Another stellar year in the world of Scotch whisky has been celebrated with the winners announcement of both the Icons of Whisky and World Whiskies Awards Scotland 2023.
On Thursday 8 December, many of the biggest names in the industry gathered at The Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh, from bartenders to brand ambassadors, visitor attraction managers and master distillers. It was a night of both celebration and reflection.
The title of Distiller of the Year was awarded to Glenfarclas Distillery, while Whyte & Mackay’s Gregg Glass took home the prize of Master Distiller/Master Blender of the Year. There was a great variety to the night’s winners, proving what a range of incredible talent currently operates in the Scottish whisky world.
The event also saw the announcement of the Round 1 Category Winners for Scotland in the World Whiskies Awards 2023, and the unveiling of two new Scottish inductees to the Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame: Distillery advisor Alan Winchester and The Glenturret’s whisky maker Bob Dalgarno.
The event followed the Icons of Whisky regional Ireland leg, which took place at Dublin’s Iveagh Garden Hotel on 24 November.
Run by the team at Whisky Magazine, the Icons of Whisky awards aim to celebrate the best and brightest people and places in the sector – not just the distilleries and the teams that work in them, but also the individuals and businesses that work to support and promote them and their products.
The full list of winners and highly commended people and places can be found below as well as at www.iconsofwhisky.com.
The World Whiskies Awards commend the best whiskies from around the world in categories including Single Malt, Bourbon, Blended, and Single Cask. More information can be found at www.worldwhiskiesawards.com.
Christopher Coates, Editor-at-large of Whisky Magazine, said: “The Scotch whisky scene is going from strength to strength. This is perhaps most evident in the tourism and hospitality sectors, which have rebounded strongly in the wake of the pandemic. In particular, the Scotch whisky category has doubled down on the quality of its visitor experiences, with an increasing number of highly immersive offerings to suit a diverse range of people — from the ‘whisky curious’ to seasoned enthusiasts. I can’t wait to see how this will continue to evolve in 2023.”
Anita Ujszaszi, awards director, added: “This year’s awards prove once again that the Scotch whisky industry is in a very strong place. I want to say a huge thank you to every producer who entered into this year’s World Whisky Awards as well as our wonderful team of judges who did a tremendous job in choosing between such a range of high quality whisky.”
The Whisky Magazine Awards Scotland 2023 results can be found below:
Brand Innovator
Winner
Holyrood Distillery
Highly Commended
Lochlea Distillery
Communicator
Winner
Jason Campbell Thomson
Highly Commended
Jennifer Robertson
Cooper
Winner
Andy Moore
Cooperage
Winner
Loch Lomond Cooperage (Cooperage 021)
Craft Producer
Winner
Nc’nean
Highly Commended
Holyrood Distillery
Distiller
Winner
Glenfarclas Distillery
Highly Commended
Whyte & Mackay
Distillery Manager
Winner
Marc Watson, Holyrood Distillery
Highly Commended
Ian Renwick, The Glenturret
Independent Bottler
Winner
Lady of the Glen
Highly Commended
Cask 88
Master Distiller/Master Blender
Winner
Gregg Glass, Whyte & Mackay
Highly Commended
Stephen Woodcock, Glen Moray
Highly Commended
Brendan McCarron, Distell
Online Retailer
Winner
TyndrumWhisky.com
Highly Commended
Abbey Whisky Ltd
PR Agency
Winner
SPEY
Highly Commended
Beeline PR
Scotch Whisky Brand Ambassador
Winner
Mark Thomson, William Grant & Sons
Highly Commended
Kieran Healey-Ryder, Whyte & Mackay
Single Estate
Winner
Lochlea Distillery
Highly Commended
Ballindalloch Distillery
Single Outlet Retailer
Winner
Gordon & MacPhail South Street
Highly Commended
The Green Welly Stop / TyndrumWhisky
Spirits Buyer
Winner
Craig Dearden, TyndrumWhisky
Highly Commended
Michael Sharples, Abbey Whisky Ltd.
Sustainable Distillery
Winner
Tomatin Distillery
Highly Commended
Lochlea Distillery
Visitor Attraction Manager
Winner
Colin Hart, The Glenturret
Highly Commended
Matthew Porrit, J&G Grant
Highly Commended
Susan Colville, Benromach Brand Home Manager
Visitor Attraction
Winner
Johnnie Walker Princes Street
Highly Commended
The Glenlivet Distillery
World Whiskies Awards 2023
New Make & Young Spirit
Holyrood x Pilot : NMS 11 - Pilot White Stout Recipe
Blended
12 Years & Under
Dewar’s – French Smooth 8 Years Old
13 to 20 Years
Old Parr – 18 Years Old
21 Years & Over
Dewar’s – Double Double 21 Years Old
Blended Limited Release
21 Years & Over
Hankey Bannister – 21 Years Old Partners’ Reserve – Batch 3
No Age Statement
Woven – Experience No. 10
Blended Malt
12 Years & Over
Single & Single – Cambridge Circus 32 Year Old
No Age Statement
Ardgowan – Clydebuilt Sailmaker
Grain
13 to 20 Years
Whisky of Voodoo – Coven of Resurrection Batch #1
21 Years & Over
Ivergordon – 21 Years Old
No Age Statement
Loch Lomond – Single Grain
Single Cask Single Grain
21 Years & Over
Invergordon – 32 Years Old
Single Cask Single Malt
Scotch Campeltown
12 Years & Under
Glen Scotia – First Fill PX Sherry Cask 21/943-10
13 to 20 Years
Glen Scotia – First Fill Bourbon Cask 372
21 Years & Over
Glen Scotia – Refill American Oak Hogshead Cask 905
Scotch Highlands
12 Years & Under
Mythical Beasts – 11 Years Old Ardlair
13 to 20 Years
Loch Lomond – Oloroso Hogshead Cask 22/15-8
21 Years & Over
Secret Series – Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 30 Years
Scotch Islay
12 Years & Under
DS Tayman – Caol Ila Tulip Edition
21 Years & Over
Vintage Series – Bruichladdich Port Charlotte Rum Barrel
Scotch Speyside
12 Years & Under
The Glenlivet - 12 Years Old Rum & Bourbon Cask - Taiwan Exclusive
13 to 20 Years
Stalla Dhu – Linkwood Reserve Cask Strength
21 Years & Over
Olympian Series – Hades
No Age Statement
Stalla Dhu – Glenrothes Late Hour Port Finish Cask Strength
Single Malt
Scotch Campeltown
13 to 20 Years
Glen Scotia – 18 Years Old
No Age Statement
Glen Scotia – Double Cask
Scotch Highlands
12 Years & Under
Loch Lomond – 12 Years Old
13 to 20 Years
Cù Bòcan – 15 Years Old
21 Years & Over
The Glenturret – 30 Years Old
No Age Statement
Glenmorangie – Signet
Scotch Islands (Non Islay)
12 Years & Under
Tobermory – 12 Years Old
13 to 20 Years
Highland Park – 18 Years Old
21 Years & Over
Tobermory – 23 Years Old
No Age Statement
Arran Single Malt – Sherry Cask - The Bodega
Scotch Islay
12 Years & Under
Laphroaig – 10 Years Old
13 to 20 Years
Lagavulin – Islay Jazz Festival 2022
21 Years & Over
Ardbeg – 25 Years Old
No Age Statement
Laphroaig – Quarter Cask
Scotch Lowlands
21 Years & Over
Rosebank – 31 Years Old
Scotch Speyside
12 Years & Under
The Glenlivet – 12 Years Old Rum and Bourbon Cask Selection
13 to 20 Years
The Glenlivet – 15 Years Old
21 Years & Over
The Glenlivet – Archive 21 Years Old
No Age Statement
Glen Moray – Classic
Single Batch Single Malt
Scotch Islay
12 Years & Under
Whisky Voodoo – The Rusty Cauldron Batch #1
13 to 20 Years
Ardbeg – Traigh Bhan 19 Years Old Batch No. 4
Scotch Speyside
12 Years & Under
SPEY – Trutina 10 Years Old
No Age Statement
SPEY – Tenne Cask Strength Batch #4
On Thursday 8 December, many of the biggest names in the industry gathered at The Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh, from bartenders to brand ambassadors, visitor attraction managers and master distillers. It was a night of both celebration and reflection.
The title of Distiller of the Year was awarded to Glenfarclas Distillery, while Whyte & Mackay’s Gregg Glass took home the prize of Master Distiller/Master Blender of the Year. There was a great variety to the night’s winners, proving what a range of incredible talent currently operates in the Scottish whisky world.
Glenfarclas Distillery claimed the Distiller of the Year title
The event also saw the announcement of the Round 1 Category Winners for Scotland in the World Whiskies Awards 2023, and the unveiling of two new Scottish inductees to the Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame: Distillery advisor Alan Winchester and The Glenturret’s whisky maker Bob Dalgarno.
New Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame inductee Alan Winchester
The event followed the Icons of Whisky regional Ireland leg, which took place at Dublin’s Iveagh Garden Hotel on 24 November.
Run by the team at Whisky Magazine, the Icons of Whisky awards aim to celebrate the best and brightest people and places in the sector – not just the distilleries and the teams that work in them, but also the individuals and businesses that work to support and promote them and their products.
The full list of winners and highly commended people and places can be found below as well as at www.iconsofwhisky.com.
The World Whiskies Awards commend the best whiskies from around the world in categories including Single Malt, Bourbon, Blended, and Single Cask. More information can be found at www.worldwhiskiesawards.com.
The team from Holyrood Distillery celebrate a win in the Icons of Whisky
Christopher Coates, Editor-at-large of Whisky Magazine, said: “The Scotch whisky scene is going from strength to strength. This is perhaps most evident in the tourism and hospitality sectors, which have rebounded strongly in the wake of the pandemic. In particular, the Scotch whisky category has doubled down on the quality of its visitor experiences, with an increasing number of highly immersive offerings to suit a diverse range of people — from the ‘whisky curious’ to seasoned enthusiasts. I can’t wait to see how this will continue to evolve in 2023.”
Anita Ujszaszi, awards director, added: “This year’s awards prove once again that the Scotch whisky industry is in a very strong place. I want to say a huge thank you to every producer who entered into this year’s World Whisky Awards as well as our wonderful team of judges who did a tremendous job in choosing between such a range of high quality whisky.”
The Whisky Magazine Awards Scotland 2023 results can be found below:
Icons of Whisky Scotland 2023 Winners and Highly Commended
Brand Innovator
Winner
Holyrood Distillery
Highly Commended
Lochlea Distillery
Communicator
Winner
Jason Campbell Thomson
Highly Commended
Jennifer Robertson
Cooper
Winner
Andy Moore
Cooperage
Winner
Loch Lomond Cooperage (Cooperage 021)
Craft Producer
Winner
Nc’nean
Highly Commended
Holyrood Distillery
Distiller
Winner
Glenfarclas Distillery
Highly Commended
Whyte & Mackay
Distillery Manager
Winner
Marc Watson, Holyrood Distillery
Highly Commended
Ian Renwick, The Glenturret
Independent Bottler
Winner
Lady of the Glen
Highly Commended
Cask 88
Master Distiller/Master Blender
Winner
Gregg Glass, Whyte & Mackay
Highly Commended
Stephen Woodcock, Glen Moray
Highly Commended
Brendan McCarron, Distell
Online Retailer
Winner
TyndrumWhisky.com
Highly Commended
Abbey Whisky Ltd
PR Agency
Winner
SPEY
Highly Commended
Beeline PR
Scotch Whisky Brand Ambassador
Winner
Mark Thomson, William Grant & Sons
Highly Commended
Kieran Healey-Ryder, Whyte & Mackay
Single Estate
Winner
Lochlea Distillery
Highly Commended
Ballindalloch Distillery
Single Outlet Retailer
Winner
Gordon & MacPhail South Street
Highly Commended
The Green Welly Stop / TyndrumWhisky
Spirits Buyer
Winner
Craig Dearden, TyndrumWhisky
Highly Commended
Michael Sharples, Abbey Whisky Ltd.
Sustainable Distillery
Winner
Tomatin Distillery
Highly Commended
Lochlea Distillery
Visitor Attraction Manager
Winner
Colin Hart, The Glenturret
Highly Commended
Matthew Porrit, J&G Grant
Highly Commended
Susan Colville, Benromach Brand Home Manager
Visitor Attraction
Winner
Johnnie Walker Princes Street
Highly Commended
The Glenlivet Distillery
World Whiskies Awards 2023
Category Winners, Round 1, Scotland
New Make & Young Spirit
Holyrood x Pilot : NMS 11 - Pilot White Stout Recipe
Blended
12 Years & Under
Dewar’s – French Smooth 8 Years Old
13 to 20 Years
Old Parr – 18 Years Old
21 Years & Over
Dewar’s – Double Double 21 Years Old
Blended Limited Release
21 Years & Over
Hankey Bannister – 21 Years Old Partners’ Reserve – Batch 3
No Age Statement
Woven – Experience No. 10
Blended Malt
12 Years & Over
Single & Single – Cambridge Circus 32 Year Old
No Age Statement
Ardgowan – Clydebuilt Sailmaker
Grain
13 to 20 Years
Whisky of Voodoo – Coven of Resurrection Batch #1
21 Years & Over
Ivergordon – 21 Years Old
No Age Statement
Loch Lomond – Single Grain
Single Cask Single Grain
21 Years & Over
Invergordon – 32 Years Old
Single Cask Single Malt
Scotch Campeltown
12 Years & Under
Glen Scotia – First Fill PX Sherry Cask 21/943-10
13 to 20 Years
Glen Scotia – First Fill Bourbon Cask 372
21 Years & Over
Glen Scotia – Refill American Oak Hogshead Cask 905
Scotch Highlands
12 Years & Under
Mythical Beasts – 11 Years Old Ardlair
13 to 20 Years
Loch Lomond – Oloroso Hogshead Cask 22/15-8
21 Years & Over
Secret Series – Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 30 Years
Scotch Islay
12 Years & Under
DS Tayman – Caol Ila Tulip Edition
21 Years & Over
Vintage Series – Bruichladdich Port Charlotte Rum Barrel
Scotch Speyside
12 Years & Under
The Glenlivet - 12 Years Old Rum & Bourbon Cask - Taiwan Exclusive
13 to 20 Years
Stalla Dhu – Linkwood Reserve Cask Strength
21 Years & Over
Olympian Series – Hades
No Age Statement
Stalla Dhu – Glenrothes Late Hour Port Finish Cask Strength
Single Malt
Scotch Campeltown
13 to 20 Years
Glen Scotia – 18 Years Old
No Age Statement
Glen Scotia – Double Cask
Scotch Highlands
12 Years & Under
Loch Lomond – 12 Years Old
13 to 20 Years
Cù Bòcan – 15 Years Old
21 Years & Over
The Glenturret – 30 Years Old
No Age Statement
Glenmorangie – Signet
Scotch Islands (Non Islay)
12 Years & Under
Tobermory – 12 Years Old
13 to 20 Years
Highland Park – 18 Years Old
21 Years & Over
Tobermory – 23 Years Old
No Age Statement
Arran Single Malt – Sherry Cask - The Bodega
Scotch Islay
12 Years & Under
Laphroaig – 10 Years Old
13 to 20 Years
Lagavulin – Islay Jazz Festival 2022
21 Years & Over
Ardbeg – 25 Years Old
No Age Statement
Laphroaig – Quarter Cask
Scotch Lowlands
21 Years & Over
Rosebank – 31 Years Old
Scotch Speyside
12 Years & Under
The Glenlivet – 12 Years Old Rum and Bourbon Cask Selection
13 to 20 Years
The Glenlivet – 15 Years Old
21 Years & Over
The Glenlivet – Archive 21 Years Old
No Age Statement
Glen Moray – Classic
Single Batch Single Malt
Scotch Islay
12 Years & Under
Whisky Voodoo – The Rusty Cauldron Batch #1
13 to 20 Years
Ardbeg – Traigh Bhan 19 Years Old Batch No. 4
Scotch Speyside
12 Years & Under
SPEY – Trutina 10 Years Old
No Age Statement
SPEY – Tenne Cask Strength Batch #4
