Due to the current unprecedented global circumstances, this year’s Whisky Magazine Awards called for a necessary change to tradition. Instead of the familiar surroundings of the Honourable Artillery Company in London, the winners of the World Whiskies Awards and Icons of Whisky, as well as this year’s Hall of Fame inductees, were announced through social media and Whisky Magazine itself.
The Icons of Whisky are firstly presented regionally; in America, Australia, China, Ireland, Scotland and Rest of World, then those successful within their region are entered to compete for the global title.
These awards are a celebration of the years of hard work that go into every bottle. From the distillers themselves and brand ambassadors, to visitor centre managers, bars, bar tenders and the industry’s communicators – a great deal of craftsmanship, skill and knowledge are imparted at every stage and this is Whisky Magazine’s way of saying thank you for their dedication to the industry.
Anthony Denny, publisher and managing editor of Whisky Magazine said: “In an industry that, year after year, continues to improve its game on every level, this year’s Icons of Whisky have been awarded to some truly outstanding companies and individuals, hailing from all over the world. By their own supreme efforts, they have succeeded not just in earning themselves well deserved recognition, but have demonstrated just how dynamic and innovative the whole industry is. It is a real pleasure to celebrate with them.”
For the World Whiskies Awards, a shortlist of country winners was announced on 5 February this year, with a final tasting attended by more than 50 industry experts.
Rob Allanson, chair of judges said: “What an exceptional year it has been in the World Whiskies Awards, with a huge number of extremely high-quality entries, from all corners of the world. Some of the smaller producers have done very well, making the bigger brands sit up and take notice. In the end, amid so much worthy competition, the winners can really claim to have achieved enormous things this year. As ever, I owe a big debt of gratitude to the judging panels around the globe, without whose skill and knowledge we would be a great deal poorer and less informed. “
Whisky Magazine is delighted to start by revealing to you the finest companies and people in the whisky industry, with the Icons of Whisky 2020 winners.
In addition to these winners, we are honoured to include two new Hall of Fame inductees.
Sponsored by Amorim Top Series
Inductee 67
Mr Daning Hsi
Inductee 68
John Glaser
Advertising Agency of the Year
TBWA, Dublin
Brand Innovator of the Year
Sponsored by West Rock
Irish Distillers
PR Agency of the Year/Communications Agency of the Year
SPEY
Communicator of the Year
Becky Paskin
Design Agency of the Year
Sponsored by McLaren Packaging
Stranger & Stranger
Multiple Outlets Retailer of the Year
Turmeaus Cigars & Whisky
Online Retailer of the Year
La Maison du Whisky
Own Brand Supermarket of the Year
Lidl GB
Single Outlet Retailer of the Year
Sponsored by The Glenturret
WhiskyBrother
Supermarket of the Year
Dan Murphy's
Travel Retailer of the Year
Big Five Duty Free
Whisky Buyer of the Year
Pete Newton, Booths
Whisky Bar Group of the Year
Seven Grand
Whisky Bar of the Year
Jack Rose Dining Saloon
Bar Manager of the Year
Frank Murphy, The Pot Still
Bartender of the Year
Cache Bouren, Haberdasher
Whisky Hotel Bar of the Year
The Tack Room, Adare Manor
Irish Whiskey Ambassador of the Year
Avril Hogan, Dingle Distillery
Scotch Whisky Ambassador of the Year
Georgie Bell, Barcardi Brands
World Whisky Ambassador of the Year
Andy Watts, Distell
American Whisky Ambassador of the Year
Thalita Alves, Brown-Forman
Distillery Manager of the Year
Sponsored by Larkfire
Scott Sell, Westland Distillery
Master Distiller/Blender of the Year
Sponsored by Steklarna Hrastnik
Billy Walker, The GlenAllachie Distillery
Sustainable Distillery
Sponsored by Broxburn
The James Sedgwick Distillery
Visitor Attraction of the Year
Sponsored by Christies
Buffalo Trace Distillery
Visitor Attraction Manager of the Year
Lisa Jameson, Teeling Distillery
Craft Producer of the Year
Sponsored by Wade Ceramics
Dad's Hat
Campaign Innovator of the Year
Ardbeg Distillery, Masters of Smoke
Distiller of the Year
Sponsored by Glencairn Crystal
Irish Distillers
Design
Sponsored by Wade Ceramics
World's Best Whisky Design Jura 21 Years Old Tide
Taste
World's Best Blended Whisky
Sponsored by McLaren Packaging
Dewar's
Double Double 32 Years Old
World's Best Blended Limited Release
Sponsored by Bruni Erben
Ichiro's Malt & Grain
Japanese Blended Whisky Limited Edition 2020
World's Best Blended Malt
Sponsored by Tapi
MacNair's Lum Reek Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
21 Years Old
World's Best Corn
Sponsored by Larkfire
Spirit of Hven
MerCurious
World's Best Grain
Sponsored by Larkfire
Fuji
Single Grain 30 Years Old Small Batch
World's Best New Make
Sponsored by Royston Labels
Macaloney's Caledonian Distillery
Peated Mac na Braiche
World's Best Rye
Sponsored by Royston Labels
Archie Rose
Rye Malt Whisky
World's Best Single Cask Single Malt
Sponsored by Steklarna Hrastnik
Tamdhu
Sandy McIntyre’s SC
World's Best Single Malt
Sponsored by Rankin
The Hakushu
Single Malt 25 Years Old
World's Best Canadian Blended
Sponsored by Larkfire
J.P. Wiser's
Alumni Whisky Series - Darryl Sittler
World's Best Flavoured
Few Spirits
Cold Cut Bourbon
World's Best Pot Still
Sponsored by UPS
Redbreast
21 Years Old
World's Best Wheat
Sponsored by UPS
Bainbridge
Two Islands Hokkaido Cask
World's Best Bourbon
Ironroot
Harbinger
World's Best Tennessee
Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey
1820 Single Barrel
World's Best Single Barrel Bourbon
Rebel Yell
Single Barrel 10 Years Old
Take a look at Whisky Magazine Facebook, World Whiskies Awards Facebook and Twitter to see how it all happened and for more information on the awards, head to the World Whiskies Awards website.
The Icons of Whisky are firstly presented regionally; in America, Australia, China, Ireland, Scotland and Rest of World, then those successful within their region are entered to compete for the global title.
These awards are a celebration of the years of hard work that go into every bottle. From the distillers themselves and brand ambassadors, to visitor centre managers, bars, bar tenders and the industry’s communicators – a great deal of craftsmanship, skill and knowledge are imparted at every stage and this is Whisky Magazine’s way of saying thank you for their dedication to the industry.
Anthony Denny, publisher and managing editor of Whisky Magazine said: “In an industry that, year after year, continues to improve its game on every level, this year’s Icons of Whisky have been awarded to some truly outstanding companies and individuals, hailing from all over the world. By their own supreme efforts, they have succeeded not just in earning themselves well deserved recognition, but have demonstrated just how dynamic and innovative the whole industry is. It is a real pleasure to celebrate with them.”
For the World Whiskies Awards, a shortlist of country winners was announced on 5 February this year, with a final tasting attended by more than 50 industry experts.
Rob Allanson, chair of judges said: “What an exceptional year it has been in the World Whiskies Awards, with a huge number of extremely high-quality entries, from all corners of the world. Some of the smaller producers have done very well, making the bigger brands sit up and take notice. In the end, amid so much worthy competition, the winners can really claim to have achieved enormous things this year. As ever, I owe a big debt of gratitude to the judging panels around the globe, without whose skill and knowledge we would be a great deal poorer and less informed. “
Whisky Magazine is delighted to start by revealing to you the finest companies and people in the whisky industry, with the Icons of Whisky 2020 winners.
In addition to these winners, we are honoured to include two new Hall of Fame inductees.
Hall of Fame
Sponsored by Amorim Top Series
Inductee 67
Mr Daning Hsi
Inductee 68
John Glaser
Icons of Whisky 2020 global winners
Advertising Agency of the Year
TBWA, Dublin
Brand Innovator of the Year
Sponsored by West Rock
Irish Distillers
PR Agency of the Year/Communications Agency of the Year
SPEY
Communicator of the Year
Becky Paskin
Design Agency of the Year
Sponsored by McLaren Packaging
Stranger & Stranger
Multiple Outlets Retailer of the Year
Turmeaus Cigars & Whisky
Online Retailer of the Year
La Maison du Whisky
Own Brand Supermarket of the Year
Lidl GB
Single Outlet Retailer of the Year
Sponsored by The Glenturret
WhiskyBrother
Supermarket of the Year
Dan Murphy's
Travel Retailer of the Year
Big Five Duty Free
Whisky Buyer of the Year
Pete Newton, Booths
Whisky Bar Group of the Year
Seven Grand
Whisky Bar of the Year
Jack Rose Dining Saloon
Bar Manager of the Year
Frank Murphy, The Pot Still
Bartender of the Year
Cache Bouren, Haberdasher
Whisky Hotel Bar of the Year
The Tack Room, Adare Manor
Irish Whiskey Ambassador of the Year
Avril Hogan, Dingle Distillery
Scotch Whisky Ambassador of the Year
Georgie Bell, Barcardi Brands
World Whisky Ambassador of the Year
Andy Watts, Distell
American Whisky Ambassador of the Year
Thalita Alves, Brown-Forman
Distillery Manager of the Year
Sponsored by Larkfire
Scott Sell, Westland Distillery
Master Distiller/Blender of the Year
Sponsored by Steklarna Hrastnik
Billy Walker, The GlenAllachie Distillery
Sustainable Distillery
Sponsored by Broxburn
The James Sedgwick Distillery
Visitor Attraction of the Year
Sponsored by Christies
Buffalo Trace Distillery
Visitor Attraction Manager of the Year
Lisa Jameson, Teeling Distillery
Craft Producer of the Year
Sponsored by Wade Ceramics
Dad's Hat
Campaign Innovator of the Year
Ardbeg Distillery, Masters of Smoke
Distiller of the Year
Sponsored by Glencairn Crystal
Irish Distillers
World Whiskies Awards 2020 winners
Design
Sponsored by Wade Ceramics
World's Best Whisky Design Jura 21 Years Old Tide
Taste
World's Best Blended Whisky
Sponsored by McLaren Packaging
Dewar's
Double Double 32 Years Old
World's Best Blended Limited Release
Sponsored by Bruni Erben
Ichiro's Malt & Grain
Japanese Blended Whisky Limited Edition 2020
World's Best Blended Malt
Sponsored by Tapi
MacNair's Lum Reek Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
21 Years Old
World's Best Corn
Sponsored by Larkfire
Spirit of Hven
MerCurious
World's Best Grain
Sponsored by Larkfire
Fuji
Single Grain 30 Years Old Small Batch
World's Best New Make
Sponsored by Royston Labels
Macaloney's Caledonian Distillery
Peated Mac na Braiche
World's Best Rye
Sponsored by Royston Labels
Archie Rose
Rye Malt Whisky
World's Best Single Cask Single Malt
Sponsored by Steklarna Hrastnik
Tamdhu
Sandy McIntyre’s SC
World's Best Single Malt
Sponsored by Rankin
The Hakushu
Single Malt 25 Years Old
World's Best Canadian Blended
Sponsored by Larkfire
J.P. Wiser's
Alumni Whisky Series - Darryl Sittler
World's Best Flavoured
Few Spirits
Cold Cut Bourbon
World's Best Pot Still
Sponsored by UPS
Redbreast
21 Years Old
World's Best Wheat
Sponsored by UPS
Bainbridge
Two Islands Hokkaido Cask
World's Best Bourbon
Ironroot
Harbinger
World's Best Tennessee
Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey
1820 Single Barrel
World's Best Single Barrel Bourbon
Rebel Yell
Single Barrel 10 Years Old
Take a look at Whisky Magazine Facebook, World Whiskies Awards Facebook and Twitter to see how it all happened and for more information on the awards, head to the World Whiskies Awards website.
