Overview: The Spill Awards 2026 recognizes the best spirits bottles of the year, featuring a range of award-winning expressions from around the world. From American Single Malts to Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, these standout bottles showcase exceptional craftsmanship and flavor profiles.
The Full Story
As part of The Spill Awards 2026, our judges selected three bottles released in 2025 that they tried and loved over the past year. From this list, we narrowed down our favorites to the following eight expressions, each showcasing something unique or special within its spirits category.
Production & Profile
The Westland Whiskey Garryana American Single Malt is a standout expression from Seattle-based distillery Westland Distillery. Aged in rare Quercus garryana oak native to the Pacific Northwest, this whiskey offers complex flavors of vanilla, caramel, and toasted wood.
Compass Box’s Brûlée Royale Blended Malt Scotch Whisky is another award-winning expression that showcases exceptional craftsmanship. Inspired by desserts, this whisky features grilled peach on the nose and hints of candied caramel apple.
Brand & Industry History
The Glenrothes The 15 is a single malt from Speyside, Scotland, matured in first-fill sherry-seasoned European oak. This expression offers notes of dark brown sugar, baked orchard fruits (primarily apple), sweet baking spices, orange peel, toasted oak and leather.
Old Forester’s President’s Choice 2025 Bourbon and Rye is a rare release from the Louisville-based distillery. Selected from matured barrels with exquisite quality and distinct characteristics, this bourbon offers notes of vanilla, tobacco, leather, caramel and honey.
What This Means
The award-winning spirits bottles recognized by The Spill Awards 2026 represent a new standard for excellence in the industry. These expressions demonstrate exceptional craftsmanship and flavor profiles that set them apart from other spirits on the market.
The recognition of these standout bottles also highlights the importance of innovation and experimentation within the spirits industry. By pushing boundaries and trying new things, distilleries are able to create unique and exciting expressions that appeal to a wide range of palates.
Consumer Takeaway
If you’re looking for exceptional spirits to try in 2026, look no further than these award-winning bottles. From Westland Whiskey’s Garryana American Single Malt to Compass Box’s Brûlée Royale Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, each of these expressions offers a unique and exciting drinking experience.
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