The 11th annual Canadian Whisky Awards, like so many other prestigious events over the last year, was unlike previous editions. The awards were announced via a YouTube livestream on Thursday, February 25 rather than at the postponed Victoria Whisky Festival. Davin de Kergommeaux, head judge and founder of the awards, first thanked his nine judges (six men and three women) before awarding the bronze, silver and gold medalists and key excellence awards.

To very little surprise, the top honour went to Canadian Club 43-Year-Old Chronicles "The Speakeasy Connoisseur". One of the oldest domestic spirits available commercially in the country, it was also named Whisky of the Year Domestic Market and Best Blended Whisky. It would be the first of many Canadian whiskies to receive the recognition they deserve. The whisky segment has been growing steadily, especially overseas where a smoother, sweeter profile has been growing in popularity and finding a market as a base for prohibition cocktail recipes. In 2018, Canadian whisky in the domestic market accounted for 59.9% of sales, while scotch stood in second position representing 20.7%.