ABERLOUR A’BUNADH BATCH 52 WINS WHISKY OF THE YEAR AT THE 2018 INTERNATIONAL WHISKY COMPETITION

[LAS VEGAS, NV, June 8, 2018] Graeme Cruickshank, Master Distiller at Aberlour Distillery becomes Master Distiller of the Year for crafting the Whisky of the Year 2018 and will receive the coveted Golden Barrel Trophy.

The International Whisky Competition just released its results for this year's most respected blind tasting judging event. The top recognition, Whisky of the Year, was awarded to Aberlour A’Bunadh Batch 52 (60.5% ABV) which scored 97.4 points, the highest scoring whisky of the competition.

The 9th edition of the International Whisky Competition took place in Las Vegas over three days, from May 15 to 17 and received over 160 different whiskies. A world-class tasting panel made of whisky, spirit, beer and wine experts blind tasted each whisky on an individual basis (8 minutes per whisky). The judges for 2018 are Sir Adam Carmer, Sebastien Gavillet, Francesco Lafranconi, John Paddon, Debbi Peek, Alex Renshaw, Max Solano, Ron Smith and Agi Toth.

Each whisky was scored using a comprehensive 100-point scale system developed by Sebastien Gavillet, IWC Head of Tasting Panel. This process and the fact that only three medals are awarded in any category make the International Whisky Competition the most followed whisky competition and one of the most professional competitions of its kind in the world.
We warmly congratulate Graeme Cruickshank, Master Distiller at Aberlour, as well as his team, for creating such a complex, rich and perfectly balanced whisky.

Last year's Whisky of the Year was Ardbeg Kelpie Committee Exclusive, which scored 97.3 points. Aberlour Distillery will receive the Golden Barrel Trophy for winning the Whisky of the Year during a ceremony to be held this summer in Aberlour, Scotland.