Three Ships Bourbon Cask Wins Best Blended Whisky 2025 at World Whiskies Awards
Three Ships Bourbon Cask from South Africa has won the title of Best Blended Whisky 2025 at the World Whiskies Awards 2025, surpassing traditionally dominant producers from Japan, Scotland, and beyond. Its bourbon-cask finish and expressive tropical character helped the James Sedgwick Distillery earn the top global honor in one of the competition’s most internationally diverse categories.
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Key Takeaways
South Africa’s Three Ships Bourbon Cask claimed Gold in the globally competitive Blended Whisky category
Japan’s Kanosuke and Sweden’s Agitator secured Silver and Bronze, confirming a global shift in blending excellence
Judges praised bold tropical notes, smooth integration, and innovative distillation techniques across medalists
Best Blended Whisky 2025 – Three Ships Bourbon Cask
Hailing from South Africa’s James Sedgwick Distillery, Three Ships Bourbon Cask impressed judges with its complexity and balance. The whisky’s unique Cape blend, finished in bourbon casks, delivers both creamy sweetness and vibrant fruit, capturing the attention of a global judging panel.
Aroma | Varnished oak, vanilla ice cream, milk chocolate, smoked pineapple |
|---|---|
Palate | Cornflake, caramel sauce, ripe fruits |
Finish | Spicy oak, brown sugar, vanilla |
Kanosuke Double Distillery “The Mellow Bar” Reserve – Silver Medalist
Japan’s Kanosuke Distillery secured Silver with a blended whisky crafted from two distilleries. Its refined profile, featuring soft orchard fruits and subtle smoke, reflects the elegance for which Japanese whisky is renowned.
Aroma | Toasted oak, orchard fruits |
|---|---|
Palate | Malt sweetness, citrus peel, subtle peat smoke |
Finish | Silky, mellow |
Agitator Blended (The Swedish Blend) – Bronze Medalist
Agitator Whiskymakare of Sweden earned Bronze with a modern, clean blended whisky. Combining dried fruit, creamy malt, and a hint of smoke, it stood out for its innovative vacuum distillation and cool-climate maturation.
Aroma | Oak, dried fruit |
|---|---|
Palate | Creamy vanilla, malt |
Finish | Whisper of smoke |
What Is Blended Whisky?
Blended whisky combines single malt and single grain whiskies from multiple distilleries. This style allows producers to layer character and texture while achieving a consistent, approachable flavor profile. Judges in the 2025 competition sought balanced expressions that reflected craftsmanship in both ingredient selection and blending technique — whether from established houses or emerging distilleries.
South Africa’s Three Ships Bourbon Cask led the pack at the World Whiskies Awards 2025, cementing the country’s position as a rising force in whisky blending. The presence of Kanosuke from Japan and Sweden’s Agitator on the podium affirms that blending mastery is no longer confined to traditional whisky strongholds. Each medalist showcased a unique stylistic approach reflecting the expansive possibilities within blended whisky today.
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All 2025 World Whisky Awards Gold Medalists
