Reaching its fifth year, this competition has set the benchmark for Independent bottlers.The challenge was created to show off the best this sector has to offer. The Independents are acknowledged as offering the whisker lover something different from their favourite distillery.This year’s competition has shown that this sector is offering some phenomenal whiskies for the connoisseur.Each company was allowed to enter one whisky for each category, and it was then tasted blind and scored by members of the judging panel.THE JUDGES
JOURNALISTS
Dominic Roskrow
Tom Morton
RETAILERS
Darren Leitch
The Whisky Shop
Chris Goodrum
Gauntleys of Nottingham
OTHERS
Jim Anderson
The Anderson,
Fortrose,Scotland
John Clotworthy
Drumchork Lodge,
Aultbea,ScotlandCAMPBELTOWN
Independent bottler of the year
William Cadenhead Ltd12 Years Old and Under
GOLD Hazelburn 7 Years Old
William Cadenhead Ltd
SILVER Harbour-side Harmonies
Scotch Malt Whisky
Society
BRONZE Springbank 1996 Duncan
Taylor & Company13-18 Years Old
GOLD Glen Scotia 1992 Berry
Bros.& Rudd
SILVER Glen Scotia 17 Years Old
William Cadenhead Ltd
BRONZE Men Wrestling on a
Pebble Beach Scotch
Malt Whisky SocietyHIGHLAND
Independent bottler of the year
Ian Macleod Distillers Ltd12 Years Old and Under
GOLD Ben Nevis 1996 Robert
Graham
SILVER Glen Ord 11 Years Old
Dewar Rattray Ltd
BRONZE Dalmore St Etienne Rum
Ian Macleod Distillers Ltd13-18 Years Old
GOLD Clynelish 17 Years Old Ian
Macleod Distillers
SILVER A Chocolate Valentine
Scotch Malt Whisky
Society
SILVER Dalmore 17 Years Old
William Cadenhead Ltd19 years plus
GOLD Brora 26 Years Old Ian
Macleod Distillers Ltd
SILVER Spiced Figs (Dalmore)
Weymss Malts Ltd
SILVER Pulteney 1982 Dewar
Rattray LtdISLANDS (NON ISLAY)
Independent bottler of the year
Scotch Malt Whisky Society12 Years Old and Under
GOLD Banderas in a Tuxedo
Scotch Malt Whisky
Society
SILVER Arran 1996 Dewar
Rattray Ltd
BRONZE Isle of Jura Tokay Finish
Ian Macleod Distillers Ltd13-18 Years Old
GOLD Highland Park 1991
Duncan Taylor and
Company
SILVER Highland Park 18 Years
Old William Cadenhead
Ltd
BRONZE Tobermory Port Finish
Wilson & Morgan19 years plus
GOLD An Artist’s Retreat Scotch
Malt Whisky Society
ISLAY
Independent bottler of the year
Dewar Rattray Ltd12 Years Old and Under
GOLD Caol Ila 1996 Berry Bros.&
Rudd
SILVER Laphroaig 1998 Speciality
Drinks Ltd
BRONZE Laphroaig 12 Years Old
Ian Macleod Distillers Ltd13-18 Years Old
GOLD Bowmore 1991 Dewar
Rattray Ltd
SILVER Bowmore Port Finish
Wilson & Morgan
BRONZE Caol Ila 1992 Vintage
Malt Whisky Company19 years plus
GOLD Bunnahabhain 1976
Dewar Rattray Ltd
SILVER Bruichladdich 20 Years
Old James MacAurthur &
Co
BRONZE Bowmore 1989 Berry
Bros.and Rudd
LOWLAND
Independent bottler of the year
Duncan Taylor and Co12 Years Old and Under
GOLD Auchentoshan 1999
Duncan Taylor and Co13-18 Years Old
GOLD Bladnoch 17 Years Old
William Cadenhead Ltd
SILVER Rosebank 18 Years Old
Ian Macleod Ltd
BRONZE Bladnoch 1990 Berry
Bros.& Rudd19 years plus
GOLD St Magdalene 1982 Berry
Bros.& Rudd
SILVER Linlithgow 1982
Speciality Drinks Ltd
BRONZE Inverleven 1978 Duncan
Taylor & Co
SPEYSIDE
Independent bottler of the year
Berry Bros.& Rudd12 Years Old and Under
GOLD Glen Elgin 1995 Gordon
& MacPhail
SILVER Braeval 12 Years Old
Douglas Laing & Co
BRONZE Longmorn 1996 Berry
Bros.& Rudd13-18 Years Old
GOLD Glenrothes 1990 Old
Dewar Rattray
SILVER Glenrothes-Glenlivet 18
Years Old William
Cadenhead Ltd
BRONZE Braes of Glenlivet 18
Years Old Robert Graham19 years plus
GOLD Glenlivet 1975 Berry Bros.
& Rudd
SILVER Benriach-Glenlivet 23
Years Old William
Cadenhead Ltd
BRONZE Dufftown 1976 Dewar
Rattray Ltd