Every now and again a press release drops through my inbox that I have to share. This one is worth sharing for sure. I have a lot of good friends who are now going to be keeping a closer eye Glendronach and BenRiach Scotch Whiskey (and a few who are now going to pick some up). Take a look at the awards below.

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ON the opening day of the Olympics, the BenRiach Distillery Company is delighted to have won two golds, five silvers and a bronze medal!

The Edinburgh-headquartered company is celebrating eight awards, not at London 2012 of course, but at this year’s International Wine & Spirits Competition, the world’s most prestigious wine and spirit contest.

The results were announced today (27 July) in London.

The company’s full list of awards is:

Gold Medal

BenRiach 25YO

GlenDronach 12YO

Silver Medal / Outstanding

BenRiach 12YO

BenRiach 17YO Peated – Septendecim

GlenDronach 8YO – Octarine

GlenDronach 15YO

GlenDronach 15YO Tawny Port Finish

Bronze Medal

GlenDronach 21 YO

IWSC medals and trophies are the most highly regarded in the trade, representing the best of the best in the world of wines and spirits. The IWSC is judged by a panel selected from 300 fully-qualified and experienced industry judges. Noted for its intense and unrivalled judging process, the IWSC is proud to be the only competition of its kind that conducts a full blind tasting with extensive technical analysis.

BenRiach’s Sales Director Alistair Walker said: “We are really pleased by the results of this year’s competition and I suppose it’s quite fortuitous that the medals were awarded on the opening day of the Olympic Games!

“A number of these products are relatively new releases, such as the GlenDronach Octarine, 21YO and Port Finish, and the BenRiach Septendecim, so it’s nice to see them getting some industry recognition. We’re particularly delighted with the Gold Medal for the GlenDronach 12YO – this is our flagship GlenDronach expression, and we’ve invested heavily in the wood management programme at the distillery, so it’s satisfying to see that effort come to fruition.”

The tasting notes for the two gold winners are:

BenRiach 25 yo

NOSE

Rich honey, spices, apples and peat, in combination with superb oak-wood notes.

TASTE

A rich cocktail of honey, Oloroso sherry, cocoa and apples, supported by a fascinating presence of citrus, sweet peat and wonderful wood notes.

GlenDronach 12 yo

NOSE

Sweet, creamy vanilla, with hints of ginger. Autumn fruits.

TASTE

Rich, creamy, silky-smooth. Warm, rich oak and sherry sweetness, full mouth feel, raisins and soft fruits. Spicy with medium length and a dry finish.