JAPANESE DISTILLERY - YAMAZAKI - WINS 'BEST SINGLE MALT WHISKY'. Three Japanese whiskies took major titles in this year's World Whiskies Awards; with Suntory scooping two of the top titles, the first time a distiller has done this in the history of the awards and Nikka securing the blended malt title for the third year running.

300 whiskies battled over three intensive blind tasting rounds for the coveted titles of the '2011 Best Whiskies in the World'. Judges for Whisky Magazine's independent editorial panel were drawn from the best journalists and retailers across the world, with industry representatives made up of master blenders, distillers and brand ambassadors in the final round. The winners of the '2011 World Whiskies Awards' were as follows:

The World Whiskies Awards is the annual selection of the very best whiskies internationally. This year entries have been received from; Canada, France, India, Ireland, Japan, Scotland, South Africa, Sweden, USA and Wales. Categories are based upon the commonly held whisky groupings, which define both the style and the process of whisky and whisky production: single malt, blended, blended malt, grain, American and whisky liqueurs. Organised by *Whisky Magazine, this annual competition selects, awards and promotes to consumers and trade the 'Best Whiskies in the World'.

The competition is open to **proprietary bottlings only, and is chaired by Dave Broom, contributing editor of Whisky Magazine and editor-in-chief of Whisky Magazine Japan, and exists to inform and educate consumers throughout the world about whisky. Categories are based upon the commonly held whisky groupings which define the style and process of whisky/whiskey production; malt whisky, blended whisky, blended malt whisky, American whiskey and whisky liqueurs.

Chairman of the judges, Dave Broom, commented: "The competition featured some eye-opening whiskies and the judging panel had a hard time separating the good from the very good. My congratulations go to the winners, the judges' exacting standards mean that the winners are truly the greatest whiskies in the world."

CHAIRMAN OF JUDGES
Dave Broom: Contributing editor, Whisky Magazine UK. Editor of Whisky Magazine Japan. Whisky expert.

EUROPE
Rob Allanson: Editor of Whisky Magazine
Charles MacLean: Former Whisky Magazine editor. Whisky expert
Tom Morton: BBC journalist. Whisky writer
Martine Nouet: Former editor of Whisky Magazine France. Whisky chef
Neil Ridley: Whisky Blogger (caskstrength.net)
Dominic Roskrow: Former editor of Whisky Magazine. Whisky expert
Bernhard Schafer: Writer, expert and judge
Annabel Meikle: Industry Expert
Ed Bates: Industry Expert
Sukhinder Singh: Owner Whisky Exchange
Serge Valentin: Whisky Blogger and self-confessed Malt Maniac
Regis Lemaitre whisky expert
Jonny McCormick whisky expert

USA
Charles Cowdery: Bourbon expert . Whisky writer
Mark Gillespie: Whisky Podcaster. Whisky expert
Mike Miller: Bar owner of Delilah's. Whisky expert
Liza Weisstuch: Whisky Magazine contributor

CANADA
Davin de Kergommeaux: Malt Maniac. Canadian whisky expert

JAPAN
David Croll

*Whisky Magazine
Whisky Magazine is published 8 times a year and is the leading publication in this sector. Every issue brings you articles on the art, science and romance of the 'water of life', plus pages of informative tasting notes.

**Proprietary Whiskies - owned by the distiller and brand owner