The results shown below represent the views of five of the world's greatest malt whisky specialists (the order of the writers in the table is not the order in which they appear below). These scores reflect the overall status of the malt brands based on :- 

• The quality of the malt 
• The consistency of that quality over time 
• How the distillery is judged in general by malt whisky writers 
• Focus on the main brand expression in each respective market 

The following malt whisky writers who made up the MMC panel have been chosen for their reputation, integrity and world-wide perspective :-

MICHAEL JACKSON - 
Author of "Malt whisky companion" - world's best selling malt whisky book, 4 editions in 7 languages - 450,000 copies. "The maven of malt" Wall Street Journal. Total books sold 3,000,000. Has also written in the Malt Advocate, The Wine Spectator, Wine & Spirit Magazine, Decanter, Wine Enthusiast, Food & Wine, Playboy, The Washington Post, The Independent, and is a Consulting Editor of The Whisky Magazine. Has lectured at the Culinary Institute of America, Cornell University, Smitsonian Institute, National Geographic Society & The Suntory Food Business School in Tokyo.

F PAUL PACULT - 
Author of the best selling books "Kindred Spirits" and "The Beer Essentials", and the founding editor and publisher of the influential newsletter "The Spirit Journal" the Independent Guide to Distilled Spirits, Beer, & Fortified Wines. Paul is a Life Member of the prestigious scotch whisky society "The Keepers of the Quaich" and a special projects editor for "The New York Times Magazine". He is also the wine and spirits columnist for "Sky" Delta Air Lines magazine, a contributing editor of "Wine & Spirits" and "Wine Enthusiast", as well as the president of Spirit Journal, Inc., a privately owned publishing, special events, consulting, and broadcasting company.

PROFESSOR WALTER SCHOBERT (aka "The Whisky Pope") - 
Author of "Malt Whisky Guide 3rd Edition", "The Glenmorangie Trail" to the best whisky shops and pubs in Germany, "The Single Malt Notebook". Editor of "Schobert's Whisky Watch" Malt Whisky Guide (3rd edition). Completed a new book, launched during the bookfair in Frankfurt; "The Whisky Lexikon"(Encyclopedia of Whisky). Neil Wilson will publish an English version. Regular Contributor to Der Feinschmecker (Germany's leading monthly magazine on good food and drinks) Die Bar (German Bar Trade Magazine), Pipe and Cigar (Quarterly articles on whisky). Made "Whisky, The Water of Life" 3 part feature film for ZDF (Germany's channel). "Scotland's Whisky Makers" feature film on SWF (aired nation-wide). Honorary degree in doctor of letters from University of Edinburgh.

NAMORU TSUCHIYA - 
Books "Malt Whisky Taizen" "The Complete Guide to Scotch Malt", "Single Malt Scotch Whisky". Contributed to Nikkei Newspaper, Kyodo News Service, Evening Fuji, Rapita Magazine, Serai Magazine, Weekly Schincho, Weekly Hoseki, Quality Britain, amongst others. Broadcast work for NHK, TBS broadcast co. Lectured tour to Japanese Bartenders Association, Hotel Barman's Association.

JIM MURRAY - 
is one of the most prodigious whisky writers. He has been voted whisky writer of the year on 3 occasions (1992, 1994, 1996). Renowned for his non-pretentiousness and candour. His publications include "The Irish Whisky Almanac" "The One Hundred Malts", "The complete Guide to whisky", "The Art of whisky" and "The Art of Whisky" and "A Taste of Irish Whiskey".