The inaugural Australian Icons of Whisky Awards dinner, held at the Adelaide Convention Centre on Thursday 3rd of August, saw the nation’s top people, producers and retailers awarded for their contribution to whisky.
Following a process of local voting on industry nominees, finalists in sixteen categories were scrutinised by a judging panel from the Icons of Whisky team in London.
Two awards – Highly Commended and Winner were presented in each group with the 16 Australian winners now automatically entered to compete to be named best in the world in March 2018 at the World Whisky Awards to be held in London.
In addition, a Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame award (presented in years only when warranted) to recognise outstanding contribution to the industry was presented to Gordon Broderick. Gordon has recently retired, but over the past decades he has worked to support and grow whisky in Australia – primarily through his role as Executive Director of the Distilled Spirits Industry Council of Australia.
The Icons of Whisky Awards will from here become an annual event judged each year on the performance and achievements over the previous 12 months.
Finalists and winners:
Distillery Manager of the Year |
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New World Whisky Distillery |
David Vitale |
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The McLaren Vale Distillery |
Lachlan Rochfort |
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Great Southern Distillery |
Cameron Syme |
WINNER |
Hellyers Road |
Mark Littler |
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Whipper Snapper |
Jimmy McKeown |
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Sullivans Cove |
Patrick Maguire |
HIGHLY COMMENDED |
Visitor Attraction Manager of the Year |
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Redlands |
Emma Alessandrini |
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Hellyers Road |
Sharon Deane |
WINNER |
New World Whisky Distillery |
Hannah Bambra |
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The McLaren Vale Distillery |
John Rochfort |
HIGHLY COMMENDED |
Scotch Whisky Brand Ambassador of the Year |
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The Exchange / CCA |
Dan Woolley |
HIGHLY COMMENDED |
William Grant & Sons |
Richard Blanchard |
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Glenrothes / Berry Bros |
Daniel Hutchins-Read |
WINNER |
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society |
Matt Bailey |
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Pernod Ricard |
Rachel Macdonald |
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Vintage House |
Michael Riitano |
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Diageo |
Simon McGoram |
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Spirits Platform |
Mateo Fabbris |
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Spirits Platform |
Justine Millsom |
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World Whisky Brand Ambassador of the Year |
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New World Whisky Distillery |
Paul Slater |
HIGHLY COMMENDED |
Baranows Emporium |
Joey Tai |
WINNER |
The Exchange / CCA |
Bill Bewsher |
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Cebaco |
Mauro Ribeiro |
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Le Baron Des Spirits |
Jeremy Daunay |
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Irish Whiskey Brand Ambassador of the Year |
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Teeling Single Malt |
Martin Lynch |
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Pernod Ricard |
Kate Moran |
WINNER |
Rogue Wines |
Vincent McGrath |
HIGHLY COMMENDED |
Wonderland |
Scott Farrow |
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The Exchange / CCA |
Brendan Rogers |
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American Whiskey Brand Ambassador of the Year |
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Vanguard |
James France |
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The Exchange /Cca |
Michael Thomas |
HIGHLY COMMENDED |
Brown-Forman |
Grant Shearon |
WINNER |
Californian Dreamers |
Mick Robinson |
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Artisain Hand Craft |
Georgina Wright |
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Master Distiller / Master Blender of the Year |
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Lark Distillery |
Craig Johnston |
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New World Whisky Distillery |
Sam Slaney |
HIGHLY COMMENDED |
Baldwin Distillery |
Anthony Baldwin |
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Bakery Hill Distillery |
David Baker |
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Great Southern Distilling Company |
Ben Kagi |
WINNER |
Sullivans Cove Distillery |
Patrick Maguire |
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Belgrove Distillery |
Peter Bignell |
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Whipper Snapper Distillery |
Jimmy McKeown |
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Timboon Railway Shed Distillery |
Josh Walker |
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Supermarket of the Year |
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Dan Murphys |
WINNER |
Vintage Cellars |
HIGHLY COMMENDED |
First Choice |
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Single Outlet Retailer of the Year |
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Casa De Vinos |
WINNER |
Nicks Wine Merchants |
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Carwyn Cellars |
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The Oak Barrel |
HIGHLY COMMENDED |
World Of Whisky |
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Leura Cellars |
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Liquor Master |
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Edinburgh Cellars |
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Purple Palate Maleny |
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Malt Traders |
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Online Retailer of the Year |
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Dan Murphys |
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Nicks Wine Merchants |
WINNER |
The Odd Whisky Coy |
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World Of Whisky |
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My Bottle Shop |
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Casa De Vinos |
HIGHLY COMMENDED |
The Whisky Company |
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The Oak Barrel |
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The Whisky Empire |
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Copper And Oak |
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Multiple Outlets Retailer of the Year |
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Camperdown Cellars |
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Chambers Cellars |
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Fassina SA Family Liquor Stores |
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Hurley Cellars |
WINNER |
Booze Brothers |
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Vintage Group |
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Tb's Liquor Stores |
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Taphouse Liquor Stores |
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Black Sheep Stores |
HIGHLY COMMENDED |
Quench Liquor Stores |
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Travel Retailer Of The Year |
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Heinemann (Sydney) |
HIGHLY COMMENDED |
Aelia (Adelaide) |
WINNER |
F1rst Tax & Duty Free (Melbourne) |
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Jr/Duty Free (Brisbane) |
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Jr/Duty Free (Perth) |
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Jr/Duty Free (Darwin) |
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Jr/Duty Free (Canberra) |
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Brand Innovator of the Year |
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Great Southern Distillery |
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Belgrove Distillery |
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Sullivans Cove |
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Lark Distillery |
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New World Whisky |
HIGHLY COMMENDED |
The McLaren Vale Distillery |
WINNER |
Craft Producer of the Year |
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Sullivans Cove Distillery |
WINNER |
Great Southern Distillery |
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Bakery Hill |
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Whipper Snapper Distillery |
HIGHLY COMMENDED |
New World Whisky |
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Mt Uncle |
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Belgrove Distillery |
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Hellyers Road |
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Distiller of the Year |
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Hellyers Road |
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Great Southern Distilling |
HIGHLY COMMENDED |
Lark Distillery |
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Sullivans Cove |
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Whipper Snapper Distillery |
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Bakery Hill |
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New World Whisky |
WINNER |
The McLaren Vale Distillery |
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Mt Uncle |
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Visitor Attraction of the Year |
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The McLaren Vale Distillery |
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Hellyers Road Distillery |
WINNER |
Archie Rose |
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Lark Bar |
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Timboon Distillery |
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Belgrove Distillery |
HIGHLY COMMENDED |
Great Southern Distilling Company |
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Whipper Snapper Distillery |
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Mt Uncle Distillery |
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3 August 2017 - Felicity Murray