THE BenRiach Distillery Company has won 11 medals, including two Gold Outstanding medals, across its three brands at this year’s International Wine and Spirits Competition.

Founded in 1969, the International Wine and Spirit Competition is one of the most prestigious in the world. It exists to award excellence to wines and spirits worldwide, encouraging consumer and trade recognition for quality products. Judging for the Competition is unique in that it has two stages; first, the products are tasted blind by expert panels, selected from over 300 fully experienced and qualified industry judges. Then, products which receive the top medals are subject to technical analysis before results are released; this crucial stage ensures winners receive complete validation.

The company’s full list of awards is:

• Gold Medal – Outstanding BenRiach 12 Years Old
• Gold Medal – Outstanding Glenglassaugh 30 Years Old
• Gold Medal Glenglassaugh 40 Years Old
• Silver Medal – Outstanding BenRiach 17YO Septendecim
• Silver Medal – Outstanding BenRiach 15YO Pedro Ximenez Finish
• Silver Medal – Outstanding BenRiach 10YO Curiositas
• Silver Medal – Outstanding GlenDronach 15YO Revival
• Silver Medal – Outstanding GlenDronach 18YO Allardice
• Silver Medal – Outstanding Glenglassaugh Torfa
• Silver Medal Glenglassaugh Evolution
• Silver Medal Glenglassaugh Revival

The judges described the Glenglassaugh 30 Years Old, winner of a Gold Outstanding medal, as; “A complex fruity and spicy whisky with dried fruit and raisins, aromatic pipe tobacco and a spicy oaky mouth feel. Some fine vanilla toffee with a long spicy finish.”

And notes of “Fine spices in a great nose of chocolate, liquorice and vanilla toffee aromas. Lovely wood phenols and well balanced tannins, sandalwood and nutmeg tones in a long lasting aftertaste”, resulted in a Gold Medal for the Glenglassaugh 40 Years Old.

BenRiach’s Sales Director Alistair Walker said: “We are delighted to win these awards, especially as they are spread across all three of our brands. A number of these products are relatively new releases, such as the Glenglassaugh 30 Years Old, 40 Years Old and Torfa, so it is nice to see them getting some industry recognition. It’s a major achievement for a small independent to make the UK spirits producer shortlist and we are thrilled with these results.”