The International Whisky Competition® is the world’s most-followed whisky-exclusive competition, commanding a global audience of industry professionals and discerning enthusiasts. Each winning expression is awarded a uniquely designed medal—amplifying its visibility and signifying unmatched prestige in the marketplace.
Founded in 2010, the IWC was created to serve the world’s whisky lovers, master distillers, and the artisans behind the cask. From the beginning, our mission has been to uphold the integrity of true competition—awarding only three medals per category: Gold, Silver, and Bronze—reflecting the exclusivity and rigor of the Olympic model.
Our focus is singular: to present the world’s finest whiskies to a professional tasting panel through a double-blind, one-at-a-time evaluation process introduced in 2015. This disciplined method ensures each whisky receives complete, unbiased attention. Detailed tasting notes accompany every entry—meticulously recorded and compiled as part of the most comprehensive tasting system in any spirits competition—judged by true Masters of Whisk(e)y and leading industry professionals, delivering the most respected and authoritative evaluations in the field.
Max Solano – Competition Director, International Whisky Competition.
Max Solano is the current Competition Director for the International Whisky Competition, a role he has held since 2023. In this position, he oversees the integrity, structure, and execution of one of the world’s most respected whisky judging events. His leadership has helped shape the competition’s rigorous standards, contributing to its continued global prestige.
With over 20 years of experience in the beverage industry, Max brings deep expertise as a mixologist, whisky educator, and consultant. Before joining the IWC, he served as Head Mixologist and Whisky Educator for Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits of Nevada, where he played a key role in developing educational programs and expanding whisky knowledge among both trade and consumer segments.
Now an independent consultant, Max advises on bar programs, spirits education, and portfolio development across several U.S. markets. A decorated industry veteran, he has judged for major competitions including the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, New York World Wine & Spirits Competition, and the Ascot Awards.
Based in Las Vegas, Max continues to be a trusted authority in whisky and cocktail culture, blending deep product knowledge with a passion for elevating the spirits industry.
medals and Medallions
Unique medals ! Only 3 medals (Gold, Silver & Bronze) per category. Just like in the Olympics, we believe not everyone can be a winner nor should they. Category winners (excluding flavored and RTDs) must score above 85 points to be eligible for a medal.
Medallion Point System: Introduced in 2015, we added the medallion point system as each whisky tasted is also scored. Scores for Medallions range from 85 Points to 100 Points. This way each whiskies which performed well can showcase their points.
OPTIONAL POINTS MEDALLION COLORS ARE NOW AVAILABLE IN GOLD AND SILVER
The International Whisky Competition will take place in mid-May annually, and we invite your distillery to be part of the World’s most-followed Whisky Competition.
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