South Africa’s Winning Whisky: World’s Best Blended Title

Raise your glasses up for South Africa’s award-winning whiskey.

This past month, a South African whisky achieved a major accolade. It was named World’s Best Blended Whisky at the 2025 World Whiskies Awards (WWA). The event was hosted in London by TheDrinksReport.com.

Beating whiskies from Scotland, America, Japan, and Ireland, amongst others. The whiskies were blind judged, which means that they were presented to the judges without a label. The whiskies are judged based on their appearance, nose, taste, and finish. They are evaluated for balance, character, and complexity. This process determines the best in the world.

The best in blended whisky is from a producer that is no stranger to awards. This is the third time that Three Ships Whisky has won a World’s Best title.

The Three Ships Whisky Bourbon Cask was the winner of the World’s Best Blended Whisky award. The whisky is a blend of grain and malt whiskies, distilled separately in copper pot and column stills.

Then it is matured in a combination of older and younger ex-Bourbon American oak casks. The whisky develops a smooth and layered character. It has a lingering sweet and spicy finish.

Something the judges at the awards picked up and appreciated. They stated, amongst other comments that; “…[The] Spicy oak adds structure and interest while brown sugar and vanilla contribute to a rounded finish.”

Walters Uys, Lead Spirits Intrinsic at Heineken Beverages South Africa, made a statement. He said that though the country is still young in the whisky making business. South Africa’s unique climate adds to what sets their whisky apart from the rest.

“Our warm South African climate required us to think differently about whisky and find innovative ways to work with our warmer temperatures, not against it,” says Uys. “While we adhere to the same whisky-making regulations as Scotland – using only water, yeast, grain and oak casks with a minimum maturation of three years – our conditions are unique. The climate accelerates maturation and although our Angels’ Share is considerably higher than colder countries, our whiskies truly stand-out as exceptionally smooth and flavourful.”