The Whisky Explorer Awards

Canada's Awards for All Whiskies

Which whisky will be crowned the BEST in Canada?
Will it be a Scotch Whisky, a Whiskey from Ireland, USA, Canada or a World Whisky?

Canada’s Only All-Inclusive Whisky Awards

Welcome to The Whisky Explorer Awards, a genuine whisky awards event that provides Canadian whisky enthusiasts with the chance to discover the selection of available whiskies in Canada and how they compare against each other.

We are proud to be the first and only awards ceremony highlighting all whisky regions available in Canada. Our mission is to showcase the unique and diverse range of whiskies that are available in Canada and provide a platform for world brands, distributors, retailers, and enthusiasts to discover the best whiskies by region and country.

We’re excited to announce that entries are now OPEN for the 2026 Whisky Explorer Awards!

This is your premier opportunity to earn recognition for your whisky and gain visibility with Canadian and international whisky lovers, connoisseurs, and the spirits trade. We are thrilled to share that entries for this year's competition open in August 2025.

To qualify, your whisky must be available for purchase in Canada and on sale during 2025.

International Entrants:
Producers from the USA and other countries are welcome, but all submissions must be shipped from within Canada. Due to regulations, we cannot accept international shipments. It is the producer’s responsibility to have spirits within Canada before sending them to us. Please note: only full bottles are accepted (sample bottles are not permitted).

Key Dates:
Entry deadline: September 15, 2025
Deadline to receive products: September 30, 2025
Awards announced: February 2026

Entry Instructions: If you are submitting only one entry:
Please email info@thewhiskyexplorer.ca with the details of your expression, then ship your bottle to:

TWE Awards
c/o Mike Brisebois
511 Carina Cres.
Ottawa, ON Canada
K2J 0Z4

If you are submitting multiple entries:
Please complete the submission form with your full list of entries, and be sure to include your one free entry in your shipment along with any additional bottles.

If you are submitting more than 10 entries:
You may email an Excel file listing the names of all expressions you are entering to info@thewhiskyexplorer.ca for convenience.

What’s New in 2026?
First entry is FREE!
Additional entries are $250

There’s never been a better time to put your whisky forward - whether it’s a Canada-exclusive release or a global contender.

Previous Winners – Setting the Bar for Excellence:

Past champions of the Whisky Explorer Awards are now household names among whisky fans. For example, the 2025 Best Whisky in Canada was Glen Moray Smoky Classic, praised for its luscious pear, rich sweet smoke, and exceptional complexity.

Other 2025 winners include:

Best Canadian Whisky: JP Wiser’s 28 Year
Best Irish Whiskey in Canada: Dunville’s 1808 Blended Irish Whiskey
Best American Whiskey in Canada: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
Best World Whisky in Canada: Seven Seals Port Wood Finish

To see the full list of category winners visit the official winners’ page!

Why Enter?

Your brand will be featured through The Whisky Explorer Media, reaching over 100,000 followers and amplifying your story across Canada and Internationally!

Winners are also highlighted in The Whisky Explorer Magazine, a dedicated media release, across Whisky Explorer socials, and in our newsletter - giving you exposure to an enthusiastic and engaged audience.

Appearances in the exclusive Whisky Explorer Winners Kit and curated content give year-round visibility for your distillery.

About the Whisky Explorer Awards

Judged by key whisky enthusiasts, writers and collectors and headed by Canada’s Whisky Ambassador, Mike Brisebois, the awards welcome entries from Canada, USA, Scotland, Ireland, and around the world. Winners gain valuable industry credibility, broader distribution opportunities, and loyal fans.

Join us in our mission to showcase the best whiskies available in Canada by entering your expressions to be recognized among the industry’s finest.

Raise a glass to your next big win - Enter Now!

Learn more

Showcasing whiskies available in Canada

The Whisky Explorer Awards, where we highlight the best whisky made available in Canada. We understand that as Canadian Whisky enthusiasts, it can be difficult to navigate the vast selection of whiskies available and find the truly outstanding ones. That's why we created an awards ceremony that recognizes the best whiskies available in Canada and provides a trusted source for enthusiasts to discover new and exciting expressions.

Our judging panel is multicultural, diverse, inclusive, and reputable, ensuring that the selection process is fair and accurate. To qualify for the awards, the whisky must be available for purchase in Canada, and our panel of judges selects the winners after tasting each whisky blind. This ensures that the awards are fully independent of the whisky industry, guaranteeing unbiased and honest results.

The Whisky Explorer Awards are a great opportunity for brands and distributors to showcase their expressions and gain recognition among Canadian Whisky Enthusiasts, Whisky Shops. Whisky Bars and Restaurants. Winning a Whisky Explorer Award is a great way to gain exposure and build a reputation as a top-performing brand in Canada.

Winners for The Whisky Explorer Awards
will be announced in February 2026!

How It Works

We are excited to announce that entries for this years competition will open in August 2025. To qualify for the awards, the whisky must be available for purchase in Canada, and entries must be available for sale in 2025.

We welcome entries from the USA and other countries, but producers must have them shipped from within Canada. Due to our regulations, we cannot accept international shipments. It is the responsibility of the producer to get their spirits into Canada before sending them to us. We will only accept entries in the form of full bottles, sample bottles will not be accepted.

The deadline for spirits shipping is September 30, 2025, and the awards will be announced in February 2026 at The Whisky Wonderland Festival. This festival is an annual event where Canadian Whisky Enthusiasts can come together to celebrate, taste and discover the best whiskies available in Canada.

Join us in our mission to showcase the best whiskies available in Canada, and enter your expressions to be recognized among the best in the industry.

Learn more