MMA 2015 awards

[Diademo]

They've just announced: MMA 2015 category awards (http://www.maltmaniacs.net/awards/)

Supreme Champion
Kavalan "Solist' (58.6%, OB, NAS, Sherry Cask c#S060904024, 551 Bts., 2015*)

Ultra Premium Category (price greater than €150)
Supreme Winner: Glenfarclas 19yo 1994/2014 "Double Cask' (58.7%, OB, Oloroso c#3913&3914, 556 Bts.)
Best Sherried Whisky: Macallan "Remix' (58.9%, OB, NAS, Special Asian Release, 500 Bts.)
Best Peated Whisky: Caol Ila 25yo 1990/2015 (54.3%, Wilson & Morgan, Oloroso finish, c#4707&4708, 408 Bts.)
Best Natural Cask: Slaney Malt 23yo 1991/2015 (59%, Adelphi, Ireland, c#10516, 134 Bts.)
Thumbs Up Award: Overeem "Cask Strength - Sherry Cask' (60%, OB, NAS, c#OHD-074, 47 Bts., 2015*)

Premium Category (bottles in the range from €51 to €150)
Supreme Winner: Kavalan "Solist' (58.6%, OB, NAS, Sherry Cask c#S060904024, 551 Bts., 2015*)
Best Sherried Whiskies: Kavalan "Solist' (56.3%, OB for Asia Palate Association, NAS, Sherry Cask c#S081229019, 522 Bts., 2015*)
Kavalan "Solist' (57.1%, OB for Asia Palate Association, NAS, Sherry Cask c#S081229020, 526 Bts., 2015*)
The two whiskies have exactly the same average score, so we think it is only fair to give the award to both.
Best Peated Whisky: Amrut "Peated' (62.1%, Blackadder Raw Cask, NAS, c#BA20/2015, 182 Bts., 2015)
Best Natural Cask: Chichibu 2010/2014 "Chibi Daru' (53.5%, Number One Drinks, 6200 Bts.)
Thumbs Up Award: Amrut "Spectrum' (50 %,OB, NAS, Bourbon, Hand-crafted 5 wood, 1000 Bts., 2015)

Daily Dram Category (bottles with a typical price no higher than €50)
Supreme Winner: Nantou 3yo 2010/2014 (58%, OB for Aroma TW, Sherry Cask c#841, 240 Bts.)Sherry Finish C#BA2013/451, 370 Bts., 2013)
Best Sherried Whisky: Nantou 4yo 2010/2015 "Omar' (58.4%, OB, Sherry Cask c#21091305, 246 Bts.)
Best Peated Whisky: Lagavulin 16yo (43%, OB, 2015*)
Best Natural Casks: Nantou 6yo 2009/2015 "Omar' (56.8%, OB, Bourbon Cask c#11090105, 190 Bts.)
Thumbs Up Award: Ballechin 10yo (46 %, OB, Heavily Peated, Bourbon & Oloroso)

[Genuine Risk]

Just had a look down the full list and its is a bit depressing in the not too distant past these guys were getting sent Port Ellens, old Glendronachs, Karuizawa, etc. Im not sure if it is a reflection of a lack of good aged stock in the industry or distilleries not intreseted in having the "best" stuff blindly judged.

I like the idea of blind tasting and appreciate what they are trying to do but it isnt what it once was.
_________________
Putting the func in dysfunctional.

[Diademo]

Probably they aren't getting any Glendronach 40+ yo samples:

For years this was the most respectful and influential independent competition (well, a bit strange medal system) but as many things in our whisky world, they are changing too.