The finest products and individuals were celebrated at Whisky Magazine’s most prestigious awards ceremony at the Waldorf Hilton Hotel in London on Thursday, 19 March. The managing editor of Whisky Magazine, Rupert Wheeler, hosted a dinner for the industry and guests made the journey from as far as Japan, Taiwan, Australia and America to join the celebrations. During the evening, three of the magazine’s top awards were announced and presented including Icons of Whisky Global 2015, the World Whiskies Awards 2015 and the Hall of Fame 2015.
Rupert says: “I was delighted to welcome all our guests to the ceremony last night. The evening was a huge success and I would like to take this opportunity to thank our international panel of judges and all of our sponsors.”
THE RESULTS
World Whiskies Awards 2015, chairman - Neil Ridley
Single Malt Sponsored by Rankin Cork
World’s Best Single Malt and Best Asian Single Malt Kavalan Solist Vinho Barrique Cask Strength
Best Islay Single Malt Ardbeg Kildalton
Best Islands Single Malt Ledaig 10 Years Old
Best Speyside Single Malt The BenRiach 16 Years Old
Best Highland Single Malt Glenmorangie Extremely Rare 18 Years Old
Best Campbeltown Single Malt Longrow 11 Years Old
Best Lowland Single Malt Highland Harvest Organic Single Malt Sauternes Wood
Best Japanese Single Malt Suntory Single Malt Whisky Yamazaki 18 Years Old
Best European Single Malt Mackmyra Iskristall
Best Australian Single Malt Sullivans Cove French Oak Cask Matured
Best Irish Single Malt Teeling Whiskey Single Malt
Best American Single Malt Balcones Texas Single Malt
Best African Single Malt Three Ships Single Malt 10 Years Old
Design Awards chair - Felicity Murray
World’s Best Design Haig Club, Diageo
Blue, gold and beautiful, this innovative design by Love is a grand departure from traditional whisky that will hopefully draw a younger audience. With its groundbreaking shape and stand out colour it's positioned itself well in what was becoming a tired category. It "shall do for whisky what Absolut has done for vodka".
World’s Best Design Agency Stranger & Stranger
Stranger & Stanger scooped a total of six medals across the categories in the World Whiskies Design Awards. With fine attention to detail, the agency's strong stiking designs reflect the handcrafted nature of the liquids inside. No element of the packaging has been overlooked.
Blended Sponsored by McLaren Packaging
World’s Best Blended and Best Scotch Blended That Boutique-y Whiskey Company Blended Whisky #1 Batch 1
Best Japanese Blended Suntory Hibiki 21 Years Old
Best Irish Blended Tullamore D.E.W. Phoenix
Best European Blended Black Mountain Whisky Sélection BM No1
Best African Blended Three Ships Bourbon Cask Finish
Blended Malt Sponsored by G. F. Smith
World’s Best Blended Malt and Best Japanese Blended Malt Nikka Whisky Taketsuru Pure Malt 17 Years Old
Best Scotch Blended Wemyss Malts Velvet Fig
American Whiskey
World’s Best American and Best American Rye Thomas H. Handy Sazerac
Canadian Whisky
World’s Best Canadian Whisky and Best Canadian Blended Forty Creek Confederation Oak Reserve
Pot Still
World’s Best Pot Still Redbreast Single Pot Still 15 Years Old
Grain Whisky
World’s Best Grain and Best European Grain Darkness! North British 18 Years Old Oloroso Cask Finish
Best Japanese Grain Kirin, The Fuji Gotemba Distillery Blender’s Choice Single Grain Whisky
Flavoured Whisky
World’s Best Flavoured and Best European Flavoured Master of Malt 40 Years Old Speyside Whisky Liqueur
Best American Flavoured Sons of Liberty Seasonals Hop Flavored Whiskey
For the complete list of results including all Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards, visit worldwhiskiesawards.com
Icons of Whisky Global 2015, chairman - Rupert Wheeler
Whisky Distiller of the Year in association with Glencairn Crystal The BenRiach Distillery Company
Whisky Brand Innovator of the Year in association with Multi Packaging Solutions Buffalo Trace Distillery
Craft Whisky Producer of the Year St. George Spirits
Whisky Visitor Attraction of the Year in association with Christie’s Suntory Yamazaki Distillery
Whisky Distillery Manager of the Year in association with Broxburn Ian Chang, Kavalan Distillery
Whisky Brand Ambassador of the Year in association with Boisdale Jack Teeling, Teeling Whisky Company
Whisky Visitor Attraction Manager of the Year Julie Gorham, Four Roses Distillery
Whisky Retailer of the Year – Multiple Outlets Cadenhead’s Whisky Shop
Whisky Retailer of the Year – Single Outlet Berry Bros. & Rudd
Whisky Retailer of the Year – Online Royal Mile Whiskies www.royalmilewhiskies.com
Whisky Distributor of the Year Southern Wine & Spirits
Whisky Importer of the Year Whisk-e Ltd
For the complete list of results including the shortlist, visit iconsofwhisky.com
Hall of Fame, Sponsored by Amorim, chairman - Rupert Wheeler
Inductee 25 Steve Beal, Diageo
Inductee 26 Al Young, Four Roses
Inductee 27 Bill Samuels Jr., Maker’s Mark Distillery
Inductee 28 Bill Lark, Lark Distillery
Inductee 29 Seiichi Koshimizu, Suntory Yamazaki Distillery
Inductee 30 Jim Beveridge, Diageo
For the complete list of inductees, visit whiskymag.com
25 March 2015 - Felicity Murray The Drinks Report, editor
Agencies Award & Event Organisers Awards Brown Business Corporate Services Design Design Agencies Drinks Drinks Producer Home Packaging Packaging / Brand Design Agencies People Spirits Whiskey - American Whiskey - Irish Whisky - Canadian Whisky - Japanese Whisky - Other Whisky - Scotch Worldwide