Inside the 2025 Results: The Global State of Spirits

The 2025 IWSC spirits judging revealed a vibrant and evolving industry. With nearly 3,500 medals awarded, the results highlight both the strength of long-established categories and the dynamism of emerging ones. Gin and Scotch whisky remain global cornerstones, while mezcal, vodka, and bourbon achieved standout recognition that reflects both innovation and consumer demand.

Above all, this year underscored just how competitive the IWSC has become: medals were harder to achieve, making every award - from Bronze to Gold Outstanding- a true marker of excellence.

1. Gin Still Rules by Volume

Gin once again proved its global dominace, with more than 440 medals awarded across contemporary and classic styles. No other spirit came close in scale. Flavoured gins also showed strong momentum, securing 66 medals and improving significantly on past years. As Spirits Judging Committee member Olivier Ward noted, "We’re seeing more clarity of intent in the flavoured gins entered this year. Producers are taking more time, with more intention behind it, and it shows in the glass".

This volume highlights gin’s enduring appeal among both producers and consumers. For entrants, it also highlights the intense competition of the category - making any IWSC medal a particularly valuable achievement, no matter the colour.

2. Scotch Whisky Reinforces Its Prestige

Scotch whisky continued to set the global benchmark. The largest single whisky style, unpeated single malt, earned 197 medals, while cask-finished Scotch delivered 72 and blended Scotch (unpeated) earned 68.

Peated single malt proved especially impressive: 63 medals were awarded, with 25% of entries achieving Gold or Gold Outstanding - one of the highest success rates across any major category. Islay in particular delivered 21 Golds/Gold Oustanding across the Scotch category, underscoring how regional identity remains a driver of quality.

3. Quality Breakthroughs Beyond the Mainstream

Several categories delivered standout quality performances this year. Artisanal mezcal achieved an extraordinary 41% Gold/Gold Outstanding rate, cementing its reputation as one of the world’s most dynamic spirits. Vodka also impressed: both wheat and mixed-base styles converted at exceptionally high levels (29% and 40% Gold/Gold Outstanding rates respectively), showing how producers are redefining a spirit long seen as purely neutral. Spirits Judging Commitee member David T. Smith who oversaw the judging highlighted this trend "People are starting to embrace the character that can come through from the base material - whether it's the spicy creaminess of a barley vodka, or the rich, fruity earthiness of a potato vodka."

Bourbon added to the quality story, with 53 medals awarded and a quarter of entries taking Gold or Gold Outstanding. These results confirm North America's place as a benchmark for premium whiskey, while also showing how American producers are competing on the global stage.

Together, these categories show that outstanding quality is not confined to traditional strongholds - producers worldwide are finding new ways to achieve critical recognition.

4. Emerging Catergories Step Into The Spotlight

Byeond the big categories, several more niche spirits captured judges' attention in 2025. Liqueurs performed strongly, with citrus styles earning 68 medals and orchard fruit liqueurs also standing out.

Shochu impressed with a significant number of entries converting to medals, confirming its growing international profile, something Judging Commitee member Marie Cheong-Thong is keen to see grow "As Cheong-Thong concludes: "We all know shochu, but we're not quite there yet in terms of global recognition. It deserves to be seen as a premium, world-class spirit." Column still rums also saw more entries this year, reflecting both producer and consumer interest in this once-overlooked style.

Together, these categories show how innovation, heritage and experimentation are thriving at the margins, and that producers working in smaller, more specialised areas are increasingly being recognised on the world stage.

5. Global Reach: From Scotland to Mexico and Beyond

Scotland once again led by volume with 649 awards, affirming its dominance, but quality leadership shifted in 2025. Spain (24% Gold/Gold Outstanding share), Mexico (23%), Italy (20%) and Japan (19%) all delivered standout results, signalling how strong performance is spreading well beyond traditional heartlands.

Mexico’s artisanal producers in particular drew praise, with mezcal joven/blanco entries achieving an extraordinary 41% Gold/Gold Outstanding success rate. Meanwhile, Taiwan broke into the Top 10 spirits-producing countries for the first time, underlining the expanding geography of global excellence.

6. Balancing Heritage and Innovation

The results showed producers continuing to balance traditional strengths with modern creativity. Worldwide single malt (unpeated) - the leading non-Scotch whisky category - earned 124 medals, reinforcing the rise of global whisky outside Scotland. Bourbon also secured a commanding 53 medals, affirming America’s benchmark status.

Meanwhile, Scotch age statements such as 10, 12 and 15 years performed strongly, while unaged and No Age Statement entries dominated in numbers thanks to gin, vodka, mezcal and liqueurs. Together, they illustrate a category mix where both innovation and heritage are thriving. 

A Confident Future for Spirits Producers

The IWSC 2025 results highlight a spirits industry that is both competitive and dynamic. Gin remains the category leader by scale, Scotch continues to set the benchmark, and liqueurs, mezcal, vodka and bourbon all delivered compelling results that point to fresh opportunities for producers.

With medals spanning 90+ countries and awarded across every level from Bronze to Gold Outstanding, the message is clear: excellence in spirits has never been more diverse or more widely recognised.

Explore the full IWSC 2025 results and discover how producers worldwide are shaping the future of spirits.