ICONS OF WHISKY 2011

[Rob Allanson]

Whisky Magazine's 'Icons of Whisky' have become one of the highlights of the whisky calendar and the 2011 competition has lived up to its reputation with the number and quality of companies entering the awards. The Icons are designed to celebrate the people and places behind the amber liquid. The 2011 Icons of Whisky were announced at a dinner held at The Waldorf Hilton, London, in March 2011 and the winners are as follows:

*WINNERS - ICONS OF WHISKY 2011
Whisky Retailer of the year, single outlet Gordon & MacPhail, Scotland
Whisky Retailer of the year, multiple outlet Royal Mile Whiskies, Scotland
Whisky Online Retailer of the Year The Whisky Exchange, England
Whisky Visitor Attraction of the Year Speyside Cooperage, Scotland
Whisky Brand Innovator of the Year James Sedgwick Distillery, South Africa
Whisky Ambassador of the Year Richard Paterson, Whyte & Mackay
Lifetime Achievement Award Evan Cattanach, Diageo
Whisky Distiller of the Year William Grant & Sons, Scotland

Initially, nominations for the awards are invited from the industry themselves. Based on the evidence supplied, an independent, international, editorial panel, chaired by Rob Allanson, editor of Whisky Magazine UK, draw up a shortlist from which the winners are picked. Voting rounds are held in the USA and Scotland in conjunction with 'Whisky Live' events (http://www.whiskylive.com). Nominations are also invited from the rest of the world. The global icons are then drawn from this final shortlist.

Rob Allanson, Chairman of the Judge's comments: "This year, in some cases we have seen smaller companies punching well above their weight to top their bigger rivals in the polls. The results also reflect the global nature of the whisky world. To make the final shortlist, given the all-encompassing nature of these awards and the quality of the entries, is an honour. I heartily congratulate all the 2011 winners as well as the shortlisted individuals and companies."

SHORTLISTED - ICONS OF WHISKY 2011
Whisky Retailer of the year, single outlet
Arkwrights, Rest of World
Federal Wines and Spirits, USA

Whisky Retailer of the year, multiple outlet
Binny's, USA
Shinanoya Shokuhin, Rest of World

Whisky Online Retailer of the Year
Loch Fyne Whiskies, Scotland

Whisky Visitor Attraction of the Year
Kavalan Distillery, Rest of World
Maker's Mark, USA

Whisky Brand Innovator of the Year
Diageo's Masters of Whisky scheme, USA
Gordon & MacPhail, Scotland

Whisky Ambassador of the Year
Simon Brooking, Beam Global
Gillian Macdonald, Penderyn
Stephen Marshall, John Dewar & Sons
Fred Noe, Beam Global

Lifetime Achievement Award
Evan Cattanach, Diageo

Whisky Distiller of the Year
Amrut Distillery, Rest of World
Four Roses Distillery, USA
Tuthilltown Spirit, USA