We reveal this year’s global Icons winners…

The global love for whisky has not slowed down as we move into 2019, and our awards are committed to moving with the times. As such, we have expanded our Icons of Whisky awards to include China, which feeds into the Rest of the World category and we were not let down by the response. 

The Icons of Whisky awards are first presented regionally; America, Australia, Ireland, Rest of World and Scotland. As ever you can find out the results on the Icons of Whisky website. Nominations are received from the industry before a shortlist is created and voted on. 

With each of our regional awards now concluded, the time has come to reveal the global winners. As always, it was an unenviable task for our editorial panel to review the shortlist of regional winners before deciding which company or individual would take home the global trophy. Category winners were shortlisted for the global award, where there was a regional winner. Each year the strength of our shortlists seems to grow, testament to the depth of talent in the industry. 

The Icons of Whisky Awards are a celebration of the years of hard work that go into every bottle. From distillers, still makers and coopers, to warehouse staff and visitor centre managers – a great deal of craftsmanship, skill and knowledge are imparted at each stage of the process. This is our way of saying thank you to the individuals and producers for their dedication to each innovative release, visitor experience or expert retail service, delivered in a tireless fashion.

We are delighted to reveal to you the finest companies and people in the whisky industry as we proudly present the 2019 winners. Let’s raise a glass to their success.

–

Single Outlet Retailer of the year
CELTIC WHISKEY SHOP

Shortlist
America – Julio’s Liqour 
Australia – The Oak Barrel
Ireland – Celtic Whiskey Shop
Rest of World – Gauntleys of Nottingham
Scotland – Gordon & MacPhail Retail Shop

–

Multiple Outlets Retailer of the year
LA MAISON DU WHISKY

Shortlist
America – Twin Liquors
Australia – Star Liquor
Ireland – O’Briens, Wine, Beer, Spirits
Rest of World – La Maison du Whisky
Scotland – The Whisky Shop

–

Online Retailer of the year
MASTER OF MALT

Shortlist
America – Drizly
Australia – Nick’s Wine Merchants
Ireland – Celtic Whiskey Shop
Rest of World – Master of Malt
Scotland – Royal Mile Whiskies

–

Travel Retailer of the year
DFS GROUP SINGAPORE

Shortlist
America – Dufry
Australia – Heinemann Tax & Duty Free, Sydney
Ireland – The Loop, Dublin
Rest of World – DFS Group, Singapore
Scotland – World of Whiskies, Edinburgh & Glasgow Airports

–

Supermarket of the year
DAN MURPHY’S

Shortlist
America – Whole Foods
Australia – Dan Murphy’s
Ireland – SuperValu
Rest of World – Waitrose
Scotland – Tesco

–

Visitor Attraction Manager of the year
Sponsored by Christie’s
SUSAN COLVILLE – BENROMACH DISTILLERY

Shortlist
America – Marsha Beam, Jim Beam American Stillhouse
Australia – Barry Deimos, Whipper Snapper Distillery
Ireland – Alan O’Donovan, Irish Whiskey Experience
Rest of World – Simon Dicks, James Sedgwick Distillery
Scotland – Susan Colville, Benromach

–

Distillery Manager of the year
Sponsored by Broxburn Properties
JOHN ROCHFORT – THE MCLAREN VALE DISTILLERY

Shortlist
America – Juan Merizalde Carrillo, Old Forester Distilling Co.
Australia – John Rochfort, McLaren Vale
Ireland – Mary Ferriter, Dingle Distillery
Rest of World – Dhavall Ghandi, The Lakes Distillery
Scotland – Sandy McIntyre, Tamdhu

–

Scotch Whisky Brand Ambassador of the year
Sponsored by McLaren Packaging
GEMMA PATERSON – THE BALVENIE

Shortlist
America – Simon Brooking, Laphroaig
Australia – Mark Hickey, Spirits Platform
Rest of World – Gemma Paterson, The Balvenie
Scotland – Mark Thomson, Glenfiddich

–

Irish Whiskey Brand Ambassador of the year
JENNIFER NICKERSON – TIPPERARY BOUTIQUE DISTILLERY

Shortlist
America – Jessamine McLellan
Australia – Martin Lynch, Teeling Whiskey
Ireland – Jennifer Nickerson, Tipperary Boutique Distillery 
Rest of World – Alan Mulvihill, Roe & Co

–

American Whiskey Brand Ambassador of the year
LAWRENCE XIE – DISTILLED SPIRITS COUNCIL OF THE UNITED STATES

Shortlist
America – Jennifer Knott, Sagamore Spirit
Australia – Daniele Pirotta, Campari Group
Rest of World – Lawrence Xie, Distilled Spirits Council of the United States 

–

World Whisky Brand Ambassador of the year
YUMI YOSHIKAWA – VENTURE

Shortlist
America – Gardner Dunn, Beam Suntory
Australia – Paul Slater, New World Whisky Distillery
Rest of World – Yumi Yoshikawa, Venture

–

Master Distiller/Master Blender of the year
Sponsored by Hrastnik
BRIAN KINSMAN – WILLIAM GRANT & SONS

Shortlist
America – Jared Himstedt, Balcones Distilling
Australia – Mark Littler, Hellyers Road Distillery
Ireland – Alex Chasko, Teeling Whiskey
Rest of World – Ian Chang, Kavalan
Scotland – Brian Kinsman, William Grant & Sons

–

Brand Innovator of the year
Sponsored by Multi Packaging Solutions
THE MACALLAN

Shortlist
America – Balcones Distilling
Australia – New World Whisky Distillery
Ireland – Tullamore D.E.W.
Rest of World – That Boutique-y Whisky Company
Scotland – The Macallan

–

Craft Producer of the year
Sponsored by Wade Ceramics
KENTUCKY PEERLESS DISTILLING CO.

Shorlist
America – Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co.
Australia – Belgrove Distillery
Ireland – Dingle Distillery
Rest of World – Kyrö Distillery
Scotland – Glasgow Distillery

–

Visitor Attraction of the year
Sponsored by Christie’s
THE LAKES DISTILLERY

Shortlist
America – Maker’s Mark
Australia – New World Whisky Distillery
Ireland – Jameson Distillery Bow St.
Rest of World – The Lakes Distillery
Scotland – The Balvenie

–

Bar of the year
DELILAH’S CHICAGO

Shortlist
America – Delilah’s Chicago
Australia – The Baxter Inn
Ireland – Bowes Lounge
Rest of World – Black Rock, London
Scotland – The Pot Still

–

Bar Group of the year
THE MARKET BAR GROUP

Shortlist
America – 213
Australia – Speakeasy Group
Ireland – The Market Bar Group
Rest of World – 105 Bar Groups, Changsha
Scotland – The Scotch Malt Whisky Society

–

Hotel Bar of the year
CAVE BAR – MELDRUM HOUSE HOTEL

Shortlist
America – Ace Hotel, New Orleans
Australia – Grain Bar, Four Seasons Hotel, Sydney
Ireland – Jasmine Bar, Brooks Hotel
Rest of World – The St Regis, Shanghai Jingan
Scotland – Cave Bar, Meldrum House Hotel

–

Distiller of the year
Sponsored by Glencairn Crystal
DISTELL

Shortlist

America – Brown-Forman
Australia – Great Southern Distilling Company
Ireland – Irish Distillers
Rest of World – Distell
Scotland – Edrington Group