The Icons mark a highlight in the whisky calendar and this year is no exception with the quality of companies entering the awards.This year we decided to ask the industry to nominate themselves in the various categories.Then based on the evidence, an independent editorial panel drew up a shortlist from which the winners were picked.The Icons are designed to celebrate the people and places behind the greatest whiskies in the world.This year’s judging process included regional heats in the United States,Canada, Ireland and Scotland.The winners of the regional icons will now go forward to the final world Icons which will be announced at an awards ceremony at the Café Royal, London, 28th Feburary 2008,held to mark the opening of Whisky Live London.Here we present the winners and highly commendeds from Scotland, Ireland and Canada.It has to be said that to make it to the shortlist is a tremendous honour as in many categories there was some serious competition. We hope that you will celebrate the diversity the industry has to offer and join us in congratulating the winners.DISTILLER OF THE YEAR WINNER Inver House Distillers Ltd
A big year for this distiller as it relaunched in its new format.In addition toacomplete redesign,the age statement was removed and the brand is now being sold in vintage formats – currently 1997,1989 and 1979.Only those whiskies which have reached their peak of perfection areselected by the Master Distiller and released as vintages offering consumers the best of the best whiskies the Balblair has to offer from that particular vintage year.HIGHLY COMMENDED
William Grant & Sons ALSO NOMINATED
BenRiach,Bowmore, Glenmorangie,Benromach, The Glenlivet VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR WINNER
The Glenlivet and the Smugglers’Trails The Glenlivet Distillery and The Crown Estate took a step back in time to launch three historic walks in the beautiful surroundings of the Glenlivet valleytogive visitors a flavour of its illicit whisky smuggling past.The launch of The Glenlivet Smugglers’Trails is the second phase in a journey to rediscover the heritage of Scotch whisky and that of its most famous glen.It follows on from last year’s historic licensing of the first illicit ‘sma’still’in Glenlivet for nearly 180 years.HIGHLY COMMENDED
Bowmorevisitor centre ALSO NOMINATED The Balvenie visitor centre, Benromach Distillery,Glen MorayDistillery, Tullibardine Distillery.WHISKY BAR OF THE YEAR WINNER
The Grill,Aberdeen 476 whiskies and 20 years of development and investment has attracted a younger,more female clientele. Impressive training and great glass policy.HIGHLY COMMENDED
Old Course Hotel,St Andrews ALSO NOMINATED
Minmore House, Banffshire
RETAILER OF THE YEAR (SINGLE OUTLET) WINNER
Loch Fyne For continually being driven by customer demand. The single shop is staffed by very knowledgeable and enthusiastic staff.HIGHLY COMMENDED Gordon & MacPhail RETAILER OF THE YEAR (MULTIPLE OUTLETS) WINNER
The Whisky Shop No one anywhere in the world has done more in 12 months to bring whisky to the High Street. Launched Britain’s first national whisky club called The Glenkeir Club.Offers members discounts, offers, competitions,website with chat room, and the chance to taste and vote for exclusive club bottling.Has more than 500 members in less than a year.HIGHLY COMMENDED
Royal Mile Whiskies INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR WINNER
Glenmorangie New bottle shape, brand identity limited editions, kaleidoscope tasting tool,new bottling hall, first 4.5 litre bottle of single malt.HIGHLY COMMENDED
Loch Fyne Whisky Bar (at the Connect Festival – a three day music festival and consumer event in partnership with Springbank Distillers).ALSO NOMINATED
Glenfarclas Distillery AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR WINNER
Ronnie Cox,The Glenrothes He had held 42 events in 20 countries, presenting to more than 3,000 people.Outstanding contributions to promoting Scotch, particularly Glenrothes, around the globe.HIGHLY COMMENDED
Gerry Tosh, Highland Park ALSO NOMINATED
Richard Paterson Whyte & Mackay, Robert Hicks Beam Global,Dr Bill Lumsden The Glenmorangie Company INDEPENDENT BOTTLER OF THE YEAR WINNER
Speyside Distillers
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Scotch Malt Whisky Society
DISTILLER OF THE YEAR WINNER
Irish Distillers Group For continually pushing the boundaries of the Irish Whiskey category,especially with the launch of Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve.HIGHLY COMMENDED
Cooley Distillery ALSO NOMINATED
Old Bushmills Distillery VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR WINNER
Old Kilbeggan 50,000 visitors.Re-started distilling on site using old refurbished pot still and other original equipment.HIGHLY COMMENDED
Old Jameson Disillery ALSO NOMINATED
Old Bushmills Visitors’Centre RETAILER OF THE YEAR WINNER
The Celtic Whisky Shop Extended range from US, Scotland an Japan,exclusive cask bottlings from Cooley and Bushmills, increased whisky training programme for staff.HIGHLY COMMENDED
Mitchell and Son WHISKY BAR OF THE YEAR No entries INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR WINNER
Old Bushmills For Bushmills 1608.It combines some classic features of Bushmills whiskeys (such as triple distillation, the use of fully malted barley or maturation in the finest quality casks) with a pioneering process: it was distilled with crystal malt, a type of malted barley selected to deliver exceptional smoothness.HIGHLY COMMENDED
Cooley Distillery AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR WINNER
Noel Sweeney (Cooley) Driving force behind Cooley’s invasion of the single malt market.DISTILLER OF THE YEAR WINNER
Kittling Ridge Estates Expanded twice in the last six years,making it a small distillery that punches above its weight in a fiercely competitive market.HIGHLY COMMENDED
Diageo
VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR WINNER
Canadian Club Visitor Center For educating visitors about Canadian Club and Canadian whisky,especially the role it played during the Prohibition era in North America.HIGHLY COMMENDED
Glenora Distillery INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR WINNER
Diageo For its work revitalising the iconic Crown Royal brand with XR, using the last reserves from the Waterloo distillery.HIGHLY COMMENDED
Glenora Distillery AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR WINNER
John Hall,Kittling Ridge For taking the message of whisky to the world.15,000 people in 50 cities across North America in the last 12 months.HIGHLY COMMENDED
Dan Tullio,Beam Global RETAILER OF THE YEAR (MULTIPLE OUTLETS) LCBO
For consistently promoting whisky through its various outlets using a variety of media to its best effect, including the ‘new whisky generation’ advertising campaign.HIGHLY COMMENDED
Alcool NB RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR WINNER
Via Allegro Ristorante For having the largest and most diversified malt whisky collection in Canada.The staff exude a passion for Canadian whisky.WHISKY BAR OF THE YEAR WINNER
The Whisky Café,Montreal For its whisky promotions, staff trainings and wonderful whisky collection which is available to beginners and aficionados alike.HIGHLY COMMENDED
The Lunar Rogue Pub, Fredericton