The awards, which are in their nineteenth year, are run by leading US whisky magazine, Whisky Advocate.

Well known UK spirits wrier Dave Broom who writes for Whisky Advocate, said: “I chose this Balvenie not just for its quality but for what it says about the whisky industry today and as a tribute to the 50 years that Balvenie’s malt master, David Stewart, has given to it.”

Stewart who is one of Scotch whisky’s most experienced blenders, made the Balvenie Tun 1401 Batch 5, by marrying five traditional American oak whisky casks and four European sherry oak sherry butts in the Tun 1401 – a traditional oak marrying. The casks selected for marrying ranged in age from 1966 to 1991.

The Balvenie Tun 1401 Batch 5 carried no age statement Dave Broom added: “It spoke of how blending works, of different characters being brought together to produce a dazzling result, of how the fragrant and light has its counterpoint in the raisined and tannic, of how it is flavor that matters and not a number on the label. No Age will become increasingly important, and if they’re of this standard then they should be welcomed.

The Balvenie Tun 1401 Batch 5 has an ABV of 50.1% and was first released from June 2012.