Winners of the World Whiskies Awards, Icons of Whisky and 2020 Hall of Fame inductees announced

Due to the current unprecedented global circumstances, this year’s Whisky Magazine Awards called for a necessary change to tradition. Instead of the familiar surroundings of the Honourable Artillery Company in London, the winners of the World Whiskies Awards and Icons of Whisky, as well as this year’s Hall of Fame inductees, were announced through social media and Whisky Magazine itself.

The Icons of Whisky are firstly presented regionally; in America, Australia, China, Ireland, Scotland and Rest of World, then those successful within their region are entered to compete for the global title.

These awards are a celebration of the years of hard work that go into every bottle. From the distillers themselves and brand ambassadors, to visitor centre managers, bars, bar tenders and the industry’s communicators – a great deal of craftsmanship, skill and knowledge are imparted at every stage and this is Whisky Magazine’s way of saying thank you for their dedication to the industry.

Anthony Denny, publisher and managing editor of Whisky Magazine said: “In an industry that, year after year, continues to improve its game on every level, this year’s Icons of Whisky have been awarded to some truly outstanding companies and individuals, hailing from all over the world. By their own supreme efforts, they have succeeded not just in earning themselves well deserved recognition, but have demonstrated just how dynamic and innovative the whole industry is. It is a real pleasure to celebrate with them.”

For the World Whiskies Awards, a shortlist of country winners was announced on 5 February this year, with a final tasting attended by more than 50 industry experts.

Rob Allanson, chair of judges said: “What an exceptional year it has been in the World Whiskies Awards, with a huge number of extremely high-quality entries, from all corners of the world. Some of the smaller producers have done very well, making the bigger brands sit up and take notice. In the end, amid so much worthy competition, the winners can really claim to have achieved enormous things this year. As ever, I owe a big debt of gratitude to the judging panels around the globe, without whose skill and knowledge we would be a great deal poorer and less informed. “

Whisky Magazine is delighted to start by revealing to you the finest companies and people in the whisky industry, with the Icons of Whisky 2020 winners.

In addition to these winners, we are honoured to include two new Hall of Fame inductees.

Hall of Fame

Sponsored by Amorim Top Series

Inductee 67
Mr Daning Hsi

Inductee 68
John Glaser

Icons of Whisky 2020 global winners

Advertising Agency of the Year
TBWA, Dublin

Brand Innovator of the Year
Sponsored by West Rock
Irish Distillers

PR Agency of the Year/Communications Agency of the Year
SPEY

Communicator of the Year
Becky Paskin

Design Agency of the Year
Sponsored by McLaren Packaging
Stranger & Stranger

Multiple Outlets Retailer of the Year
Turmeaus Cigars & Whisky

Online Retailer of the Year
La Maison du Whisky

Own Brand Supermarket of the Year
Lidl GB

Single Outlet Retailer of the Year
Sponsored by The Glenturret
WhiskyBrother

Supermarket of the Year
Dan Murphy's

Travel Retailer of the Year
Big Five Duty Free

Whisky Buyer of the Year
Pete Newton, Booths

Whisky Bar Group of the Year
Seven Grand

Whisky Bar of the Year
Jack Rose Dining Saloon

Bar Manager of the Year
Frank Murphy, The Pot Still

Bartender of the Year
Cache Bouren, Haberdasher

Whisky Hotel Bar of the Year
The Tack Room, Adare Manor

Irish Whiskey Ambassador of the Year
Avril Hogan, Dingle Distillery

Scotch Whisky Ambassador of the Year
Georgie Bell, Barcardi Brands

World Whisky Ambassador of the Year
Andy Watts, Distell

American Whisky Ambassador of the Year
Thalita Alves, Brown-Forman

Distillery Manager of the Year
Sponsored by Larkfire
Scott Sell, Westland Distillery

Master Distiller/Blender of the Year
Sponsored by Steklarna Hrastnik
Billy Walker, The GlenAllachie Distillery

Sustainable Distillery
Sponsored by Broxburn
The James Sedgwick Distillery

Visitor Attraction of the Year
Sponsored by Christies
Buffalo Trace Distillery

Visitor Attraction Manager of the Year
Lisa Jameson, Teeling Distillery

Craft Producer of the Year
Sponsored by Wade Ceramics
Dad's Hat

Campaign Innovator of the Year
Ardbeg Distillery, Masters of Smoke

Distiller of the Year
Sponsored by Glencairn Crystal
Irish Distillers

World Whiskies Awards 2020 winners

Design
Sponsored by Wade Ceramics
World's Best Whisky Design Jura 21 Years Old Tide

Taste

World's Best Blended Whisky
Sponsored by McLaren Packaging
Dewar's
Double Double 32 Years Old

World's Best Blended Limited Release
Sponsored by Bruni Erben
Ichiro's Malt & Grain
Japanese Blended Whisky Limited Edition 2020

World's Best Blended Malt
Sponsored by Tapi
MacNair's Lum Reek Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
21 Years Old

World's Best Corn
Sponsored by Larkfire
Spirit of Hven
MerCurious

World's Best Grain
Sponsored by Larkfire
Fuji
Single Grain 30 Years Old Small Batch

World's Best New Make
Sponsored by Royston Labels
Macaloney's Caledonian Distillery
Peated Mac na Braiche

World's Best Rye
Sponsored by Royston Labels
Archie Rose
Rye Malt Whisky

World's Best Single Cask Single Malt
Sponsored by Steklarna Hrastnik
Tamdhu
Sandy McIntyre’s SC

World's Best Single Malt
Sponsored by Rankin
The Hakushu
Single Malt 25 Years Old

World's Best Canadian Blended
Sponsored by Larkfire
J.P. Wiser's
Alumni Whisky Series - Darryl Sittler

World's Best Flavoured
Few Spirits
Cold Cut Bourbon

World's Best Pot Still
Sponsored by UPS
Redbreast
21 Years Old

World's Best Wheat
Sponsored by UPS
Bainbridge
Two Islands Hokkaido Cask

World's Best Bourbon
Ironroot
Harbinger

World's Best Tennessee
Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey
1820 Single Barrel

World's Best Single Barrel Bourbon
Rebel Yell
Single Barrel 10 Years Old

Take a look at Whisky Magazine Facebook, World Whiskies Awards Facebook and Twitter to see how it all happened and for more information on the awards, head to the World Whiskies Awards website.