Congratulations to the winners at World Whiskies Awards 2026!

The awards were announced at a ceremony held at the Waldorf, London at an event bringing together members of the global whisky community for an evening of celebration and reflection.

The World Whiskies Awards reward the patience, creativity, and dedication represented in a whisky bottle. The 2026 competition has seen World’s Best titles conferred on both well-established brands from countries with long histories with the spirit, such as Bowmore and Ballantine’s of Scotland, as well as younger distilleries from the new frontiers of production, including Australia, Belgium, and China.

Bradley Weir, chair of judges for the World Whiskies Awards and editor of Whisky Magazine, said: “Looking at this year’s list of winners, it’s apparent how lucky we are to have so many incredible brands working at the top of their game right now.

“What has been most exciting about this year is how truly global the World’s Best have been. We have winners from Australia, Japan, US, Scotland, Spain and many more, emphasising the strength of whisky production worldwide.”

The world whisky brand ambassador award was won by Roland Ng from Komasa Kanosuke Distillery and the design award was won by Lark Distillery, a producer of Australian whisky and liqueurs in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. Both categories were sponsored by McLaren.

Michael McLaren, Sales & Marketing Director, said: “Once again, we extend our warmest congratulations to all the winners at the World Whiskies Awards 2026 against such strong global competition.

“We continue to be impressed by the standard of entries at these awards showcasing the essential role the people and relationships they create play in the success of whisky.

“Both Roland and Lark’s success demonstrate that the whisky sector is well placed to exploit growth opportunities through fostering connections with the media, trade and consumers alike across the globe.

ENDS

For further information please contact Michael McLaren on 01475 745246