The whisky industry has commended its finest people, products and places at the Whisky Magazine Awards 2023 global ceremony in London.
The ceremony at Merchant Taylor's Hall on Thursday saw the announcement of the World's Best and country winners in the
World Whiskies Awards and the
Icons of Whisky global winners, as well as three new inductees to the Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame.
Whisky Magazine has been presenting the results of its World Whiskies Awards, the world’s largest and most respected whisky competition, for 23 years. This year’s announcement represents the culmination of a rigorous blind-judging process that saw more than 200 expert judges from around the globe assess more than 1,400 different whiskies from more than 40 countries.
The World Whiskies Awards named its World’s Best winners across 23 categories of whisky, including single malt, bourbon, blended, rye, pot still, and design. This year’s winners include
M&H Elements Sherry Cask, from Israel, which was named World’s Best Single Malt, and
The Representative Bourbon, which was awarded the title of World’s Best Bourbon.
The publication’s Icons of Whisky has awarded the industry’s best people, places, innovators and agencies since 2007. The global winners were chosen by an expert panel from a shortlist of regional winners from America, Ireland, India, Scotland, and the Rest of the World.
From bartenders to brand ambassadors, chefs to visitor attraction managers, the Icons of Whisky awards honour the people who work tirelessly to produce and promote whisky, along with the very best shops, bars, visitor attractions and agencies. Among this year’s 33 winners were
Heaven Hill Brands, which took home the title of Distiller of the Year, and
Whyte & Mackay’s Gregg Glass, who was named Master Blender of the Year.
On the Icons of Whisky results,
Christopher Coates, editor-at-large of
Whisky Magazine and chair of both the Icons of Whisky and World Whiskies Awards, said: "The 17th annual Icons of Whisky awards saw the stiffest competition yet. The experiences offered by the top whisky bars, retailers and attractions today are truly world-class – and have become bywords for hospitality and tourism excellence beyond just the drinks sphere.
“Meanwhile, whisky professionals – whether they are makers, ambassadors, bartenders, marketers or retailers – are truly going above and beyond to make the category inclusive and fun, while also delivering the education required to maintain whisky’s status as the world’s most respected and valued spirit category.”
Anita Ujszaszi, awards director, commented on the World Whiskies Awards: “Firstly, I must send my sincerest gratitude to everybody who made this year’s awards possible, in particular our panel of expert judges. This was an incredibly strong year across all of the categories and there were worthy winners all across the globe. It is an honour to celebrate this among so many of the industry’s finest people and long may the industry as a whole continue to thrive for many years to come.”
Alongside the World Whiskies Awards and Icons of Whisky results, the awards ceremony also saw three industry luminaries inducted to the Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame, the highest honour bestowed by the publication: Bernard Walsh, founder of Ireland's Walsh Whiskey; Sukhinder Singh, co-founder and director of
The Whisky Exchange and Speciality Drinks; and whisky author and communicator
Hans Offringa.
Icons of Whisky Global Winners 2023
Distiller of the year Sponsored by Glencairn Crystal StudioHeaven Hill Brands
Master Distiller/Master Blender of the yearGregg Glass, Whyte & Mackay
Craft Producer of the year Chattanooga Whiskey
Sustainable Distillery of the year Sponsored by Sarten Stauning Whisky
Distillery Manager of the year Sponsored by Larkfire Tyler Pederson, Westland Distillery
Visitor Attraction of the year Johnnie Walker Princes Street
Cooperage of the yearCasknolia
Cooper of the year Andy Moore, Loch Lomond Cooperage
Single Estate of the yearLochlea Distillery
Visitor Attraction Manager of the yearLisa Jameson, Teeling Whiskey
Independent Bottler of the year Lost Lantern Spirits
Campaign Innovator of the year Sponsored by Berlin Packaging UKGlenmorangie
Brand Innovator of the yearWaterford Distillery
World Whisky Brand Ambassador of the year Koray Kaan Özdemir, Paul John Whisky
Scotch Whisky Brand Ambassador of the year Mark Thomson, William Grant & Sons
Irish Whiskey Brand Ambassador of the yearChris Hayes, Teeling Whiskey
American Whiskey Brand Ambassador of the yearCam Dawson, Brown-Forman
Communicator of the yearSponsored by Whisky AuctioneerEmma Cookson
PR Agency of the year SPEY
Design Agency of the year Sponsored by McLaren PackagingNude Brand Creation
Chef of the year Arun Sundararaj, The Taj Mahal
Bartender of the yearJames Lin, Kavalan Whisky Bar
Bar Manager of the year Lachlan Watt, Whisky & Alement
Hotel Bar of the year Clive’s Classic Lounge
General Manager (Hotel) of the year Eddie Langton, Kilkenny Whiskey Guild
Bar of the yearSponsored by HellmannBourbons Bistro
Bar Group of the year Kilkenny Whiskey Guild
Buyer of the year Ally Alpine, Celtic Whiskey Shop
Travel Retailer of the yearAer Rianta International (ARI)
Online Retailer of the year Master of Malt
Supermarket of the year Waitrose
Single Outlet Retailer of the year Sponsored by The Glenturret McCallum and Sons Whisky Co.
Multiple Outlet Retailer of the year Whisky Brother & Co.
World Whiskies Awards Global Winners 2023
World’s Best Single Malt Best Israeli, No Age StatementM&H, Elements Sherry Cask
World’s Best Single Cask Single Malt Best Scotch Campbeltown, 13 to 20 YearsGlen Scotia, First Fill Bourbon Cask No. 372
World’s Best Small Batch Single Malt Best Irish, 13 to 20 YearsJ.J. Corry, The Flintlock No. 3
World’s Best BlendedBest American, No Age StatementBreckenridge, High Proof Bourbon Whiskey
World’s Best Canadian Blended13 to 20 YearsGibson’s Finest, Venerable
World’s Best Blended Limited ReleaseBest Japanese, No Age StatementIchiro’s Malt & Grain, Blended Japanese Whisky 2023
World’s Best Blended Malt Best Japanese, No Age StatementTaketsuru, Pure Malt
World’s Best BourbonBest Non Kentucky The Representative, Bourbon
World’s Best Finished BourbonBest Non Kentucky Ironroot Republic, Apotheosis
World’s Best Small Batch BourbonBest KentuckyElijah Craig, Barrel Proof C922
World’s Best Single Barrel BourbonBest Non KentuckyTumblin’ Dice, Single Barrel
World’s Best American WhiskeyStorm King Distilling Co., Side Gig Whiskey
World’s Best TennesseeJack Daniel’s, Bonded
World’s Best CornBest Australian, No Age StatementUpshot, Red Corn Whiskey
World’s Best WheatBest American, 12 Years & UnderLone Elm, 4 Years Old Single Barrel
World’s Best Rye Best Dutch, No Age Statement Millstone, 100 Rye
World’s Best Pot StillBest Canadian, No Age StatementMacaloney’s Island Distillery, Kildara Signature Selection
World’s Best GrainBest Korean, No Age Statement
Hwayo, X. Premium
World’s Best Single Cask Single GrainBest Scottish, 21 Years & OverRare Auld, Invergordon 32 Years Old
World’s Best Single Cask Single RyeBest Danish, 12 Years & UnderStauning, Rye Maple Syrup Single Cask No. 517
World’s Best New Make & Young SpiritBest Japanese, New MakeNiigata Kameda, New Pot Peated
World’s Best FlavouredBest IrishTullamore D.E.W., Honey
World’s Best Design & Best Bottle DesignCù Bòcan, 15 Years Old