World whisky has grown into something much bigger over the last decade. Japan, India, and Taiwan have all earned international attention and acclaim, and that same sense of excitement is now being applied to many other countries releasing a wide range of whiskies for us to enjoy.
Below are seven bottles that really caught our eyes and taste buds at the 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Let us know if you’ve tried any of them.
Argentina: Madoc Single Cask Red Wine Cask Peated Single Malt Whisky, 43%, £40/$63, Gold Medal
Started in 2016 by Pablo Tognetti, MADOC is the creator of the first Argentinian whisky. Located in Dina Huapi, Patagonia, on the steppe of the Andes Mountains, this is a lightly peated single malt, with the peat sourced from Scotland.
Aged in ex-red wine casks from Argentina, it offers a stunning flavor profile of delicate red fruits, soft peatiness, baked vanilla, and well-integrated green fruit notes. Something to track down if you find yourself in Argentina.
Canada: Dillon’s Small Batch Distillers Rye 1 Whisky, 54.1%, $75 CAD, Double Gold Medal
A limited release of single grain rye whisky from a single cask of new Ontario oak. Sourced, mashed, distilled, and bottled in Ontario, it is certainly a one-of-a-kind style.
Limited to just 450 bottles, this rye starts with an earthy profile before mellowing into sweet chocolate and banana bread notes. There are hints of darker, earthier flavors, with the chocolate leaning into dark territory and the banana having that slightly unripe, almost woody quality. However, the fruitiness is still very dominant.
Powerful oak comes through on the palate and finish, while the rye shines with notes of mint, apple, and fresh lemon.
China: Laizhou Fino Sherry Cask Single Malt Whisky, 46%, £51, Double Gold Medal
Hailing from Sichuan and the village of Qionglai, once the first stop on the Silk Road, this distillery already has centuries of geographical history behind it.
Solely matured in first-fill fino sherry casks, and shaped by China’s heat and humidity, this is a rather special expression of whisky for not a lot of money. Fino sherry is the driest of all sherries, and it has given this whisky a wonderfully nutty and sweet fruit profile. Expect plenty of almonds, walnuts, plums, and woody spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg. Something for all of us to get our hands on.
Denmark: Stauning RØG Whisky, 43%, Gold Medal
Created from 100% locally grown rye and barley, then matured in a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-Madeira casks, this whisky also has some gentle smokiness to it. RØG means “smoke” in Danish.
This is a very fruit-forward style, with banana, apples, and cherry, leaning into the smokiness just enough to add an impressive layer of earthy complexity. It is quite buttery, too, with lots of brioche notes, browned butter, and even some dark chocolate chip cookie flavors coming through. Stauning has always produced memorable whiskies, and this is another one that ticks all the boxes.
Stauning is sold by a variety of retailers across the world, but this particular whisky proves hard to find. You can check out the retailers here.
India: Devans GianChand Indian Single Malt Whisky, 42.8%, ₹2,800 to ₹4,850 , Double Gold Medal
A lesser-known release from India, one of the most powerful whisky-producing countries in the world and the largest consumer of whisky globally.
This release hails from the lap of the Himalayan Mountains and has a peaty edge to it. Not a huge amount of peat, but just enough to raise its head among the wealth of sweet and creamy notes that seem to pour out of this whisky.
There are big notes of ginger and brandy snaps on the nose, with some honeycomb working its way through, too. The palate brings sweet vanilla cream and soft, drying peat, which counters the sweetness of dried fruits. The finish is long and clingy, with plenty of chocolate, pepper, and soft fruit sweetness.
Romania: Carpathian Single Malt Whisky Ruby Port Cask Finish, 46%, £60, Gold Medal
Carpathian has helped pioneer the whisky scene in Romania, making its products accessible to as many markets as possible while keeping them affordable.
Initially matured in ex-bourbon casks before being moved into ex-ruby port casks made from European oak, this whisky has welcoming notes of blackberry, vanilla, and raisin. The palate follows in a similar vein, with more red fruits and a wonderfully creamy texture. The finish is lingering and equally creamy, with lots of cheesecake, raspberry, and sweet milk chocolate. Easily one of the best distilleries in Europe right now.
South Korea: Ki One Tiger Korean Single Malt, 46%, £60, Double Gold Medal
Located on the outskirts of Seoul and taking advantage of the soaking hot sunshine of Asian summers, Ki One has been releasing some incredible whiskies with varied cask influences across its single malt range.
The Tiger Edition was the first release in its core range, taking its cask influence from ex-sherry and ex-red wine casks. Not only does it get exceptionally warm and humid in South Korea, but the winters are also devastatingly cold, allowing for plenty of wood influence across aging stocks.
Loaded on the nose with sticky dates, figs, and raisins, the palate leans more heavily into chocolate, leather, and toasted nuts. A new favorite of mine in the world whisky category.
A World Of Whisky Worth Exploring
Scotland, Ireland, and America were the dominant names in whisky for a very long time, especially on an international scale. Now, newer distilleries from all over the globe are showing us their passion and enthusiasm for this incredible spirit.
Whether it is from Scotland, Romania, South Korea, India, Denmark, or anywhere else, there is a flavor profile out there to capture your attention. These whiskies feel genuinely fresh and exciting, but more importantly, they taste excellent, too.