The Whisky Magazine Awards have returned to Edinburgh for the first time in two years to announce the regional winners of the 2022 Icons of Whisky and World Whiskies Awards, and to welcome two new Scottish inductees to the Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame.
The in-person ceremony, held at The Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh on 2 December, played host to the Scotch whisky industry’s finest, from bartenders to brand ambassadors and retailers to visitor attraction managers, to celebrate the country’s 2022 Icons. The Glenturret Distillery took the coveted Distiller of the Year title, while Glengoyne (part of Ian Macleod Distillers Ltd) was named Sustainable Distillery of the Year.
The event also saw the Scotland country winners in the World Whiskies Awards 2022 announced, and the unveiling of two new Scottish inductees to the Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame: John L S Grant and Peter Gordon.
It follows the Icons of Whisky regional Ireland leg, the first of the 2022 awards, which took place at Dublin’s Iveagh Garden Hotel on 25 November.
Christopher Coates, Editor of Whisky Magazine, said: “This year’s results are a testament to the great work that’s been done by Scotch whisky makers over the past year. It’s truly delightful to see the Scottish industry growing at a rapid pace and drinkers’ interest in Scotch whisky increasing exponentially. I’m certain this positive trend will continue and that competition in our Icons of Whisky categories will remain fierce for decades to come.”
Anita Ujszaszi, awards director, said: "The quantity and quality of Scotch whiskies entered into this year's World Whiskies Awards was outstanding. It proves that the industry has not just overcome the challenges of the past two years, it is thriving in spite of them, with producers demonstrating a remarkable level of innovation and excellence. We must extend a huge thank you to all the producers that entered the World Whiskies Awards this year, and to our panel of expert judges."
The results of the Icons of Whisky Scotland 2022, Whisky Magazine's latest Hall of Fame inductees, and Scottish regional results of the World Whiskies Awards 2022 can be found below.
John L S Grant
Chairman, J & G Grant
Very few people can claim to have spent literally their whole life in the whisky industry, but John L S Grant of Glenfarclas comes very close. Born in 1951, he spent his childhood at Glenfarclas House, where he still lives to this day. Following his school years at Gordonstoun, he joined the Bank of Scotland for three years then worked for Wm Teachers Ltd for a further three years. In 1974, John joined the family business – an astonishing 47 years ago. In the early days, John learned the ropes across the business and then focussed his energy on introducing Glenfarclas to international markets, at a time when the sale of single malt was practised by only a small number of brands. He was officially named managing director in 1979, 114 years after his great-great-grandfather first bought Glenfarclas as part of Rechlerich farm. Over the next decades, alongside his father as chairman, John oversaw massive changes to the business – they went from a farming family with a distillery that sold mostly whisky for blending to the producers of a world-renowned single malt.
Peter Gordon
Director, William Grant & Sons
Peter Gordon is a whisky man through and through – a fifth-generation William Grant & Sons family member whose working relationship with the company started in 1977 with jobs at the Glenfiddich and The Balvenie distilleries during school and university holidays. A former chairman of the William Grant & Sons board and the William Grant Foundation, he is currently a director of the company’s Supervisory Board and a Family Council member. Peter is also chairman of William Grant & Sons’ Grissan renewable technology business, as part of his role in leading the parent company’s decarbonising agenda. Alongside his work in the family firm, Peter has had a long history of involvement in the wider industry, including roles as chairman of the Scotch Whisky Experience and the Scotch Whisky Association. Peter characterises his role in the company as one of a ‘chameleon’: he moves between areas of the business, changing and adapting in order to act as a catalyst that helps teams to deliver challenging and innovative projects.
Distiller
Winner
The Glenturret Distillery
Craft Producer
Winner
Ballindalloch Distillery
Highly Commended
Holyrood Distillery
Sustainable Distillery
Winner
Glengoyne
Highly Commended
Nc'nean Distillery
Visitor Attraction
Winner
The GlenAllachie Distillery
Highly Commended
Glenfarclas Distillery Visitor Centre
Campaign Innovator
Winner
Bacardi
Independent Bottler
Winner
Lady of the Glen
Highly Commended
Douglas Laing & Co
Distillery Manager
Winner
Ed Thom, Glenmorangie Company
Highly Commended
Ian Renwick, The Glenturret Distillery
Master Distiller / Master Blender
Winner
Julieann Fernandez, Distell International
Highly Commended
Michael Henry, Loch Lomond Group
Scotch Whisky Brand Ambassador
Winner
Martin Markvardsen, Highland Park (Edrington Group)
Highly Commended
Jamie Morrison, The Glenturret Distillery
Visitor Attraction Manager
Winner
Debs Newman, Holyrood Distillery
Single Outlet Retailer
Winner
Inverurie Whisky Shop
Multiple Outlet Retailer
Winner
Robert Graham Ltd
Online Retailer
Winner
Abbey Whisky
Highly Commended
Robert Graham Ltd
Whisky Buyer
Winner
Mike Sharples, Abbey Whisky
Whisky Bar
Winner
Kaleidoscope Bar, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society
Whisky Hotel Bar
Winner
The Spirit Safe Bar at The Station Hotel, Rothes
Highly Commended
Freedom an' Whisky at Sandman Signature Aberdeen Hotel
Communicator
Winner
Blair Bowman
PR Agency
Winner
Spey
Brand Innovator
Winner
Bacardi (John Dewar & Sons)
12 Years & Under
Black Bottle – 10 Years Old
13 to 20 Years
Dewar’s – 15 Years Old
21 Years & Over
Royal Salute – 21 Years Old The Lost Blend
No Age Statement
Black Bottle – Island Smoke Alchemy Series
12 Years & Under
MacNair’s – Lum Reek 12 Years Old
13 to 20 Years
Johnnie Walker – Green Label
No Age Statement
Wemyss Malts – Peat Chimney
No Age Statement
Spearhead – Single Grain Scotch Whisky
21 Years & Over
Whisky Works – Glaswegian
12 Years & Under
Glen Scotia – Single Cask 1st Fill Bourbon Cask 234
13 to 20 Years
Glen Scotia – Single Cask Refill Bourbon Barrel Cask 669
12 Years & Under
Loch Lomond – Single Cask Refill Bourbon Cask 2337
13 to 20 Years
Loch Lomond – Single Cask Refill Bourbon Cask 4130
21 Years & Over
Rare Find – Tomatin 36 Years Old 1983
No Age Statement
Stalla Dhu – Ardmore Cask Strength
12 Years & Under
The Fisherman’s Retreat – Edition No. 8 Arran
12 Years & Under
Stalla Dhu – Caol Ila 11 Years Old Cask Strength
13 to 20 Years
The Fisherman’s Retreat – Edition No. 6.1 Bruichladdich
12 Years & Under
SPEY – 8 Years Old 2013 Cask 18: Spirit of Speyside 2021
No Age Statement
Tamdhu – Tamdhu Club Single Cask 2003
12 Years & Under
Glen Scotia – 10 Years Old
13 to 20 Years
Glen Scotia – 15 Years Old
21 Years & Over
Glen Scotia – 25 Years Old
No Age Statement
Glen Scotia – Campeltown Harbour
12 Years & Under
Glenmorangie – The Original
13 to 20 Years
The GlenDronach – Allardice
21 Years & Over
Glenmorangie – Grand Vintage Malt 1996
No Age Statement
Wolfburn – Northland
12 Years & Under
Ledaig – 10 Years Old
13 to 20 Years
Ledaig – 18 Years Old
21 Years & Over
Tobermory – 23 Years Old
No Age Statement
Ledaig – Sinclair Series Rioja Cask Finish
12 Years & Under
Laphroaig – 10 Years Old
13 to 20 Years
Bunnahabhain – 18 Years Old
21 Years & Over
Bunnahabhain – 25 Years Old
No Age Statement
Ardbeg – Uigeadail
12 Years & Under
Auchentoshan – 12 Years Old
13 to 20 Years
Bladnoch – 19 Years Old
No Age Statement
Kingsbarns – Dream to Dram
12 Years & Under
The GlenAllachie – 12 Years Old
13 to 20 Years
Aultmore – 18 Years Old
21 Years & Over
Glen Moray – 21 Years Old Portwood Finish
No Age Statement
Arberlour – A’bunadh
12 Years & Under
Glen Scotia – Single Cask Tawny Port Hogshead Cask 21/59-3
13 to 20 Years Old
Aberfeldy – Exceptional Cask Limited Edition Côte Rôtie
No Age Statement
Glengoyne – Cask Strength Batch 008
No Age Statement
Isle of Raasay – Signature Single Malt
13 to 20 Years Old
Ardbeg – Traigh Bhan 19 Years Old Batch No 3
21 Years & Over
Port Askaig – 25 Years Old
12 Years & Under
Glen Marnoch – 12 Years Old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
21 Years & Over
Glen Moray – Warehouse 1 1998 Barolo Finish
No Age Statement
Tomintoul – Cigar Malt
The in-person ceremony, held at The Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh on 2 December, played host to the Scotch whisky industry’s finest, from bartenders to brand ambassadors and retailers to visitor attraction managers, to celebrate the country’s 2022 Icons. The Glenturret Distillery took the coveted Distiller of the Year title, while Glengoyne (part of Ian Macleod Distillers Ltd) was named Sustainable Distillery of the Year.
The Glenturret Distillery
The event also saw the Scotland country winners in the World Whiskies Awards 2022 announced, and the unveiling of two new Scottish inductees to the Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame: John L S Grant and Peter Gordon.
It follows the Icons of Whisky regional Ireland leg, the first of the 2022 awards, which took place at Dublin’s Iveagh Garden Hotel on 25 November.
The Glengoyne Distillery
Christopher Coates, Editor of Whisky Magazine, said: “This year’s results are a testament to the great work that’s been done by Scotch whisky makers over the past year. It’s truly delightful to see the Scottish industry growing at a rapid pace and drinkers’ interest in Scotch whisky increasing exponentially. I’m certain this positive trend will continue and that competition in our Icons of Whisky categories will remain fierce for decades to come.”
Anita Ujszaszi, awards director, said: "The quantity and quality of Scotch whiskies entered into this year's World Whiskies Awards was outstanding. It proves that the industry has not just overcome the challenges of the past two years, it is thriving in spite of them, with producers demonstrating a remarkable level of innovation and excellence. We must extend a huge thank you to all the producers that entered the World Whiskies Awards this year, and to our panel of expert judges."
The results of the Icons of Whisky Scotland 2022, Whisky Magazine's latest Hall of Fame inductees, and Scottish regional results of the World Whiskies Awards 2022 can be found below.
Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame Inductee No. 74
John L S Grant
Chairman, J & G Grant
John Grant
Very few people can claim to have spent literally their whole life in the whisky industry, but John L S Grant of Glenfarclas comes very close. Born in 1951, he spent his childhood at Glenfarclas House, where he still lives to this day. Following his school years at Gordonstoun, he joined the Bank of Scotland for three years then worked for Wm Teachers Ltd for a further three years. In 1974, John joined the family business – an astonishing 47 years ago. In the early days, John learned the ropes across the business and then focussed his energy on introducing Glenfarclas to international markets, at a time when the sale of single malt was practised by only a small number of brands. He was officially named managing director in 1979, 114 years after his great-great-grandfather first bought Glenfarclas as part of Rechlerich farm. Over the next decades, alongside his father as chairman, John oversaw massive changes to the business – they went from a farming family with a distillery that sold mostly whisky for blending to the producers of a world-renowned single malt.
Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame Inductee No. 75
Peter Gordon
Director, William Grant & Sons
Peter Gordon
Peter Gordon is a whisky man through and through – a fifth-generation William Grant & Sons family member whose working relationship with the company started in 1977 with jobs at the Glenfiddich and The Balvenie distilleries during school and university holidays. A former chairman of the William Grant & Sons board and the William Grant Foundation, he is currently a director of the company’s Supervisory Board and a Family Council member. Peter is also chairman of William Grant & Sons’ Grissan renewable technology business, as part of his role in leading the parent company’s decarbonising agenda. Alongside his work in the family firm, Peter has had a long history of involvement in the wider industry, including roles as chairman of the Scotch Whisky Experience and the Scotch Whisky Association. Peter characterises his role in the company as one of a ‘chameleon’: he moves between areas of the business, changing and adapting in order to act as a catalyst that helps teams to deliver challenging and innovative projects.
Icons of Whisky Scotland 2022 Winners and Highly Commended
Distiller
Winner
The Glenturret Distillery
Craft Producer
Winner
Ballindalloch Distillery
Highly Commended
Holyrood Distillery
Sustainable Distillery
Winner
Glengoyne
Highly Commended
Nc'nean Distillery
Visitor Attraction
Winner
The GlenAllachie Distillery
Highly Commended
Glenfarclas Distillery Visitor Centre
Campaign Innovator
Winner
Bacardi
Independent Bottler
Winner
Lady of the Glen
Highly Commended
Douglas Laing & Co
Distillery Manager
Winner
Ed Thom, Glenmorangie Company
Highly Commended
Ian Renwick, The Glenturret Distillery
Master Distiller / Master Blender
Winner
Julieann Fernandez, Distell International
Highly Commended
Michael Henry, Loch Lomond Group
Scotch Whisky Brand Ambassador
Winner
Martin Markvardsen, Highland Park (Edrington Group)
Highly Commended
Jamie Morrison, The Glenturret Distillery
Visitor Attraction Manager
Winner
Debs Newman, Holyrood Distillery
Single Outlet Retailer
Winner
Inverurie Whisky Shop
Multiple Outlet Retailer
Winner
Robert Graham Ltd
Online Retailer
Winner
Abbey Whisky
Highly Commended
Robert Graham Ltd
Whisky Buyer
Winner
Mike Sharples, Abbey Whisky
Whisky Bar
Winner
Kaleidoscope Bar, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society
Whisky Hotel Bar
Winner
The Spirit Safe Bar at The Station Hotel, Rothes
Highly Commended
Freedom an' Whisky at Sandman Signature Aberdeen Hotel
Communicator
Winner
Blair Bowman
PR Agency
Winner
Spey
Brand Innovator
Winner
Bacardi (John Dewar & Sons)
World Whiskies Awards 2022: Category Winners, Round 1, Scotland
Blended
12 Years & Under
Black Bottle – 10 Years Old
13 to 20 Years
Dewar’s – 15 Years Old
21 Years & Over
Royal Salute – 21 Years Old The Lost Blend
No Age Statement
Black Bottle – Island Smoke Alchemy Series
Blended Malt
12 Years & Under
MacNair’s – Lum Reek 12 Years Old
13 to 20 Years
Johnnie Walker – Green Label
No Age Statement
Wemyss Malts – Peat Chimney
Grain
No Age Statement
Spearhead – Single Grain Scotch Whisky
Single Cask Single Grain
21 Years & Over
Whisky Works – Glaswegian
Single Cask Single Malt
Scotch Campeltown
12 Years & Under
Glen Scotia – Single Cask 1st Fill Bourbon Cask 234
13 to 20 Years
Glen Scotia – Single Cask Refill Bourbon Barrel Cask 669
Scotch Highlands
12 Years & Under
Loch Lomond – Single Cask Refill Bourbon Cask 2337
13 to 20 Years
Loch Lomond – Single Cask Refill Bourbon Cask 4130
21 Years & Over
Rare Find – Tomatin 36 Years Old 1983
No Age Statement
Stalla Dhu – Ardmore Cask Strength
Scotch Islands (Non Islay)
12 Years & Under
The Fisherman’s Retreat – Edition No. 8 Arran
Scotch Islay
12 Years & Under
Stalla Dhu – Caol Ila 11 Years Old Cask Strength
13 to 20 Years
The Fisherman’s Retreat – Edition No. 6.1 Bruichladdich
Scotch Speyside
12 Years & Under
SPEY – 8 Years Old 2013 Cask 18: Spirit of Speyside 2021
No Age Statement
Tamdhu – Tamdhu Club Single Cask 2003
Single Malt
Scotch Campeltown
12 Years & Under
Glen Scotia – 10 Years Old
13 to 20 Years
Glen Scotia – 15 Years Old
21 Years & Over
Glen Scotia – 25 Years Old
No Age Statement
Glen Scotia – Campeltown Harbour
Scotch Highlands
12 Years & Under
Glenmorangie – The Original
13 to 20 Years
The GlenDronach – Allardice
21 Years & Over
Glenmorangie – Grand Vintage Malt 1996
No Age Statement
Wolfburn – Northland
Scotch Islands (Non Islay)
12 Years & Under
Ledaig – 10 Years Old
13 to 20 Years
Ledaig – 18 Years Old
21 Years & Over
Tobermory – 23 Years Old
No Age Statement
Ledaig – Sinclair Series Rioja Cask Finish
Scotch Islay
12 Years & Under
Laphroaig – 10 Years Old
13 to 20 Years
Bunnahabhain – 18 Years Old
21 Years & Over
Bunnahabhain – 25 Years Old
No Age Statement
Ardbeg – Uigeadail
Scotch Lowlands
12 Years & Under
Auchentoshan – 12 Years Old
13 to 20 Years
Bladnoch – 19 Years Old
No Age Statement
Kingsbarns – Dream to Dram
Scotch Speyside
12 Years & Under
The GlenAllachie – 12 Years Old
13 to 20 Years
Aultmore – 18 Years Old
21 Years & Over
Glen Moray – 21 Years Old Portwood Finish
No Age Statement
Arberlour – A’bunadh
Single Batch Single Malt
Scotch Campbeltown
12 Years & Under
Glen Scotia – Single Cask Tawny Port Hogshead Cask 21/59-3
Scotch Highlands
13 to 20 Years Old
Aberfeldy – Exceptional Cask Limited Edition Côte Rôtie
No Age Statement
Glengoyne – Cask Strength Batch 008
Scotch Islands (Non Islay)
No Age Statement
Isle of Raasay – Signature Single Malt
Scotch Islay
13 to 20 Years Old
Ardbeg – Traigh Bhan 19 Years Old Batch No 3
21 Years & Over
Port Askaig – 25 Years Old
Scotch Speyside
12 Years & Under
Glen Marnoch – 12 Years Old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
21 Years & Over
Glen Moray – Warehouse 1 1998 Barolo Finish
No Age Statement
Tomintoul – Cigar Malt
