Victoria’s Macaloney’s Island Distillery wins CANADIAN WHISKY OF THE YEAR at 2025 CANADIAN WHISKY AWARDS

In all, 45 Canadian whisky producers were honoured at the prestigious 15th annual event

VICTORIA, B.C. (January 17, 2025) – Macaloney’s Island Distillery took home Canadian Whisky of the Year honours for its Peat Project Moscatel Barrique single malt, at the 2025 Canadian Whisky Awards, held Thursday, January 16, in Victoria, B.C. The 100% malted barley whisky received the top overall score from a panel of 14 judges, who tasted and scored around 200 competing whiskies in blind tastings.

The whisky was distilled using local barley and peat-smoked at the distillery, then matured in a European Moscatel wine barrique. “This remarkably well-balanced whisky, fully matured while brightly youthful, shows a tightly woven interplay of sweet malt, discrete fruitiness, brisk peppers and of course, peat smoke,” says Davin de Kergommeaux, chair of the judging panel and author of Canadian Whisky: The Essential Portable Expert.

De Kergommeaux added: “Canada’s distillers are bringing new practices, sensibilities and flavours to the Canadian whisky landscape, and now, for the first time ever, a Canadian peated single malt whisky distillery has won Canadian Whisky of the Year.”

Canadian Whisky of the Year was just one of more than two dozen awards presented at this year’s 15^th annual edition of the Canadian Whisky Awards. A selection of the honours includes:

• Alternative Grain Whisky of the Year – Wayne Gretzky Distillery Single Grain Oats – Craftsmanship Series
• Blended Whisky of the Year – Signal Hill Founders Select Overproof Whisky
• Corn Whisky of the Year – Bearface Triple Oak Canadian Whisky
• Best Barrel Finished Whisky and Limited Expression – Bridgeland Distillery Glenbow, Canadian Single Malt Whisky, Port Finish
• Rye Whisky of the Year – Sons of Vancouver Distillery Realms of Rye – Release No. 01 ‘Citrus & Botanicals’
• Best Whisky, International Market – Crown Royal Hand Selected Barrel
• Best Whisky Aged 9-15 Years – Alberta Distillers Rare Batch Issue No.1
• Best Cask Strength Whisky – Two Brewers Release 45
• Brand Ambassador of the Year – Chris Thompson, Forty Creek
• Best Whisky Broadcast, Podcast, or Video Series – Mark Gillespie, WhiskyCast

Held annually since 2010 during Victoria Whisky Festival, the Canadian Whisky Awards recognizes the very best Canadian whiskies. An independent panel of experts scores each whisky in blind tastings, based on ranking criteria that reflect the industry’s highest standards.

The Canadian Whisky Awards is fully independent of the Canadian whisky industry. Only whiskies that were distilled and matured in Canada are eligible to compete. The Canadian Whisky Awards Gala in Victoria is grateful to this year’s presenting sponsor, Spirits Canada.

For more information and the full results of the 2025 Canadian Whisky Awards, visit canadianwhiskyawards.com.