A bottle of Yamazaki 25 YO Japanese Single Malt Whisky
Photo design, Joseph V Micallef, All Rights Reserved
The International Spirits Challenge (ISC) is one of the most rigorous and respected blind-tasting competitions in the global drinks industry. In 2026, from a field of thousands of entries spanning every major whisky-producing nation, the judges awarded exactly 726 medals across the whisky and whiskey categories. Yet among that vast sea of Bronze, Silver, and Gold, only eleven whiskies earned the competition’s ultimate accolade: the Double Gold.
These eleven bottles represent the pinnacle of their respective categories, spanning the meticulously aged single malts of Japan, the revitalized lowland distilleries of Scotland, the rich pot-still traditions of Ireland, and one extraordinary, high-proof American bargain. Here is a closer look at the eleven Double Gold whiskies from 2026, complete with brief background information and my comprehensive tasting notes.
Yamazaki Single Malt Whisky 25 Years Old, 43% ABV, 700 ml. Double Gold
The Yamazaki 25-YO is the crown jewel of Suntory’s founding distillery. Originally composed almost entirely of sherry-cask-matured whisky, the modern iteration, relaunched in recent years, is a complex, multi-layered blend that incorporates rare Mizunara Japanese oak casks alongside Spanish and American oak. It is a masterpiece of blending and extended maturation.
The whisky is intensely aromatic, with notes of dried apricot, leather, dark chocolate, and the unmistakable incense-like sandalwood and spice of Mizunara oak. It’s exceptionally silky and rich on the palate, with an oily, viscous texture and distinctive mouth weight, revealing plum, dried fig, warm baking spices, roasted nuts, and a subtle, elegant cedar/cigar box woodiness. The finish is extremely long, layered, and complex, with lingering notes of nutmeg, dried fruit, and a whisper of smoke.
Hakushu Single Malt Whisky 25 Years Old, 43% ABV, 700 ml. Double Gold
Hakushu, Suntory’s “mountain forest distillery” nestled in the Japanese Alps, produces a characteristically crisp, vibrant, and gently smoky spirit. At 25 years old, the whisky’s youthful vibrancy deepens, trading sharp green notes for profound, mellow complexity.
The nose offers a delicate interplay of clean mountain air, subtle floral purity, rich toffee, and spiced baked apples, underpinned by a gentle, earthy smoke. It’s smooth on the palate with a mouth-coating texture, revealing flavors of caramel, subtle white pepper, and dried fruit. The smoke is low-key yet pervasive, adding structure to notes of pine needle and sap. The finish is long, sweet, and meditative, with lingering notes of sweet wood smoke and orchard fruit.
The Hakushu Single Malt Whisky Peated Malt Aged 18 Years Old, 48% ABV, 750 ml. Double Gold
While standard Hakushu contains only a fraction of peated malt, this specialized 18-year-old expression leans fully into smoke. It showcases how Japanese peat differs from its Scottish counterpart, offering a cleaner, more herbaceous smoke that perfectly complements Hakushu’s inherent green-apple fruitiness.
The whisky offers distinctive aromas of sage, ripe green apple, and pineapple, intertwined with a clean, cold campfire smoke. The palate is medium-weight yet mouth-coating, with wood-spice and black pepper flavors that give way to a slow wave of smoke. The smoke deepens, revealing herbaceous notes, green-fruit undertones, and a touch of dark chocolate. The finish is exceptionally long, with lingering notes of mint, sweet grass, and a refreshing salty breeze.
Scapa Orkney Island Single Malt Scotch Whisky10 Year Old, 40% ABV, 750 ml. Double Gold
Scapa is often overshadowed by its famous Orcadian neighbor, Highland Park, yet this 10-year-old expression proves the distillery’s unpeated, honeyed style is world-class. Matured in first-fill American oak, it is a bright, fruit-forward dram that captures the essence of the Orkney coastline without smoke.
The whisky is sweet and enticing on the nose, with aromas of vanilla fudge, toffee, apricot jam, and a touch of fresh barley grist. It’s smooth, sweet, and slightly oily on the palate, with a full-bodied structure. It showcases an abundance of tropical and orchard fruit flavors, especially dried mango, ripe banana, and peach, layered over coconut, plain oak, and a dash of cinnamon. The finish is long, smooth, and warming, with lingering notes of honey, dried fruits, and seasoned oak.
Rosebank Remarkable Cask Release One, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 46.6% ABV, 700 ml. Double Gold
The legendary Lowland distillery Rosebank, renowned for its triple-distilled, unpeated, floral spirit, closed in 1993 but was recently revived by Ian Macleod Distillers. The Remarkable Cask Release One is an extremely rare bottling drawn from five hand-selected legacy casks, blending the classic Rosebank citrus vibrancy with decades of maturity.
The whisky features vibrant aromas of tropical fruits, blueberry muffin, baked goods, and a gentle, sweet floral note reminiscent of potpourri. It’s sweet and creamy on the palate with a noticeable mouthfeel, showcasing flavors of Chantilly cream, caramel, vanilla wafers, gooseberry jam, toasted almonds, and honey, balanced by a vibrant citrus core. The finish is long, silky, and warming, with lingering notes of nutmeg, lemon peel, and sweet oak.
Redbreast 27-YO, 54.6% ABV, 700 ml. Double Gold
Redbreast is a perennial gold medalist in international spirit competitions, and the 27 YO expression is the pinnacle of the range. This bottling is a single pot still Irish whiskey of staggering age, matured in a combination of bourbon, Sherry, and, crucially, Ruby Port casks. The maturation regimen imparts an extraordinary depth of color and a lush red-fruit complexity to the spicy pot-still spirit.
The whisky is remarkably expansive on the nose, with aromas of fresh tropical fruits, rich dried fruit, roasted nuts, a distinctive whiff of lavender honey, and cotton candy. It’s incredibly viscous, smooth, and syrupy on the palate, with flavors of vanilla, toasted oak, and sherry nuttiness. The Port cask influence shines through with massive notes of stone fruit, peach syrup, and ripe plum, backed by classic pot still spice. The finish is long and sweet, with lingering notes of banana, cinnamon, and seasoned oak.
Jameson 18 Year Old, 40% ABV, 700 ml. Double Gold
Long considered the elder statesman of the Jameson family, the 18-YO is a masterful blend of two pot-still whiskeys and a single-grain whiskey, matured in European and American oak, then finished in first-fill bourbon barrels. It represents the sophisticated, mature side of the world’s best-selling Irish whiskey.
The whiskey is rich and inviting, with aromas of fried apple fritters, creamy vanilla frosting, cooked oats, cocoa nibs, and cinnamon-roasted pecans. On the palate, it’s creamy, smooth, and viscous, with flavors of sweet sherry, dark dried fruit, orchard fruit, banana, chocolate fudge, and lively pot-still spices. The finish is long and sweet, with lingering notes of toasted oak, subtle citrus, and black pepper.
A line of tasting glasses filled with different types of Whiskies for tasting.
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Isle of Skye 25-YO Blended Scotch Whisky, 40% ABV, 700 ml. Double Gold
The Isle of Skye blend is built around a core of island malts. Traditionally, this included Talisker, though that may no longer be the case, along with Speyside and Highland malts and grain whisky. At 25 years old, the island spirit’s maritime ruggedness has been refined into a remarkably dignified, leather-and-spice-driven blend.
The whisky is lush and fragrant on the nose, with earthy notes of autumn leaves and forest floor, warm baking spices, brown sugar, toasted walnuts, and freshly roasted coffee beans. It’s smooth, rich, and very flavorful on the palate, with assorted spices, especially allspice and ginger, along with ripe apple, apricot, toffee, and cocoa. A dried tobacco note morphs into soft leather as the whisky opens. The finish is long, sweet, and fruity, with lingering notes of seasoned oak and wood spices.
Glengoyne 12 Year Old First Fill Edition, 43% ABV, 1 lt. Double Gold
Glengoyne prides itself on operating the slowest stills in Scotland and completely eschewing peat. This specific “First Fill Edition,” originally a travel retail exclusive, amplifies the distillery’s unpeated, sweet spirit by maturing it exclusively in first-fill American oak bourbon and Oloroso Sherry casks, resulting in a massive flavor profile for a 12-year-old whisky.
The whisky offers powerful aromas of coconut oil, honey, lemon zest, and dried oak. On the palate, it’s smooth and mouth-coating, with caramel apple, cinnamon, ginger, and orange peel. The finish is long, with a distinctive Sherry sweetness, lingering tropical fruit notes, and a refreshing hint of spearmint.
Ardnahoe Bholsa, 40% ABV, 700 ml. Double Gold
Ardnahoe is one of Islay’s newest distilleries, founded by the independent bottling powerhouse Hunter Laing. The Bholsa expression, named for Loch Bholsa on the island, is a heavily peated single malt aged in ex-sherry casks. It shows that even relatively young Islay spirit, when crafted and casked with care, can compete with the oldest whiskies in the world.
The whisky features classic Islay maritime aromas, along with sherry sweetness, lemon peel, toasted walnuts, meadow honey, and candied lemon zest, all underpinned by a savory coastal brine. It’s robust and oily on the palate, with flavors of apples, lime wedges, and heavy, earthy peat smoke. A distinct savory umami note adds immense depth to the sweet sherry influence. The finish is smoky and warming, with lingering notes of maritime ambiance, smoky peat, and sweet dried fruit.
Evan Williams Bottled-In-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 50% ABV, 750 ml. Double Gold
Evan Williams is the true outlier of the ISC Double Gold list. While the other ten winners are premium, highly aged, and expensive expressions from Scotland, Ireland, and Japan, Evan Williams Bottled-In-Bond is a 100-proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon that routinely sits on the bottom shelf for around $20. It is a testament to the ISC’s blind-tasting methodology: in the glass, this high-proof, 4-year-old minimum bourbon delivers a world-class whiskey experience.
On the nose, the whiskey offers powerful, classic bourbon aromas of caramel, vanilla, oak, cooked cereal, candied fruit, and a hint of gingerbread. On the palate, it’s smooth and creamy, with a “chewy” character and pronounced mouth weight, showcasing the traditional Heaven Hill peanut brittle notes, supported by sweet corn/cornbread, vanilla cream, caramel, citrus, and pronounced baking spices. The finish is long, spicy, sweet, and warming, with lingering notes of black pepper, seasoned oak, and caramel.
What the 2026 International Spirits Challenge Double Gold list ultimately tells us is that greatness in whisky has no single address. From the incense-laced Mizunara complexity of a Yamazaki aged for a quarter century to the maritime peat of a young Islay upstart to a $20 bourbon that outscored them all in a blind glass — the eleven Double Gold winners are a rebuke to the idea that prestige is simply a function of age, price, or provenance. The ISC’s blind-tasting methodology is precisely what makes this list so instructive. Stripped of labels and reputations, only the liquid speaks. In 2026, the liquid spoke with remarkable clarity across three continents, six categories, and a price range from twenty dollars to several thousand.
If there is a single thread connecting these eleven whisky expressions, it is the uncompromising commitment of their makers to the integrity of the raw material. Whether that is the unpeated barley dried in the cool Orcadian air at Scapa, the unmalted green barley that gives Redbreast its irreducible pot still spice, or the heritage corn mash that has made Evan Williams a quiet benchmark in American whiskey for generations, one thing is clear: the Double Gold is not awarded to marketing. It is awarded to craft.
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