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At the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) 2026, three Scotch whiskies with very different origins were awarded the Trophy title. These include a nine-year-old Islay single malt, a rare 35-year-old independent bottling, and an established luxury blend, showing the range of styles that international whisky judges recognise.
The Bowmore 9 Year Old, the Bunnahabhain 35 Year Old Manta Ray Seven Clean Seas and the Royal Salute 21 Year Old Signature Blend are among the winners of the IWSC 2026 Scotch whisky awards. It is interesting that the two single malts obtained the same score of 98 points even though there is a 26-year difference in age, which makes the results particularly noteworthy.
The IWSC was founded in 1969 and is an international contest that judges wines and spirits by blind tasting. When entries are evaluated, industry experts consider aroma, flavour, balance and overall quality without seeing the bottles or their branding. This allows whiskies from various producers and price ranges to compete on their own merits.
The Trophy awards mark an additional stage of the evaluation process and are given only to spirits that have already received either a Gold medal or a Gold Outstanding medal. The members of the Spirits Judging Committee review the best-performing entries before deciding on the winners. At the IWSC 2026 event, three of the 24 Spirits Trophies awarded went to Scotch whisky, across the single malt and blended whisky categories.
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Bowmore 9 Year Old claimed the Trophy for single malt Scotch whisky under 20 years, showing that younger expressions can perform exceptionally well in international competitions. Produced at Bowmore Distillery, established in 1779 on Scotland's Isle of Islay, the whisky was added to the distillery's core range in 2016. It matures in a combination of American oak ex-bourbon casks and European oak oloroso sherry butts, which contribute to its distinctive character.
The aromas detected were sea salt, caramel, and a slight peat smoke; on the palate, roasted peaches, bonfire smoke, oats and roasted pumpkin seeds; notes of rhubarb and sea salt add further complexity. Bowmore 9 won at the IWSC 2026 with a score of 98 points, the same score as a whisky aged almost four times as long.
Bunnahabhain 35-Year-Old Manta Ray Seven Clean Seas won the Trophy for single malt Scotch whisky aged over 20 years. This independently bottled version was jointly offered by the East Asia Whisky Company and the Silver Seal Whisky Company, distinguishing it from the distillery-produced editions among the winners. It matured for 35 years and is bottled at 49.3% ABV, placing it at the more-aged end of the Scotch whisky range.
Bunnahabhain was founded in 1881 on the northeastern part of Islay and is especially known for its unpeated single malts, even though the island is famous for its smoky whiskies. According to the IWSC judges, the whisky had aromas of lemon biscuits and chamomile, which developed into a creamy flavour featuring floral notes, Danish pastry and tropical fruit. Its recognition by the IWSC in 2026 underlines the role that independent bottlers play in the mature Scotch whisky sector.
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The Blended Scotch Whisky Trophy was won by the Royal Salute 21 Year Old Signature Blend, which scored 96 points. The brand was established in 1953 by Chivas Brothers to mark the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and is named after the ceremonial 21-gun salute. Its main whisky style is a blend of malt and grain whiskies aged for at least 21 years, reflecting the careful blending characteristic of premium Scotch.
They noted aromas of tropical fruit and polished oak, then mentioned gentle smoke, along with oatcakes, biscuits, and a hint of spice. Citrus and sherbet-like notes helped give the whisky a long finish. The Royal Salute 21 won the IWSC 2026 Trophy, even though no blended Scotch had achieved Gold Outstanding in the earlier stage of the competition's judging process.
Indian whisky drinkers who want to buy the Scotch whisky winners selected at the IWSC 2026 will find that availability varies considerably. While Bowmore is available in India, the specific Bowmore 9 Year Old edition has not yet been confirmed for sale in any Indian retail outlets. Similarly, the Bunnahabhain 35 Year Old Manta Ray Seven Clean Seas, an independently bottled release limited to 110 bottles, is not available through Indian retail channels and has no officially stated price in the country.
Royal Salute 21-Year-Old Signature Blend is the most affordable of the three and is confirmed to be available in India. The 700 ml bottle is priced at INR 14,800 in Bengaluru and in Odisha it’s priced at INR 18,080 for a 700ml bottle. The whisky is also available at some duty-free shops at Indian airports, but bottle sizes and prices vary by location. As alcohol prices vary from state to state in India, customers are advised to check with authorised retailers before buying to confirm current stock and prices.
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The 2026 IWSC winners in the Scotch whisky category include three different types of whisky that show the effects of age, maturation and blending on Scotch whisky. Bowmore 9 is an example of a younger Islay single malt, Bunnahabhain 35 illustrates the impact of long maturation and independent bottling, and Royal Salute 21 highlights the craftsmanship involved in producing premium blended Scotch.
For whisky fans reviewing the IWSC 2026 results for the best Scotch whisky, these winners provide three clear examples of whisky that enjoys international recognition. These achievements also underline a key idea: a fine whisky cannot be judged solely on age, but must also have a distinct character and balance in the finished spirit.
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