Big news for Canadian whisky lovers: Macaloney’s Island Distillery has been awarded Canadian Whisky of the Year for its Peat Project Moscatel Barrique Single Malt at the prestigious 2025 Canadian Whisky Awards. This annual celebration of Canada’s finest whiskies took place on January 16 in Victoria, British Columbia, where the distillery’s unique creation rose to the top among nearly 200 contenders.
A Winning Whisky
Crafted using locally sourced barley and peat-smoked on-site, the award-winning whisky was matured in a European Moscatel wine barrique. The result? A perfectly balanced spirit that wowed the judges with its interplay of sweet malt, subtle fruit, bold pepper notes, and signature peat smoke.
“This whisky is a remarkable achievement,” said Davin de Kergommeaux, chair of the judging panel and author of Canadian Whisky: The Essential Portable Expert. “It represents an exciting shift in the Canadian whisky landscape, being the first Canadian peated single malt to take home this top honour.”
Highlights from the Awards
The 15th annual Canadian Whisky Awards showcased the creativity and craftsmanship of 45 Canadian distilleries. Notable winners included:
- Alternative Grain Whisky of the Year – Wayne Gretzky Distillery Single Grain Oats
- Blended Whisky of the Year – Signal Hill Founders Select Overproof Whisky
- Rye Whisky of the Year – Sons of Vancouver Distillery Realms of Rye – Release No. 01 ‘Citrus & Botanicals’
- Best Cask Strength Whisky – Two Brewers Release 45
The evening also recognized industry leaders like Chris Thompson of Forty Creek as Brand Ambassador of the Year and Mark Gillespie of WhiskyCast for Best Whisky Broadcast, Podcast, or Video Series.
Celebrating Excellence in Canadian Whisky
Since 2010, the Canadian Whisky Awards have been held annually during the Victoria Whisky Festival. These awards are entirely independent, with a panel of expert judges conducting blind tastings to evaluate each whisky based on industry standards. Only whiskies distilled and matured in Canada are eligible to compete. For the full list of winners and more information, visit canadianwhiskyawards.com.
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