The stage is set for what many consider the “Oscars of Spirit Competitions.” Earlier this year in April, the San Francisco World Spirits Competition hosted its annual multi-day judging event. Since then, we’ve seen a steady stream of Double Gold winners. To achieve this prestigious award, entries must be scored 90 or above by multiple judges. With hundreds of winners across numerous spirit categories, the anticipation is building for the biggest announcement of them all: “Best In Show.”

This highly coveted title, reserved for the best spirit of 2024, will be revealed on the weekend of October 5th at a special ticketed event called Top Shelf. This exclusive gathering will provide attendees with a sneak peek into the industry’s finest spirits, including a grand gala where the finalists for the Best In Show crown will be unveiled.

In the race for the top honor, five exceptional single malt scotches have made the final cut. These distinguished distilleries are well-known to connoisseurs, though some of the releases are more elusive than others:

  • The GlenDronach Parliament Aged 21 Years Single Malt Scotch Whisky: This rich, robust single malt is matured in a combination of Oloroso and PX sherry casks. Known for its emphasis on Spanish oak, GlenDronach delivers a flavorful experience with this “sugarplum bomb,” available at a reasonable price.

  • Tomintoul 21 Year Old: A Speyside malt aged entirely in ex-bourbon barrels, showcasing subtle notes of caramel, vanilla, and coconut. Nicknamed “The Gentle Dram,” this whisky is a signature expression of Tomintoul’s delicate approach.

  • Talisker 45 Year Old Glacial Edge: The oldest Talisker release to date, this unique offering from the Xpedition Oak series boasts a single malt aged over four decades, matured in a cask that was “ice-fractured” in the Canadian Arctic. With just 2,455 bottles worldwide, this complex whisky features notes of salted toffee, seaweed, and cracked pepper.

  • Tomatin 45 Highland Single Malt Scotch: Often overlooked, Tomatin’s well-aged Oloroso Sherry cask release deserves more attention. This whisky offers tropical fruit on the nose and treacle, cherry, and marmalade on the palate, finishing with roasted cacao and coffee.

  • Aberlour 2010 Double Cask Matured: A rare gem available only to members of The Whisky Club in Australia, this 13-year-old malt was matured in American oak and Spanish sherry butts, delivering vibrant flavors of strawberry, orange zest, and peppered peaches. For the rest of us, the Aberlour 12 offers an excellent alternative.

The Top Shelf Experience

Top Shelf, originally launched last year in Las Vegas by The Tasting Alliance, is coming home to San Francisco in 2024 for its biggest event yet. The experience promises to be a blend of consumer and trade offerings, featuring multiple tasting rooms, masterclasses, and over 80 brands.

This year’s masterclasses will include a session on small batch American whiskey led by Ian Somerhalder, co-founder of Brother’s Bond, as well as a seminar on independent bottling by Richard Urquhart of Gordon & MacPhail. Leo Gibson of Bhakta Spirits will guide attendees through the Armagnac category, while Diageo’s Ewan Morgan will present some of the rarest scotches from the renowned Ghost Distilleries.