Come rain, shine or a global pandemic, the whisky world has come together once more to celebrate the industry’s very best people and places in the Whisky Magazine Icons of Whisky awards.
The drinks industry has faced one of its most challenging years in recent history, which has completely altered the platform from which many are able to work, from in-person to virtual. From bartenders to brand ambassadors, retailers to visitor attraction managers, the 2021 Icons of Whisky awards honours those who have worked tirelessly for the growth of the whisky industry.
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. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the awards results couldn’t be presented in person this year at the usual gala dinner. Instead, the Whisky Magazine team have hosted virtual presentations to announce the regional winners, broadcast on Facebook and YouTube.
The Icons of Whisky Scotland results were broadcast on Friday, 5 February at 12:30pm GMT. The full list of winners and highly commended people and places can be found below as well as at www.iconsofwhisky.com
Anita Ujszaszi, Awards Director, said: “After an incredibly challenging year it has been wonderful to witness the perseverance of the whisky industry. We have seen new and creative developments, and innovation in the face of unexpected restrictions. The resilience of those celebrated here is second to none.”
Christopher Coates, Editor of Whisky Magazine, said: “Each year I’m blown away by the level of commitment, expertise, and passion demonstrated by the talented individuals that can be found at every level of the whisky business. While standards are always high and the competition fierce, this year more than ever our judges have been left in awe of the industry’s efforts to educate, innovate, and creatively respond to the challenges of the past 12 months.”
“In particular, the industry’s support of the on-trade and travel sectors has been commendable, while the swift production of sanitiser early on and ongoing charity fundraising efforts are truly inspiring testaments to the exceptional nature of the whisky trade. Simultaneously, we’ve also seen a number of impressive new releases and campaigns that can easily be counted among some of the best the world of whisky has ever seen.”
You can join the conversation on social media with the hashtag #WhiskyMagAwards.
Icons of Whisky Scotland 2021 Winners and Highly Commended
Distiller
Winner
Whyte & Mackay
Highly Commended
LVMH (The Glenmorangie Company)
Craft Producer
Winner
Arbikie Distillery
Highly Commended
Ardnamurchan Distillery
Sustainable Distillery
Winner
Nc'nean Distillery
Highly Commended
Glengoyne Distillery
Brand Innovator
Winner
Ardnamurchan Distillery
Highly Commended
Nc'nean Distillery
Campaign Innovator
Winner
Ardbeg, The launch of Wee Beastie
Highly Commended
Tomatin Distillery, The Lockdown Whisky Festival
Visitor Attraction
Winner
Holyrood Distillery
Highly Commended
The Scotch Whisky Experience
Distillery Manager
Winner
Stewart Walker, Fettercairn Distillery
Highly Commended
Ian Renwick, The Glenturret Distillery
Master Distiller / Master Blender
Winner
Bob Dalgarno, The Glenturret Distillery
Highly Commended
Rachel Barrie, Brown-Forman
Scotch Whisky Brand Ambassador
Winner
Scott Adamson, Tomatin Distillery
Highly Commended
Paul Dempsey, Speyside Distillery
Visitor Attraction Manager
Winner
Stuart Hendry, Glengoyne Distillery
Highly Commended
Mark Bruce, Jura Distillery
Single Outlet Retailer
Winner
Carnegie Whisky Cellars
Highly Commended
Inverurie Whisky Shop
Multiple Outlet Retailer
Winner
Good Spirits Company
Highly Commended
Robert Graham Ltd.
Online Retailer
Winner
Robert Graham Ltd.
Highly Commended
Abbey Whisky
Supermarket
Winner
Tesco
Highly Commended
Asda
Own Brand Supermarket
Winner
Lidl
Whisky Buyer
Winner
Sarah Sturgeon, Tesco
Highly Commended
Mike Sharples, Abbey Whisky
Bar Manager
Winner
Andy Gemmell, The Gate
Highly Commended
Mike Smith, The Bow Bar
Whisky Bar
Winner
Bon Accord, Glasgow
Highly Commended
The Bow Bar, Edinburgh
Whisky Hotel Bar
Winner
SCOTCH at The Balmoral Hotel
Highly Commended
Dornoch Castle Hotel
Whisky Bar Group
Winner
Whisky Bars of Scotland
Advertising Agency
Winner
Republic of Media
Design Agency
Winner
threebrand
Highly Commended
Paul Collins Creative
Communicator
Winner
Moa Nilsson, Swedish Whisky Girl
Highly Commended
Andrew Flatt, The Amateur Drammer
The drinks industry has faced one of its most challenging years in recent history, which has completely altered the platform from which many are able to work, from in-person to virtual. From bartenders to brand ambassadors, retailers to visitor attraction managers, the 2021 Icons of Whisky awards honours those who have worked tirelessly for the growth of the whisky industry.
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. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the awards results couldn’t be presented in person this year at the usual gala dinner. Instead, the Whisky Magazine team have hosted virtual presentations to announce the regional winners, broadcast on Facebook and YouTube.
The Icons of Whisky Scotland results were broadcast on Friday, 5 February at 12:30pm GMT. The full list of winners and highly commended people and places can be found below as well as at www.iconsofwhisky.com
Anita Ujszaszi, Awards Director, said: “After an incredibly challenging year it has been wonderful to witness the perseverance of the whisky industry. We have seen new and creative developments, and innovation in the face of unexpected restrictions. The resilience of those celebrated here is second to none.”
Christopher Coates, Editor of Whisky Magazine, said: “Each year I’m blown away by the level of commitment, expertise, and passion demonstrated by the talented individuals that can be found at every level of the whisky business. While standards are always high and the competition fierce, this year more than ever our judges have been left in awe of the industry’s efforts to educate, innovate, and creatively respond to the challenges of the past 12 months.”
“In particular, the industry’s support of the on-trade and travel sectors has been commendable, while the swift production of sanitiser early on and ongoing charity fundraising efforts are truly inspiring testaments to the exceptional nature of the whisky trade. Simultaneously, we’ve also seen a number of impressive new releases and campaigns that can easily be counted among some of the best the world of whisky has ever seen.”
You can join the conversation on social media with the hashtag #WhiskyMagAwards.
Icons of Whisky Scotland 2021 Winners and Highly Commended
Distiller
Winner
Whyte & Mackay
Highly Commended
LVMH (The Glenmorangie Company)
Craft Producer
Winner
Arbikie Distillery
Highly Commended
Ardnamurchan Distillery
Sustainable Distillery
Winner
Nc'nean Distillery
Highly Commended
Glengoyne Distillery
Brand Innovator
Winner
Ardnamurchan Distillery
Highly Commended
Nc'nean Distillery
Campaign Innovator
Winner
Ardbeg, The launch of Wee Beastie
Highly Commended
Tomatin Distillery, The Lockdown Whisky Festival
Visitor Attraction
Winner
Holyrood Distillery
Highly Commended
The Scotch Whisky Experience
Distillery Manager
Winner
Stewart Walker, Fettercairn Distillery
Highly Commended
Ian Renwick, The Glenturret Distillery
Master Distiller / Master Blender
Winner
Bob Dalgarno, The Glenturret Distillery
Highly Commended
Rachel Barrie, Brown-Forman
Scotch Whisky Brand Ambassador
Winner
Scott Adamson, Tomatin Distillery
Highly Commended
Paul Dempsey, Speyside Distillery
Visitor Attraction Manager
Winner
Stuart Hendry, Glengoyne Distillery
Highly Commended
Mark Bruce, Jura Distillery
Single Outlet Retailer
Winner
Carnegie Whisky Cellars
Highly Commended
Inverurie Whisky Shop
Multiple Outlet Retailer
Winner
Good Spirits Company
Highly Commended
Robert Graham Ltd.
Online Retailer
Winner
Robert Graham Ltd.
Highly Commended
Abbey Whisky
Supermarket
Winner
Tesco
Highly Commended
Asda
Own Brand Supermarket
Winner
Lidl
Whisky Buyer
Winner
Sarah Sturgeon, Tesco
Highly Commended
Mike Sharples, Abbey Whisky
Bar Manager
Winner
Andy Gemmell, The Gate
Highly Commended
Mike Smith, The Bow Bar
Whisky Bar
Winner
Bon Accord, Glasgow
Highly Commended
The Bow Bar, Edinburgh
Whisky Hotel Bar
Winner
SCOTCH at The Balmoral Hotel
Highly Commended
Dornoch Castle Hotel
Whisky Bar Group
Winner
Whisky Bars of Scotland
Advertising Agency
Winner
Republic of Media
Design Agency
Winner
threebrand
Highly Commended
Paul Collins Creative
Communicator
Winner
Moa Nilsson, Swedish Whisky Girl
Highly Commended
Andrew Flatt, The Amateur Drammer
