Beverage trade Network held its London Spirits Competition last month in a new format due to the Covid-19 crisis. Judges tasted the bottlings, which were packed and delivered anonymously by Wine Sorted, in their homes and discussed them through Skype to maintain physical distancing measures in the UK

Alongside the best whisky brands that have been pleasing lovers of the spirit for years comes a new influx of distilleries making subtle differences to switch things up. These whisky brands are introducing unique flavour profiles, unusual ageing methods, and thinking up new tricks as time passes to keep the drink at the forefront of our minds.

A wide range of Whiskies was awarded the top accolade of a Master medal for their exceptional quality. The individual scores of each entrant have not been revealed, however, these are  the highest rated medallists from the competition, Our judges have given each Whiskey listed here the seal of approval for offering excellent quality

To make it easier, we have jotted down a list of top award-winning Whiskies from our latest competition. 

1. St. Kilian Distillers Signature Edition FOUR

St. Kilian Signature Edition "Four" is the second smoky single malt from the Lower Franconian distillery. Original Scottish malt from Glenesk Maltings was used for this. The fourth Signature Edition matured half each in Andalusian Oloroso and PX Sherry barrels. The aromas from the barrels form a fruity counterpart to the strong smoke in the distillate.

POINTS:97

2. Fary Lochan Danish Single Malt

The whisky is five-and-a-half years old and fully sherry-matured. Its bouquet is thick and heavy with pumpernickel, plum jelly, currants, brittle, burnt raisins and latte macchiato. The oily, weighty spirit tastes of dark chocolate, morello cherries, strawberries, hazelnuts and heavily roasted rye.

POINTS:96

3. The Whisky Baron Glenrothes

Lovely treat in the form of a well-sherried Glenrothes, distilled back in May 2006. The single malt spent its next 12 years in a single first-fill sherry butt until The Whisky Baron deemed it was time to bottle the liquid.

POINTS:94

4. Flóki Single Malt Whisky

Carefully distilled and made from 100% Icelandic barley and matured on ex-YoungMalt barrels which have been mellowed by the maturation of our Young Malt.

POINTS:93

5. Cotswolds Peated Cask Single Malt

A subtly smoky English single malt from Cotswolds Distillery, made in small batches with 100% floor-malted local barley and matured in ex-peated whisky quarter casks. Rich notes of summer berries, apricot jam and earthy peat smoke mingle together on the palate.

POINTS:92

6. The Whisky Baron - Bunnahabhain

Sweet at first with lots of vanilla and clear honey aromas. Floral tones of honeysuckle appear once the whisky has breathed for a while, as do notes of sponge cake with apricot jam and icing sugar. Little nose prickle makes this whisky very easy on the nose.

POINTS:92

7. Special Reserve Whiskey

Distilled in the highlands of Scotland and matured for a minimum of 3 years in oak casks. This superlative blend of the finest single malt and highest quality grain Scotch whiskies is amber in colour with a sweet mellow taste.

POINTS:90