Whisky Focus - Gold Medals Pile Up For Diageo’s Scotch Single Malt Whiskies

Gold Medals pile up for Diageo’s single malt scotch whiskies.

Caol Ila 12 year old is Best Single Malt under 15 years old at the IWSC

With the 2010 results now announced by the major spirits competitions, Diageo is celebrating the 34 Gold Medals won for its Classic Malts Selection Single Malt Scotch Whiskies in 2010.

Talisker and Lagavulin, in their several expressions, once again feature prominently, maintaining their long-standing record for supreme malt whisky quality, recognised consistently in blind tastings by independent experts across the cycle of competitions.

But this year also saw major rewards for Caol Ila, Clynelish and other stars.

‘Magic’ Caol Ila

Billy Stitchell and his small team on the shores of the Sound of Islay learned in July that Caol Ila 12 year old Single Malt Scotch Whisky had won the International Wine & Spirit Competition Trophy - the competition’s top award - for the Best Single Malt Scotch Whisky under 15 Years Old.

Earlier in the year, Caol Ila 12 year old had set the scene for this supreme achievement by walking away with a Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition as well as a Master at the Scotch Whisky Masters.

The IWSC’s judges wrote about Caol Ila:

"Peat fires, lemon, lime, smoky bacon, lapsang souchong tea are all on the gorgeous nose. All delivered in a bowl of crème brûlée with a light menthol breeze blowing from behind. Rich, malty sweetness in the mouth with citrus, dark berries and delicate twist of wood smoke. Invigorating yet gentle. Magic !"

"Stunning dram" - Lagavulin

From the other end of Islay, Lagavulin 16 year old and Lagavulin Distillers Edition, as so often before, won a Gold or higher award in every competition they entered.
In the last 6 years, Lagavulin 16 year old has earned itself 21 Gold Medals or higher in major international competitions. In 2010 alone, this iconic and much adored Islay malt took

• a Gold Medal at San Francisco
• a Master at the Scotch Whisky Masters
• a Gold – Best in Class at the IWSC
• a Gold at the International Spirits Challenge

The IWSC judges spoke of "A stunning dram in its best condition".

More honours for Talisker
Repeating its 2009 performance, Talisker 10 year old won Golds or higher at San Francisco, the Scotch Whisky Masters (London), and at the IWSC (Gold – Best in Class). Talisker Distillers Edition took Golds at the Scotch Whisky Masters and the IWSC.

In the last six years, Talisker has won 18 Gold medals for its 10 year old expression alone.
In awarding the Gold – Best in Class medal, the IWSC judges said of the Talisker 10 year old:

"Full, rich and positive nose with hints of sea air, honey, smoke and malt. Full in the mouth with good deep flavours repeating what the nose promised. Marmalade, chocolate and orange peel add to the complexity with some cocoa right at the end. Beautiful harmony. Long flawless finish."

‘Objective benchmarks’

Commenting on the 2010 awards, Diageo’s Dr Nicholas Morgan said:

"These results reflect a consistent pattern of achievement over many years, and across all major competitions."

"This must confirm that these malt whiskies are delivering - and being independently recognised for - a high and consistent quality. We are immensely proud to see the excellence of our single malt whiskies, particularly Talisker and Lagavulin, now often joined by Caol Ila and Clynelish, acknowledged and rewarded at these international events."
 
"When there’s such an overwhelming - and ever-growing - number of single malts on the market, we know that it must be helpful for many consumers to have an objective benchmark to guide them in their choices. Success in these well managed competitions has to be one of the best signposts to enjoyable whiskies."
 

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