After the tremendous success of the DRAM1 Whisky Award 2025, we are excited to take the next step. In 2026 we proudly introduce the DRAM1 Indie Award 2026— an award dedicated entirely to the world of independent whisky bottlers.
Independent bottlers play a vital role in the whisky industry. They uncover unique casks, bottle whiskies that distilleries may never release themselves, and often surprise whisky lovers with exceptional and unexpected expressions. With the DRAM1 Indie Award, we want to celebrate exactly that spirit of discovery and craftsmanship.
And just like the previous award, this is not decided by a small closed jury. Instead, the whisky community itself decides the outcome.
Become a DRAM1 Indie Award Tasting Panel Member
By purchasing the DRAM1 Indie Award 2026 Tasting Panel Set and submitting your scores for all 12 whiskies, you officially become a DRAM1 Indie Award Tasting Panel Member.
👉 Order the tasting set here:
https://www.whiskysite.nl/nl/dram1-indie-award-2026.html
Inside the set you will find 12 blind whisky samples (2.5cl each) from 12 different independent bottlers. Every whisky is tasted completely blind. No labels, no brands, no preconceptions — only the whisky itself in your glass.
This ensures that every dram is judged purely on aroma, flavour, balance and overall quality.
How the Competition Works
For the DRAM1 Indie Award 2026, each participating indie bottler submitted three different whiskies for the competition.
To make this possible, there are three different tasting sets in circulation. Each set contains one whisky from every participating bottler. When you purchase a set, you will receive one random set out of the three.
The final result is determined by combining the scores of all tasting panel members. For each bottler, the average score of their three submitted whiskies will be calculated.
The indie bottler with the highest overall average score will become the winner of the very first DRAM1 Indie Award.
If you would like to order multiple tasting sets and prefer to receive different sets, please mention this in the comments section of your order and we will do our best to accommodate.
Submitting Your Scores
Each tasting set includes a QR code that takes you directly to the correct scoring form for your set and language. This is the easiest way to submit your scores.
However, you can also use the links below if you prefer.
Set #1
Dutch:
DRAM1 Indie Award 2026 Tasting Set #1 – Nederlands
English:
DRAM1 Indie Award 2026 Tasting Set #1 – English
Set #2
Dutch:
DRAM1 Indie Award 2026 Tasting Set #2 – Nederlands
English:
DRAM1 Indie Award 2026 Tasting Set #2 – English
Set #3
Dutch:
DRAM1 Indie Award 2026 Tasting Set #3 – Nederlands
English:
DRAM1 Indie Award 2026 Tasting Set #3 – English
All scores must be submitted before May 29th at 23:30.
Winner Announcement at Whisky in Leiden 2026
The winner of the first-ever DRAM1 Indie Award will be officially announced during Whisky in Leiden 2026, where we will celebrate the best-performing independent bottler together with the whisky community.
🎟️ Tickets for the festival can be purchased here:
https://www.whiskysite.nl/nl/whisky-in-leiden/
DRAM1 Indie Award 2026 – Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DRAM1 Indie Award?
The DRAM1 Indie Award is a whisky award dedicated entirely to independent bottlers. Instead of a small expert panel, the winner is decided by whisky enthusiasts themselves.
By purchasing a tasting set and submitting your scores, you become part of the official DRAM1 Indie Award Tasting Panel and help determine which independent bottler will win the award.
What is included in the tasting set?
Each tasting set contains:
12 whisky samples
2.5cl per sample
One whisky from 12 different independent bottlers
A QR code linking to the scoring form
All whiskies are tasted completely blind, so you judge each dram purely on its aroma, flavour and overall quality.
How does the competition work?
Every participating independent bottler submitted three different whiskies for the competition.
To accommodate this, there are three different tasting sets in circulation.
Each set contains one whisky from every indie bottler, meaning each bottler is represented three times across the full competition.
The winner of the DRAM1 Indie Award 2026 will be the bottler with the highest average score across their three submitted whiskies, based on the scores submitted by all panel members.
Which tasting set will I receive?
When you order a set, you will receive one random set out of the three available sets.
Each set contains different whiskies, but every set always includes one whisky from each participating indie bottler.
Can I order multiple sets?
Yes.
If you order multiple sets, you can request different sets so you can taste more of the competition.
Simply mention this in the order comments and we will do our best to send different sets.
How do I submit my scores?
Inside the tasting set you will find a QR code that takes you directly to the correct scoring form.
You can also use the online forms manually by clicking the links in the article if you prefer.
What is the deadline for submitting scores?
All scores must be submitted before May 29th at 23:30.
Scores submitted after this deadline cannot be included in the final results.
When will the winner be announced?
The winner of the DRAM1 Indie Award 2026 will be announced during Whisky in Leiden 2026.
Tickets for the festival can be purchased here:
https://www.whiskysite.nl/nl/whisky-in-leiden/
Where can I buy the tasting set?
You can order the tasting panel set here:
https://www.whiskysite.nl/nl/dram1-indie-award-2026.html
A Whisky Award Built by the Community
The DRAM1 Indie Award is built around a simple idea: great whisky deserves to be judged by the people who love drinking it.
By becoming part of the tasting panel, you are not just tasting whisky — you are helping determine which independent bottler will take home the very first DRAM1 Indie Award.
We hope you will join the panel, discover some fantastic drams, and help us celebrate the creativity and quality that independent bottlers bring to the whisky world.
