The 2024 Icons of Whisky competition has announced its regional winners in the Rest of World region.
The annual competition celebrates the best people and places in the world of whisky. The Rest of World is one of six regions in which the awards are presented, alongside Ireland, Scotland, America, China, and India.
Among this year’s Rest of World winners were Zuidam Distillers in the Netherlands, which was named distiller of the year; Callington Mill Distillery in Australia, which took the title of craft producer of the year; and Ally Bhana from Sullivans Cove Distillery, who was named world whisky brand ambassador of the year.
The Icons of Whisky Rest of World results coincided with the announcement of the country winners (excluding Scotland and America) in the 2024 World Whiskies Awards, at a global judging session for the competition in London. They also follow the announcement of regional winners in the 2024 Icons of Whisky competition in Ireland and Scotland. The regional winners in America will be announced at a ceremony in Louisville, Kentucky on 8 February.
Bethany Brown, chair of judges for the Icons of Whisky, said: “Our Rest of World distillers are proving time and again that the New World’s shorter history of whisky production in no way diminishes its standing in the category globally. From Norway to New Zealand, the Rest of World region is spawning its own revered master distillers, building passionate teams of whisky experts, and shedding light on new ways to make whisky, and more distilleries are now showing off their work and wares to the public with world-class visitor experiences. As the region continues on this positive trajectory, we at the Icons of Whisky can’t wait to see which avenues these producers will explore next.”
A full list of the Icons of Whisky Rest of World 2024 winners and highly commended entrants can be found below. For more information about the Icons of Whisky and World Whiskies Awards, go to worldwhiskiesawards.com.
Icons of Whisky Rest of World 2024 Winners and Highly Commended
Brand & Packaging Design Agency
Winner
JBO
Highly Commended
Nude Brand Creation
Brand Innovator
Winner
Sullivans Cove Distillery
Highly Commended
The M&H Distillery
Communicator
Winner
Andrew Derbidge, Whisky & Wisdom
Highly Commended
Emma Cookson, The Whisky List
Cooper
Winner
Rafa Cabello, Casknolia
Cooperage
Winner
Casknolia
Craft Producer
Winner
Callington Mill Distillery
Highly Commended
Kanosuke Distillery
Distiller
Winner
Zuidam Distillers
Highly Commended
Kavalan Distillery
Distillery Manager
Winner
Heather Tillott, Sullivans Cove Distillery
Highly Commended
Gal Kalkshtein
Independent Bottler
Winner
The Heart Cut
Highly Commended
Great Drams
Master Distiller/Master Blender
Winner
Ian Thorn, The Gospel Whiskey
Highly Commended
Zerose Yang, Kavalan Distillery
Production Team
Winner
The M&H Distillery
Sales Team
Winner
Sullivans Cove Distillery
Highly Commended
The M&H Distillery
Scotch Whisky Brand Ambassador
Winner
Seamus Carroll, The Whisky Club
Single Estate
Winner
Thy Whisky Distillery
Highly Commended
Hinrichsen’s Farm Distillery
Sustainable Distillery
Winner
Hinrichsen’s Farm Distillery
Visitor Attraction Manager
Winner
Michelle Burns, The Aisling Distillery
Highly Commended
Ashleigh Pryor, Sullivans Cove Distillery
Visitor Attraction
Winner
Callington Mill Distillery
Highly Commended
Kavalan Distillery
World Whisky Brand Ambassador
Winner
Ally Bhana, Sullivans Cove Distillery
Highly Commended
Yoshitsugu Komasa, Kanosuke Distillery
