The Canadian Whisky Awards celebrated excellence in whisky-making in Victoria, BC, where Macaloney’s Island Distillery captured the coveted Canadian Whisky of the Year honour. Their Peat Project Moscatel Barrique single malt stood out as the top performer among nearly 200 entries, impressing a distinguished panel of 14 judges.

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The distillery also celebrated six gold medal wins including Single Malt of the Year, Wheat Whisky of the Year, and Blender of the Year, marking a significant achievement for the team. This exceptional whisky showcases a unique profile, distilled with locally sourced barley that was peat-smoked to 54 ppm using Washington State peat, and infused with sugar-kelp seaweed harvested from the pristine coast of Vancouver Island. Its maturation in a European Moscatel wine barrique further contributes to its complex, layered character, embodying the innovative spirit of Macaloney’s Island Distillery.

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“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,” noted Davin de Kergommeaux, chair of the judging panel and author of Canadian Whisky: The Essential Portable Expert.

De Kergommeaux also highlighted the significance of the win: “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.”

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Host Heather Leary with Dr. Graeme Macaloney & Davin de Kergommeaux | Photo: Jen Steel Photography

Celebrating Excellence in Canadian Whisky

The Canadian Whisky Awards, held annually since 2010 as part of the Victoria Whisky Festival, shine a spotlight on the finest Canadian whiskies. Over two dozen awards were presented during this year’s 15th edition, recognizing achievements across a wide range of categories.

These prestigious awards are entirely independent, with all entries subjected to blind tastings and scored based on rigorous industry standards. Only whiskies distilled and matured in Canada are eligible, making this a true celebration of homegrown craftsmanship.

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Lifetime Award Winner Tish Harcus with Hosts Heather Leary and Davin de Kergommeaux | Photo: Jen Steel Photography

This year’s gala also honoured Tish Harcus with a Lifetime Award for her amazing career in the industry, which was made possible by the generous support of presenting sponsor Spirits Canada.

For the complete list of gold, silver, and bronze winners, visit the Canadian Whisky Awards website HERE and explore the full spectrum of excellence in Canadian whisky.

Author Profile

Helen Siwak, Luxury Lifestyle Observer
Helen Siwak, Luxury Lifestyle Observer
Helen Siwak is the founder of EcoLuxLuv Marketing & Communications Inc and publisher of Folio.YVR Luxury Lifestyle Magazine and PORTFOLIOY.YVR Business & Entrepreneurs Magazine. She is a prolific content creator, consultant, and marketing and media strategist within the ecoluxury lifestyle niche. Post-pandemic, she has worked with many small to mid-sized plant-based/vegan brands to build their digital foundations and strategize content creation and business development. Helen is the west coast correspondent to Canada’s top-read industry magazine Retail-Insider, holds a vast freelance portfolio, and consults with many of the world’s luxury heritage brands. Always seeking new opportunities and challenges, you can email her at helen@ecoluxluv.com.
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