Top Scotch Whisky Winners From The 2025 SF World Spirits Competition

The San Francisco World Spirits Competition, a cornerstone in the world of Scotch Whisky, is one of the most extensive and prestigious judging events. Whisky enthusiasts and the beverage industry closely follow its results, as they often set the standard for excellence in the industry. The Top Shelf 2025 Awards Gala, a highly anticipated event in the whiskey industry, will announce the winners on November 9 at Hotel Nikko in San Francisco. Here are the finalists!

From a diverse pool of several hundred entries, the distinguished panel of judges, comprising some 60 in total, has selected a range of finalists. These include five blended, four blended malts, and 20 single malt Scotch whiskies, each with its unique character and flavor profile. From these finalists will emerge the coveted title of World’s Best Blended Scotch Whisky, Best Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, and Best Single Malt Scotch Whisky, and ultimately the highest prize of all: World’s Best Scotch Whisky. The variety and quality of these finalists are sure to pique your interest.

Blended Scotch Whisky Finalists From The 2025 SFWSC

Blended Scotch is a mix of grain whisky and single malt whisky. The Scotch Whisky Association, the industry’s regulatory body, does not specify the proportions in the blend. Generally speaking, the higher the proportion of single malt in the blend, the more flavorful the whisky tends to be. The single malt portion of a blended whisky can range from as little as 10% to as much as 50% of the final blend.

Under SWA rules, a no-age-statement whisky does not disclose the age of the youngest component of the blend. However, under SWA regulations, a whisky must be aged for a minimum of three years before it can carry the designation Scotch Whisky. Hence, a NAS whisky is guaranteed to be at least 3 years old. Most NAS whiskies are considerably older than the minimum three-year aging requirement.

Blended Scotch Whisky – No Age Statement

D’YAVOL, VORTEX Blended Scotch

The Sassenach, Blended Scotch

High Commissioner, Blended Scotch

Blended Scotch Whisky – 16 Years and Older

Isle of Skye, 25-Year-Old Blended Scotch

Isle of Skye, 21-Year-Old Blended Scotch

High Commissioner, Blended Scotch

For a brief background and detailed tasting notes of the Blended Scotch Whisky finalists from the 2025 SFWSC, see SF World Spirits Competition Reveals Top Blended Scotch Whisky.

Blended Malt Scotch Whisky Finalists From The 2025 SFWSC

Blended malt is a mix of single malt Scotch whiskies. Unlike a single malt, which is a malt whisky from a single distillery, blended malts are a mix of malt whiskies from more than one distillery. The practice harkens back to the early days of the Scotch whisky industry when independent blenders created their whiskies by mixing single malt whisky from several distilleries.

Blended Malt Scotch Whisky – No Age Statement

Naked Malt, Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

Compass Box, Crimson Casks Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

Noble Rebel, Smoke Symphony Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

Monkey Shoulder Whisky, Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

For background and detailed tasting notes on each of the Blended Malt Scotch Whisky finalists, see SF World Spirits Competition Reveals Top Blended Scotch Whisky.

Single Malt Scotch Whisky Finalists From The 2025 SFWSC

Single malt Scotch whisky is a single malt from a single distillery. Each expression is typically a blend of different single malts from that distillery. The age statement listed on the bottle is the youngest component of that particular blend of single malts. Hence, 18-year-old Scotch whisky is not the 12-year-old expression aged for an additional six years, but rather a blend of single malt whiskies from that distillery, the youngest component of which is at least 18 years old.

Distillers’ Single Malt Scotch Whisky – No Age Statement

Benriach, Smoky Quarter Cask Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Benriach, Smoke Season Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Glenglassaugh, Sandend Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Glenglassaugh, Portsoy Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Loch Lomond, Remarkable Alchemy Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Distillers’ Single Malt Scotch Whisky – Up to 12 Years

The Singleton of Dufftown, 12-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Benriach, The Smoky Ten Single Malt Scotch Whisky

The Glendronach, Forgue Aged 10 Years Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Loch Lomond, Inchmoan 12-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Highland Park, 12-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Distillers’ Single Malt Scotch Whisky – 13 to 19 Years

Aberfeldy, Madeira Cask 16 Years Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Royal Brackla, PALO CORTADO 18 Years Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Alexander Murray & Co., Highland 14-Year-Old Sherry Cask Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Bruichladdich, Eighteen, Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Glenmorangie, The Infinita 18-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

For a background and detailed tasting noteson these single malt Scotch whiskies, see SF World Spirits Competition Names Top Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Distillers’ Single Malt Scotch Whisky – 20 Years and Older

Rosebank, 31-Year-Old Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Rosebank, 32-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Glen Scotia, 25-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Tomintoul Distillery, 25-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Alexander Murray & Co., Highland 37-Year-Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky

For a background and detailed tasting notes on these ultra-aged, single malt Scotch whiskies, see Best Ultra-Aged Scotch Whisky, According To The SF World Spirits Competition.

These Scotch whiskies are among the very best, the crème de la crème of Scottish whisky. They are all outstanding, each reflective of the region and terroir that produced them. Some are historical names, while others are new distilleries, specialty bottlers, or once-silent distilleries that have been reborn. All are worth tasting, and if you like them, add a bottle or two to your Scotch whisky collection.

More From Forbes

ForbesThe Top Bourbons From The 2025 San Francisco World Spirits CompetitionBy Joseph V MicallefForbesBest American Single Malt Whiskey From The 2025 San Francisco World Spirits CompetitionBy Joseph V MicallefForbesTop Irish Single Malt Whiskey, According To The San Francisco World Spirits CompetitionBy Joseph V Micallef