Choosing just one whisky to celebrate is never easy, but thanks to our panel of industry experts and the attendees at our judging event just off London’s Fleet Street, we have whittled down a shortlist of six to just one: our Whisky of the Year 2023.

This year’s shortlist included whiskies from the highlands and the islands, bold peat bombs, a fruity red wine cask single malt and a rich, coastal whisky. After much deliberation the votes were cast and the winner was clear: the Whisky of the Year is Ledaig 18 Year Old.

Tobermory is a dark horse of a distillery. Sitting on the seafront in the town of Tobermory on the Isle of Mull, it has historically suffered from financial troubles and long periods of closure. However under current owners Distell, Tobermory’s fortunes have totally changed. Whisky drinkers around the world have embraced the distillery’s two very different whiskies produced there – the fruity yet coastal Tobermory and the powerful, smoky Ledaig.

Building on the success of the whisky, in 2019 Tobermory launched its own gin. The uniquely Hebridean spirit is distilled with elderflower, heather, black tea grown on the island (seriously), and a little dash of new-make Tobermory spirit. It’s a rich and floral gin, with a little citrus and a creamy texture – excellent in a Negroni.