The 22nd Annual Whisky Advocate Awards have all been posted on the Whisky Advocate blog! There are thirteen awards: eleven whisky/whiskey categories, our Lifetime Achievement awards, and the distiller of the year.

The Whisky Advocate Awards exist to recognize excellence in the world of whisky. Now in its 22nd year, the program is simply about the worlds greatest whiskies and distilleries, and the individuals who make and promote them. As always, these awards are not simply assigned to the whiskies that get the highest ratings in our reviews. The winners might be the highest-rated, or they might instead be the most significant, or the most important, or represent a new direction for a category or niche.

These awards are the oldest and longest-running annual whisky awards program. There is no fee, there are no entry requirements. We taste and sample over the course of the year, at years end we consider and confer, and then we make our decisions based solely on the merits of the whiskies…as we have done for over twenty years.

The winners are listed below, with a link to the formal write-up on the Whisky Advocate blog. We hope you enjoy the selections, and wish you the best in the coming year!

Craft Whiskey of the Year: Dads Hat Pennsylvania Rye

American Whiskey of the Year: John E. Fitzgerald Very Special Reserve 20 year old

Canadian Whisky of the Year: Crown Royal 75th Anniversary Blend

Irish Whiskey of the Year: Midleton Ghaelach: Grinsells Wood

Japanese Whisky of the Year: Hibiki Japanese Harmony

World Whisky of the Year: Spirit of Hven Sankt Claus

Blended/Blended Malt Whisky of the Year: Blue Hanger 11th Limited Release

Speyside Single Malt of the Year: Tamdhu Batch Strength

Islay Single Malt of the Year: Ardbeg Supernova 2015 Release

Highland Single Malt of the Year: Dalmore 21 year old

Lowlands/Campbeltown Single Malt of the Year: Springbank Sherry Wood 17 year old

Lifetime Achievement Awards: Dennis Malcolm and Jim McEwan

Distiller of the Year: MGP Ingredients