The Icons of Whisky awards, organised by the team behind Whisky Magazine, has announced the Rest of World regional winners in its 2023 competition.

The annual competition commends the very best people and places in the global whisky industry – not just the distilleries and companies that produce and bottle it, but also the retailers, bars, ambassadors and communicators who dedicate themselves professionally to whisky.

The regional winners for Rest of World – which, for the purposes of the Icons of Whisky, is any country outside the main whisky regions of Scotland, Ireland, and the USA – were revealed at an event in London on 2 February, alongside Round 1 results from sister competition the World Whiskies Awards.

The coveted Distiller of the Year award went to Taiwan's Kavalan Distillery, while Stauning Whisky in Denmark was named Sustainable Distillery of the year. Israel's M&H Distillery claimed two top titles: Craft Producer of the Year, and Master Distiller/Blender of the Year for Tomer Goren.

It follows events in Ireland and Scotland in late 2022 to announce the Icons of Whisky 2023 winners in those regions.

The Icons of Whisky 2023 Rest of World regional winners are listed below. All winners will now go on to compete against the winners from Scotland, Ireland and the USA for the Icons of Whisky Global titles in each category.

Icons of Whisky Rest of World 2023: Winners and Highly Commended

Bartender of the Year
Winner
James Lin, Kavalan Whisky Bar

Bar Manager of the Year
Winner
Lachlan Watt, Whisky & Alement

Highly Commended
Shawn Soole, Clive’s Classic Lounge

Whisky Hotel Bar of the Year
Winner
Clive’s Classic Lounge

Bar of the Year
Winner
Whisky & Alement

Highly Commended
Kavalan Whisky Bar

Cooperage of the Year
Winner
Casknolia

Communicator of the Year
Winner
Emma Cookson, The Whisky List

Highly Commended
Millie Milliken

Design Agency of the Year
Winner
Nude Brand Creation

Spirits Buyer of the Year
Winner
John Vine, Waitrose

Highly Commended
Julie Trewren, Master of Malt

Multiple Outlet Retailer
Winner
WhiskyBrother & Co

Online Retailer of the Year
Winner
Master of Malt

Highly Commended
The Whisky List

Supermarket of the Year
Winner
Waitrose

American Whiskey Brand Ambassador of the Year
Winner
Cam Dawson, Brown-Forman

Irish Whiskey Brand Ambassador of the Year
Winner
Chris Hayes, Teeling Whiskey

Highly Commended
Alan Malone, Powerscourt Distillery

World Whisky Brand Ambassador of the Year
Winner
Ally Bhana, Sullivans Cove

Highly Commended
Tal Chotiner, The M&H Distillery

Distillery Manager of the Year
Winner
Heather Tillott, Sullivans Cove

Highly Commended
Gal Kalkshtein, The M&H Distillery

Master Distiller/Master Blender of the Year
Winner
Tomer Goren, The M&H Distillery

Highly Commended
Heather Tillott, Sullivans Cove

Independent Bottler
Winner
Master of Malt

Brand Innovator of the Year
Winner
The M&H Distillery

Highly Commended
Sullivans Cove

Visitor Attraction of the Year
Winner
The M&H Distillery Visitor Center

Highly Commended
Sullivans Cove Distillery

Sustainable Distillery of the Year
Winner
Stauning Whisky

Single Estate
Winner
Thy Whisky Distillery

Craft Producer of the Year
Winner
The M&H Distillery

Highly Commended
Macaloney’s Island Distillery

Distiller of the Year
Winner
Kavalan Distillery