The Icons of Whisky Scotland are presented in Edinburgh each year and continue to celebrate the nation's top whisky people, bars, producers and retailers.
Our Icons of Whisky are nominated by and voted for online by members of the industry. After this process is complete, Anthony Denny, publisher & managing editor; Rob Allanson, editor; and Christopher Coates, Scotch whisky editor, act as an editorial panel that collates the results, debates tie breakers and finalises the results. The process remained the same this year, although we have added some new categories for the 2020 awards, to mirror the growing reach and impact of whisky and the professionals working within the industry.
Distiller of the year
Winner
Glenfarclas Distillery Highly Commended
Ian Macleod DistillersCraft Producer of the year
Winner
Ballindalloch Distillery Highly Commended
Daftmill DistillerySustainable Distillery
Winner
Ardnamurchan Distillery Highly Commended
Deanston DistilleryBrand Innovator of the year
Winner
Isle of Arran Distillers Highly Commended
AnCnocVisitor Attraction of the year
Winner
Glen Moray Distillery Highly Commended
The GlenAllachie DistilleryMaster Distiller/ Master Blender of the year
Winner
Billy Walker, The GlenAllachie DistilleryHighly Commended
Rachel Barrie, Brown-FormanDistillery Manager of the year
Winner
Callum Fraser, Glenfarclas Distillery Highly Commended
Graham Eunson, Tomatin DistilleryScotch Whisky Ambassador of the year
Winner
Karen Fullerton, Glenmorangie Highly Commended
Danny Dyer, William Grant & SonsVisitor Attraction Manager of the year
Winner
Brian Robinson, Ballindalloch Distillery Highly Commended
Claire Southern, Speyside Distillery "The Snug", Aviemore
Bar of the year
Winner
Bon Accord, Glasgow Highly Commended
Ben Nevis, GlasgowBar Manager of the year
Winner
Frank Murphy, Pot Still, Glasgow Highly Commended
Mandy Silver, Curly Coo, StirlingHotel Bar of the year
Winner
Ardsheil Hotel, Ardsheil Highly Commended
Dornoch Castle Hotel, DornochCommunicator of the year
Winner
Dr Chris White, Edinburgh Whisky BlogHighly Commended
Jim & Nicola Young, Whisky BoysCampaign Innovator
Winner
Ardbeg Distillery – Masters of Smoke Highly Commended
Douglas Laing & Co. – A Remarkable Encapsulation of Scotland’s Whisky IslandsPR Agency of the year
Winner
SPEY Highly Commended
Beeline PRDesign Agency of the year
Winner
Breeze Creative, GlasgowHighly Commended
Contagious, EdinburghMultiple Outlets Retailer of the year
Winner
Good Spirits Company, Glasgow Highly Commended
Royal Mile Whiskies/
DrinkmongerOnline Retailer of the year
Winner
Royal Mile Whiskies Highly Commended
Abbey WhiskyOwn Brand Supermarket of the year
Winner
Aldi Highly Commended
LidlSingle Outlet Retailer of the year
Winner
Gordon & MacPhail Highly Commended
Green Welly StopBuyer of the year
Winner
Arthur Motley, Royal Mile WhiskiesHighly Commended
Michael Hanratty, Carnegie Whisky CellarsSupermarket of the year
Winner
Aldi Highly Commended
TescoTravel Retailer of the year
Winner
World of Whiskies, Edinburgh, Glasgow & Aberdeen AirportHighly Commended
The Whisky Cellar, Inverness AirportAll of these winners now move forward to be considered for the global Icons of Whisky titles, which will be announced in March at the global Whisky Magazine Awards dinner in London.
Whisky Magazine's managing director, Damian Riley-Smith, begins proceedings at the Whisky Magazine Awards Scotland.