back

Rules of the game

Blind Tasting Competition 2023 Playbook

The Blind Tasting Competition will start November 1th, 2023. The competition will consist of 12 samples to be tasted in 12 days. Each day, the participants can fill in their best guess for the particular sample of that day until 22:00 Central European Time. Participants may change their guess for the sample of the day until 22:00 CET. After that time, the last guess that was entered will be the final entry.

Participants are not obliged to enter a guess for each day. Participants may work ahead by tasting and entering whiskies for the following days.

At 22:00 the entry for that specific day will be closed, the whisky will be revealed, and the tasting results are presented.

Leaderboard

Each day, the leaderboard will display all participants by their chosen nicknames, with their results of the day and the total accumulated scores.

Competition rules

The samples represent one of six whisky regions: Campbeltown, the Highlands, Islay, the Lowlands, Speyside and Islay.

• Each region is featured at least once during the competition
• Consecutive samples will never come from the same region
• All whiskies have an alcohol percentage of at least 40%
• All whiskies are single malt whiskies from Scotland.
• A distillery will only appear once during the competition
• If the sample of the day is a No Age Specified (NAS) bottling of which the information is also unknown to us, the participants will automatically score 20 points for guessing the age.
• In the unlikely event that there is no name of the distillery available on the bottle, we will use the name of which we are 99% certain, even if this concerns a “teaspooned” malt.
• In case of any discussion: the decision of the Best of Whiskies team is final.
• Some distilleries produce various whiskies. The specific name of the whisky will have to be entered. For example, Springbank Distillery also produces Longrow and Hazelburn. If the whisky of the day was a Hazelburn but a participant filled in Springbank, this will be viewed as incorrect. This also applies, for example, to the whiskies made at Loch Lomond and on the Isle of Mull. We want to emphasize this viewpoint, so that it is clear to all participants.

How the scores are calculated

• The correct distillery (40 points)
• The correct region (20 points)
• The correct age (max 20 points, 10 points deduction for each year difference)
• Alcohol percentage (20 points, 1 point deducted for every 0.1% difference)

The rating of the sample of the day

No points can be earned here but is merely shown to determine the best whisky in th3e competition according to the participants. It's also nice to know in the end which whisky you liked best.

Prices

1st prize: A discount voucher to the value of €500,- plus a free sample box for the blind tasting competition 2023
2nd prize: A discount voucher to the value of €250,- plus a free sample box for the blind tasting competition 2023
3rd Prize: A discount voucher to the value of €100,- plus a free sample box for the blind tasting competition 2023

The participants on the 4th and 5th place will receive a free sample box for the blind tasting competition 2023.

Distilleries and their regions

Below the list of distilleries and their regions.

Campbeltown Glengyle (Kilkerran) Glen Scotia Longrow Springbank Hazelburn Highlands Aberfeldy Ardmore Ardnamurchan Balblair Ben Nevis Blair Athol Clynelish Croftengea Dalmore Dalwhinnie Deanston Dornoch Castle Edradour Fettercairn Glen Deveron Glen Ord Glendronach Glen Garioch Glenglassaugh Glengoyne Glenmorangie Glenturret Inchfad Inchmoan Inchmurrin Loch Lomond Macduff Nc'Nean Oban Old Pulteney Royal Lochnagar Teaninich Tomatin Tullibardine Ballechin Ben Wyvis Brora Glen Albyn Glenesk Glenlochy Glen Mhor Glenugie Glenury Royal Lochside Millburn North Port (Brechin) Wolfburn

Islands Abhainn Dearg Arran Highland Park Isle of Harris Jura Lagg Ledaig Raasay Scapa Talisker Tobermory Torabhaig Islay Ardbeg Ardnahoe Bowmore Bruichladdich Bunnahabhain Caol Ila Kilchoman Lagavulin Laphroaig Malt Mill Port Charlotte Port Ellen Lowlands Ailsa Bay Annandale Auchentoshan Ayrshire Bladnoch Daftmill Glenkinchie Glen Flagler Holyrood Inverleven Killyloch Kinclaith Ladyburn Lindores Abbey Littlemill Rosebank St. Magdalene Kingsbarns

Speyside Aberlour Allt-a-Bhainne Auchroisk Aultmore Balmenach Balvenie BenRiach Benrinnes Benromach Cardhu Cragganmore Craigellachie Dailuaine Dalmunach Dufftown Glenallachie Glenburgie Glendullan Glen Elgin Glen Grant Glenfarclas Glenfiddich Glen Keith The Glenlivet Glenlossie Glen Moray Glenrothes Glen Spey Glentauchers Inchgower Kininvie Knockando Knockdhu Linkwood Longmorn The Macallan Mannochmore Miltonduff Mortlach Mosstowie Royal Brackla Speyburn Strathisla Strathmill Tamdhu Tomintoul Tormore Banff Braeval Caperdonich Coleburn Convalmore Dallas Dhu Glencraig Imperial Distillery Parkmore Pittyvaich Tamnavulin