A Saanich distillery took the top spot at the 2025 Canadian Whisky Awards in Victoria for distilling the top scored whisky of the year.

On Thursday, Jan. 16, Macaloney's Island Distillery took home the Canadian Whisky of the Year award for the Peat Project Moscatel Barrique single malt, which received the top score over around 200 competing whiskies in blind tastings from the 14 judges.

The whisky was distilled using local barley and peat-smoked at the distillery, then matured in a European moscatel wine barrique.

"This remarkably well-balanced whisky, fully matured while brightly youthful, shows a tightly woven interplay of sweet malt, discrete fruitiness, brisk peppers and of course, peat smoke,鈥� noted Davin de Kergommeaux, chair of the judging panel and renowned Canadian whisky expert, in a news release.

鈥淐anada鈥檚 distillers are bringing new practices, sensibilities and flavours to the Canadian whisky landscape, and now, for the first time ever, a Canadian peated single malt whisky distillery has won Canadian Whisky of the Year."

In addition, North Vancouver-based micro distillery Sons of Vancouver won Rye Whisky of the Year for their Realms of Rye 鈥� Citrus & Botanicals whisky.

Held annually since 2010 during the Victoria Whisky Festival, the Canadian Whisky Awards aims to recognize the very best of Canadian whiskies. An independent panel of experts scores each whisky in blind tastings, based on ranking criteria that reflect the industry鈥檚 highest standards.