Come rain, shine or a global pandemic, the whisky world has come together once more to celebrate the industry’s very best people and places in the
Whisky Magazine Icons of Whisky awards.
The drinks industry has faced one of its most challenging years in recent history, which has completely altered the platform from which many are able to work, from in-person to virtual. From bartenders to brand ambassadors, retailers to visitor attraction managers, the 2021 Icons of Whisky awards honours those who have worked tirelessly for the growth of the whisky industry.
Run by the team at
Whisky Magazine, the Icons of Whisky awards aim to celebrate the best and brightest people and places in the sector – not just the distilleries and the teams that work in them, but also the individuals and businesses that work to support and promote them and their products. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the awards results couldn’t be presented in person this year at the usual gala dinner. Instead, the Whisky Magazine team have hosted virtual presentations to announce the regional winners, broadcast on
Facebook and
YouTube.
The Icons of Whisky Scotland results were broadcast on Friday, 5 February at 12:30pm GMT. The full list of winners and highly commended people and places can be found below as well as at
www.iconsofwhisky.comAnita Ujszaszi, Awards Director, said: “After an incredibly challenging year it has been wonderful to witness the perseverance of the whisky industry. We have seen new and creative developments, and innovation in the face of unexpected restrictions. The resilience of those celebrated here is second to none.”
Christopher Coates, Editor of
Whisky Magazine, said: “Each year I’m blown away by the level of commitment, expertise, and passion demonstrated by the talented individuals that can be found at every level of the whisky business. While standards are always high and the competition fierce, this year more than ever our judges have been left in awe of the industry’s efforts to educate, innovate, and creatively respond to the challenges of the past 12 months.”
“In particular, the industry’s support of the on-trade and travel sectors has been commendable, while the swift production of sanitiser early on and ongoing charity fundraising efforts are truly inspiring testaments to the exceptional nature of the whisky trade. Simultaneously, we’ve also seen a number of impressive new releases and campaigns that can easily be counted among some of the best the world of whisky has ever seen.”
You can join the conversation on social media with the hashtag #WhiskyMagAwards.
Icons of Whisky Scotland 2021 Winners and Highly CommendedDistillerWinnerWhyte & Mackay
Highly CommendedLVMH (The Glenmorangie Company)
Craft ProducerWinnerArbikie Distillery
Highly CommendedArdnamurchan Distillery
Sustainable DistilleryWinnerNc'nean Distillery
Highly CommendedGlengoyne Distillery
Brand InnovatorWinnerArdnamurchan Distillery
Highly CommendedNc'nean Distillery
Campaign InnovatorWinnerArdbeg, The launch of Wee Beastie
Highly CommendedTomatin Distillery, The Lockdown Whisky Festival
Visitor AttractionWinnerHolyrood Distillery
Highly CommendedThe Scotch Whisky Experience
Distillery ManagerWinnerStewart Walker, Fettercairn Distillery
Highly CommendedIan Renwick, The Glenturret Distillery
Master Distiller / Master BlenderWinnerBob Dalgarno, The Glenturret Distillery
Highly CommendedRachel Barrie, Brown-Forman
Scotch Whisky Brand AmbassadorWinnerScott Adamson, Tomatin Distillery
Highly CommendedPaul Dempsey, Speyside Distillery
Visitor Attraction ManagerWinnerStuart Hendry, Glengoyne Distillery
Highly CommendedMark Bruce, Jura Distillery
Single Outlet RetailerWinnerCarnegie Whisky Cellars
Highly CommendedInverurie Whisky Shop
Multiple Outlet RetailerWinnerGood Spirits Company
Highly CommendedRobert Graham Ltd.
Online RetailerWinnerRobert Graham Ltd.
Highly CommendedAbbey Whisky
SupermarketWinnerTesco
Highly CommendedAsda
Own Brand SupermarketWinnerLidl
Whisky BuyerWinnerSarah Sturgeon, Tesco
Highly CommendedMike Sharples, Abbey Whisky
Bar ManagerWinnerAndy Gemmell, The Gate
Highly CommendedMike Smith, The Bow Bar
Whisky BarWinnerBon Accord, Glasgow
Highly CommendedThe Bow Bar, Edinburgh
Whisky Hotel BarWinnerSCOTCH at The Balmoral Hotel
Highly CommendedDornoch Castle Hotel
Whisky Bar GroupWinnerWhisky Bars of Scotland
Advertising AgencyWinnerRepublic of Media
Design AgencyWinnerthreebrand
Highly CommendedPaul Collins Creative
CommunicatorWinnerMoa Nilsson, Swedish Whisky Girl
Highly CommendedAndrew Flatt, The Amateur Drammer
Whisky Magazine's editor, Christopher Coates, hosted the live stream presentation.