/10/2022 15:5718/10/2022 15:57MOST ADMIRED WHISKIES 2022 DRINKS INTERNATIONAL 27 MOST ADMIRED WHISKIES 2022NO.BRAND,COUNTRY1SPRINGBANK,SCOTLANDMOST ADMIRED SCOTCH WHISKY2MICHTERS,USMOST ADMIRED AMERICAN WHISKEY3YAMAZAKI,JAPANMOST ADMIRED WORLD WHISKY4BRUICHLADDICH,SCOTLAND5ARDBEG,SCOTLAND6REDBREAS

194、T,IRELANDMOST ADMIRED IRISH WHISKEY7KAVALAN,TAIWAN8NIKKA,JAPAN9JOHNNIE WALKER,SCOTLAND10THE MACALLAN,SCOTLAND11CHICHIBU,JAPAN12LAGAVULIN,SCOTLAND13THE BALVENIE,SCOTLAND14BUNNAHABHAIN,SCOTLAND15HIBIKI,JAPAN16LAPHROAIG,SCOTLAND17GLENMORANGIE,SCOTLAND18GLENDRONACH,SCOTLAND19MAKERS MARK,US20STARWARD,AUS

195、TRALIA21CRAIGELLACHIE,SCOTLAND22BOWMORE,SCOTLAND23JAMESON,IRELAND24WATERFORD,IRELAND25AMRUT,INDIANO.BRAND,COUNTRY26THE DALMORE,SCOTLAND27GLENFIDDICH,SCOTLAND28UNCLE NEAREST,US29KYR,FINLAND30ABERFELDY,SCOTLAND31GLENFARCLAS,SCOTLAND32TEELING,IRELAND33COTSWOLDS,ENGLAND34HIGHLAND PARK,SCOTLAND35CAOL ILA

196、,SCOTLAND36BUSHMILLS,IRELAND37TALISKER,SCOTLAND38METHOD&MADNESS,IRELAND39WOODFORD RESERVE,US40BUFFALO TRACE,US41GEORGE T STAGG,US42WILD TURKEY,US43MIDLETON,IRELAND44BAINS,SOUTH AFRICA45OLD RIP VAN WINKLE,US46YOICHI,JAPAN47TAMDHU,SCOTLAND48FOUR ROSES,US49DEWARS,SCOTLAND50SPOT WHISKEY,IRELANDTHE LIST027 The List AdmiredWhisky 2022.indd 27027 The List AdmiredWhisky 2022.indd 2718/10/2022 17:2818/10/2022 17:28