High Coast “Distillery Exclusive 11” Wins Best Single Cask Single Malt 2025
Sweden’s High Coast “Distillery Exclusive 11” has been named Best Single Cask Single Malt 2025 at the World Whiskies Awards 2025, outperforming single casks from the UK and India. This limited-release sherry butt stood out for its powerful dried fruit, espresso, and subtle peat character — a whisky shaped by extreme climate and precise cask influence.
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Key Takeaways
High Coast Distillery earns Gold with a sherry-aged single cask from Sweden’s far north
Cotswolds and Amrut also medaled, proving the global strength of small-cask single malts
Judges favored bold, layered cask expressions with a clear regional fingerprint
Best Single Cask Single Malt 2025 – High Coast “Distillery Exclusive 11” (Sweden)
Distilled from lightly peated malt and aged in a single sherry butt for over 11 years in Sweden’s rugged north, this High Coast release offered a level of richness and intensity normally expected from older Scotch whiskies. Judges praised its balance of fruit, spice, and smoke — a reflection of its high-latitude maturation.
Aroma | Dried dates, raisins, toasted almonds |
|---|---|
Palate | Dark chocolate, espresso, plums, winter spice, hint of smoke |
Finish | Long and warming with lingering sweet spice and oak tannin |
Cotswolds “The Alice” Calvados Cask – Silver Medalist
England’s Cotswolds Distillery secured Silver with this single cask matured in an ex-Calvados (apple brandy) barrel. The result was a fresh, fruity malt that captured bright orchard notes layered over gentle spice — a clear standout from a younger distillery making bold cask choices.
Aroma | Apple cider, vanilla, cinnamon |
|---|---|
Palate | Baked apple, honey, biscuit malt |
Finish | Medium, with sweet apple and gentle oak warmth |
Amrut Peated Cask Strength – Cask No. 3187 – Bronze Medalist
Amrut’s Cask No. 3187 earned Bronze with a forceful Indian single cask bottled at cask strength. Distilled from peated Scottish barley and aged in ex-bourbon under tropical conditions, this release fused Islay-like power with Indian depth.
Aroma | Bonfire smoke, molasses, dried apricot |
|---|---|
Palate | Peat smoke, dark chocolate, prunes, black pepper, treacle |
Finish | Long and peaty with espresso and burnt sugar lingering |
What Is Single Cask Single Malt?
Single Cask Single Malt whisky is bottled from one cask without blending — offering a unique snapshot of the distillery’s style and barrel influence. Often cask-strength and limited, these whiskies are prized for individuality and intensity. In 2025, judges looked for layered flavor, balanced power, and bold cask expression — whether from Sweden’s cold extremes or India’s tropical heat.
This year’s Best Single Cask Single Malt 2025 results spotlighted how world whisky producers are matching — and at times surpassing — traditional single malt regions. High Coast’s win confirms that small northern distilleries are mastering both sherry influence and regional maturation. Cotswolds and Amrut also showed that bold cask selection and innovation matter more than age or origin. From apple brandy barrels in England to smoky strength from India, this year’s single cask winners delivered rare complexity and singular identity.
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All 2025 World Whisky Awards Gold Medalists
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