The World’s Best Whiskey—According To The 2026 London Spirits Competition

LifestyleSpiritsThe World’s Best Whiskey—According To The 2026 London Spirits CompetitionByBrad Japhe,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. You can find me at the confluence of food, beverage and travel.Follow AuthorApr 26, 2026, 03:29pm EDTApr 26, 2026, 03:30pm EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.SummaryThe London Spirits Competition named Root Shoot American Single Malt the top whiskey for 2026. This 4-year-old, $42 Colorado craft spirit surprisingly scored 97 points, beating global giants like Scotch and Bourbon. Its win, based on quality, value, and marketability, significantly boosts the nascent American Single Malt category's international standing.Show More Root Shoot American Single Malt, 4yr Bottled-in-BondPhoto illustration: Brad JapheThe London Spirits Competition convened in its namesake city earlier this spring to evaluate the best bottles on shelves in 2026 across all categories of booze. The judges, which include some of the most esteemed palates in all of the UK, sort through bottles and award a score out of 100 based upon their respective quality, value and “what they look like.”As opposed to other judgings out there, LSC finds separation by taking marketability into account. In its own words: it singles out and shines the spotlight on those spirits brands that consumers really want to buy and have a clear market value for trade buyers. And as that applies to whiskey, it yielded a top-scoring bottle for 2026 that is nothing short of shocking. With 97 out of a possible 100 points, the winner is Root Shoot American Single Malt. It’s a 4-year old, bottled-in-bond expression from a lesser known craft distillery out of Loveland, Colorado. Clocking in at 100-proof (as required of a bottled-in-bond product), it’s a rich, semi-sweet sipper that can be found on shelves for around $42 a bottle. On its face, there are ma...