The World’s Best Scotch—According To The 2023 Scotch Whisky Masters

Earlier this summer, the Scotch Whisky Masters convened in London to award its coveted medals to the best liquids of the land. The esteemed panel of judges were not stingy with their prizes. In fact, dozens of golds and silvers were doled out across a total of 42 subcategories of the spirit, ranging from non-age-statement blends to cask strength single malts. The bottles that took home a distinction of ‘Master’ were fewer and farther between. We’ll get into some of the surprises there below.

But first we need to look at the single expression that triumphed over them all. Each year, the competition designates one—and only one—Taste Master; the top of the heap out of hundreds of entries submitted. For 2023, that honor belongs to Craigellachie 13 Years Old, a Speyside single malt that benefits from a unique maturation process through an intricate combination of ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry casks.