Industry votes for whisky icons

[Sally Toms]

Whisky Magazine’s Icons of Whisky awards will be announced at a special dinner at Whisky Live London in March. Scores of industry personalities have been voting for the short-lists, which include nominations from across the world. The full short lists are:

DISTILLER OF THE YEAR
For the company that has shown the most commitment to the development of whisky at all levels

Allied Domecq
Buffalo Trace
Chivas Brothers
Diageo
Four Roses
Gordon & MacPhail

VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR
The whisky visitor centre that has made the greatest contribution over the last twelve months

Dewar’s World of Whisky
Edradour Distillery
Glenfiddich Distillery
Heaven Hill
Museum of Cocktails, Las Vegas
Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre

RETAILER OF THE YEAR (SINGLE)
The single outlet retailer that has made the greatest headway in selling whisky during the year

BBR Retail
Just Miniatures
Loch Fyne Whiskies
Park Avenue Liquor
The Vintage House
The Wee Dram
The Whisky Exchange

RETAILER OF THE YEAR (MULTIPLE)
The multiple retailer that has made the greatest headway in selling whisky during the year

La Maison du Whisky
Robert Graham & Co
Royal Mile Whiskies
The Whisky Shop / Glenkeir
World of Whiskies

BAR / RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
The bar or restaurant that has made the greatest commitment to whisky over the past year

Cayenne, Belfast
Harbour Inn, Osaka
Oran Mor, Glasgow
Salt, London
Speyside Way, Tokyo
The Brandy Lounge, New York
The Canny Man’s, Edinburgh
The Limestone Restaurant, Louisville
The Pot Still, Glasgow
Whiskey Blue, New York

HOTEL OF THE YEAR
The hotel that has made the greatest commitment to whisky over the past year

Cape Grace, South Africa
City Inn, London and Scotland
Craigellachie, Scotland
Drumchork Lodge, Scotland
The Grouse Inn, Scotland

INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR
For the person or company that has done most to develop whisky in new directions and to new consumers

Allied Domecq
Bob Dalgarno, The Edrington Group
Easy Drinking Whisky
Edradour
Reserve Brands
Shigeo Sato, master blender at Nikka

AMBASSADOR OF WHISKY
A person who has made the greatest contribution to promoting whisky to the consumer around the world

Gregor Cattanach, Schieffelin & Somerset
Jim Cryle, Chivas Brothers
Iain Henderson, Edradour
Alastair McIntosh, the Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre
Willie Tait, Whyte & Mackay