Malt Maniacs Awards Update
August 16, 2010

The annual Malt Maniacs Awards began in 2003, in reaction to the large number of “chocolate medals” being awarded to everyday whiskies in commercial competitions. Not that they were bad whiskies, but the Malt Maniacs knew there were a lot better ones out there that simply had not been entered into competition.

From the beginning the Awards have been a little bit different.  Johannes van den Heuval and Serge Valentin began with the germ of an idea.  A lot of these competitions were held just to make money, they thought.  “You pay me 500 dollars, and I’ll give you a double gold medal” seemed to be the modus operandus.  So right from the start the Malt Maniacs Awards were free to enter. To ensure they send only their best, distillers are limited to three entries, while independent bottlers may enter up to 5 bottles from various distilleries.

Entries are received at a central location in France, then split into samples which are dispatched to judges, literally, around the world.  No clues are given as to what is in the bottles and the judges are strictly forbidden to talk among themselves until their scores are in.

Once the twelve judges have submitted their scores, awards are decided and on December 1 they are announced to the world.  Past winners range from everyday affordable whiskies such as Glendronach 15yo, Benrinnes 13yo, and Clynelish 12yo (turns out some of them really ARE very good), to the more esoteric independent releases.  Entries are divided into three price ranges to ensure every pocketbook can find affordable whiskies among the winners.

With the industry already showing so much interest in Malt Maniacs Awards 2010, consumers can look forward to knowing what whiskies really are the best of the best, just in time for Christmas shopping.

And to the judges … Gentlemen, start your noses!

The Malt Maniacs have once again thrown down the whisky gauntlet. Preparations are well underway for the eighth annual Malt Maniacs Awards.  And though the deadline for receipt of bottles is September 27, already more than 40 companies from six countries have committed to enter more than 125 bottles.  With judges coming from four or five continents this is truly an international whisky competition.

Some Malt Maniacs at lunch