Special whisky stories are no longer coming just from Scotland, Ireland and Japan. Producers across China, Bulgaria and Spain are finding their own ways to interpret the spirit, experimenting with local ingredients, distinctive casks and different approaches to maturation. That these whiskies are special became clear at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles 2026 awards. And here we list the 5 Best Whiskies at CMB 2026, from the Glenwalk Blended Scotch Whisky, which is linked to India, the Chuan Pure Malt Whisky, Hinapska The Legacy, Carlos I Single Malt and Goalong Single Malt Whisky. They emerged as Grand Gold Medal winners. Here is a closer look at the bottles that stood out at this year's Spirits Selection at CMB 2026.
The Glenwalk Blended 48% 7 Years whisky takes the spotlight as the competition's Revelation Blended Whisky, earning a Grand Gold Medal for its seven-year-old expression. Produced in Scotland for Indian spirits company Cartel Bros, this blend is bottled at a higher-than-usual 48% ABV. Its profile brings together malt, fresh grass, vanilla and stone fruit, with a rounded palate and a lingering finish. It is an interesting example of an Indian-owned brand making its mark in the Scotch whisky category.
Award: Grand Gold Medal; Revelation Blended Whisky.
China's The Chuan secured the Revelation World Whisky title with its Master Distiller Cask Selection. Produced at Pernod Ricard's distillery near Mount Emei in Sichuan, the expression brings together mature Scottish single malt and younger whisky made at the Chinese distillery. Its maturation programme includes ex-bourbon, ex-sherry and Chinese oak casks. Bottled at 61.5% ABV, Chuan Pure Malt Whisky offers notes of vanilla, browned butter, toasted nuts and baking spices.
Award: Grand Gold Medal; Revelation World Whisky.
Bulgaria is not a name you will hear too often in whisky circles and that is why Hinapska The Legacy Single Malt Whisky's journey is so interesting. Hinapska has an unusual connection to fruit-growing. The producer began with jujube cultivation before moving into spirits, and its single malt whisky carries that heritage into the cask. The Legacy is finished in barrels that previously held the company's jujube liqueur. The result is a whisky with aromas of vanilla, cinnamon, chocolate and coffee, alongside oak and a balanced, lingering finish.
Award: Grand Gold Medal.
The Carlos I Single Malt Whisky 6 Years was an interesting turn taken by Spanish brandy producer Grupo Osborne. The whisky brings its experience with sherry casks to this six-year-old single malt. Made with 100% Spanish malt, the whisky spends its first four years in casks previously used for Oloroso and Amontillado sherry, followed by two years in old sherry solera casks. Expect dried fruit, toasted nuts, honey, chocolate and seasoned oak, with a distinctly dry sherry character on the finish.
Award: Grand Gold Medal.
The Goalong Single Malt Whisky Brandy Cask – Cask Strength comes from China's Hunan province. It is matured in a cask that previously held grape brandy from Xinjiang. Bottled at 58.3% ABV, it has a bold profile featuring green grapes, raisins, dried apple, cardamom and white pepper. On the palate, fruit and spice meet notes of chocolate, leather and malt, making this a particularly distinctive expression in the competition's world whisky selection.
Award: Grand Gold Medal.
The CMB 2026 whisky wards results make one thing clear: whisky's most interesting stories are no longer confined to its traditional strongholds. From a Scottish blend created for India to Chinese single malts and a even a Bulgarian whisky finished in jujube liqueur casks, these 5 whiskies show just how varied the category has become.