Icons of Whisky Australia winners

The second-ever Australian Icons of Whisky Awards, held in Adelaide, celebrated the nation’s top people, bars, producers and retailers.

Each category was presented with two awards – Winner and Highly Commended – following on from a combination of local votes and a judging panel from the Icons of Whisky team.

Alongside the announcement of the winners, head distiller at Sullivans Cover, Patrick Maguire, was awarded with one of the whisky world’s top honours, induction into the global Icons of Whisky Hall of Fame.

The full Icons of Whisky Australia winners are listed below:

Company
Distiller of the Year
Great Southern Distilling Company
Highly Commended: Sullivans Cove Distillery

Brand Innovator of the Year
New World Whisky Distillery
Highly Commended: Belgrove Distillery

Craft Producer of the Year
Belgrove Distillery
Highly Commended: Tin Shed Distillery

Visitor Attraction of the Year
New World Whisky Distillery
Highly Commended: Hellyers Road Distillery

Bars
Bar of the Year
The Baxter Inn
Highly Commended: Websters Bar

Hotel Bar of the Year
Grain Bar (Four Seasons Hotel Sydney)
Highly Commended: Capitol Bar & Grill (QT Canberra)

Bar Group of the Year
Speakeasy Group
Highly Commended: Merivale

People
Master Distiller/Master Blender of the Year
Mark Littler (Hellyers Road Distillery)
Highly Commended: Heather Tillot (Sullivans Cove Distillery)

Distillery Manager of the Year
John Rochfort (McLaren Vale Distillery)
Highly Commended: Peter Bignell (Belgrove Distillery)

Visitor Attraction Manager of the Year
Barry Deimos (Whipper Snapper Distillery)
Highly Commended: Emma Alessandrini (Old Kempton Distillery)

Scotch Whisky Brand Ambassador of the Year
Mark Hickey (Spirits Platform)
Highly Commended: Ross Blainey (The Balvenie)

World Whisky Brand Ambassador of the Year
Paul Slated (New World Whisky Distillery, Starward)
Highly Commended: Sneha Rao (Paul John Single Malts)

Irish Whiskey Brand Ambassador of the Year
Martin Lynch (Teeling)
Highly Commended: Scott Farrow (Wonderland Drinks)

American Whiskey Brand Ambassador of the Year
Daniele Pirotta (Wild Turkey)
Highly Commended: Grant Shearon (Brown Forman)

Retail
Supermarket of the Year
Dan Murphy’s
Highly Commended: Vintage Cellars

Single Outlet Retailer of the Year
The Oak Barrel
Highly Commended: Casa De Vinos

Online Retailer of the Year
Nick’s Wine Merchants
Highly Commended: Harvest Liquor

Multiple Outlet Retailer of the Year
Star Liquor
Highly Commended: Chambers Cellars

Travel Retailer of the Year
Heinemann Tax & Duty Free (Sydney)
Highly Commended: Aelia (Adelaide)