Scottish whisky was touched into the long grass after a Japanese single malt was declared the best in the world.
Yamazaki Single Malt Sherry Cask 2013 was given the title by the 2015 World Whisky Bible, which is compiled by whisky expert Jim Murray.
Yamazaki is Japan’s oldest whisky distillery, founded in 1923, which produced but 16,000 bottles of the winning whisky. The ageing process took around 12 to 15 years in Oloroso sherry butts.
The award started in 2002 but it is the first time a Japanese whisky has been named number one and also the first time that the shortlist of five did not include a Scottish one.
Mr Murray said the whisky had “near indescribable genius” with a finish of “light, teasing spice”. He was backed up by whisky expert Sam Simmons who said the Japanese whisky was a "stunning" drink and a worthy winner.
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society noted that Japanese whiskies have gone from strength to strength in recent years, so award success was "inevitable and perhaps overdue".
Second place was awarded to the bourbon William Larue Weller and third to Sazerac Rye 18 Year Old.
