Icon(ic) Congratulations!!!
Last night the Rydges Hotel Sydney was the setting for the Whisky Magazine 'Icons of Whisky Australia 2020' regional awards, hosted by the inimitable James Buntin (he of The Whisky Ambassador fame and all round amazing Scotsman). Some very familiar and well deserved names made the list of winners and runners up and we couldn't be more happy for everyone!
Distillery Manager of the Year
Winner: Ian Schmidt – Tin Shed Distillery
Highly Commended: Heather Tillott – Sullivans Cove
Master Distiller of the Year
Winner: Jimmy McKeown – Whipper Snapper Distillery
Highly Commended: Mark Littler – Hellyer’s Road Distillery
Distiller of the Year
Winner: Sullivans Cove
Highly Commended: New World Distillery
Visitor Attraction of the Year
Winner: New World Distillery
Highly Commended: Archie Rose Distilling
Visitor Attraction Manager of the Year
Winner: Harriet Leigh – Archie Rose Distilling
Highly Commended: Peter Bignell – Belgrove Distillery
Craft Producer of the Year
Winner: Belgrove Distillery
Highly Commended: Tin Shed Distillery
Brand Innovator of the Year
Winner: Rochfort Distillery
Highly Commended: New World Distillery
Whisky Media Communicator of the Year
Winner: Whisky and Wisdom
Highly Commended: Whisky Waffle
Single Outlet Retailer of the Year
Winner: Casa de Vinos
Highly Commended: The Oak Barrel
Multiple Outlets Retailer of the Year
Winner: Camperdown Cellars
Highly Commended: Malt Traders
Online Retailer of the Year
Winner: Dan Murphys Online
Highly Commended: The Old Barrel House
Supermarket of the Year
Winner: Dan Murphys
Highly Commended: Vintage Cellars
Travel Retailer of the Year
Winner: Lagardère
Highly Commended: Heinemann Australia
Scotch Whisky Brand Ambassador of the Year
Winner: Matt Bailey – The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (Australia)
Highly Commended: James Macrae – Ailsa Bay
Irish Whiskey Brand Ambassador of the Year
Winner: Dan Woolley – Connnemara
Highly Commended: Josh O’Brien – Writers Tears
American Whiskey Brand Ambassador of the Year
Winner: Thalita Alves – Woodford Reserve| Jack Daniels
Highly Commended: Michael Thomas – Knob Creek | Maker’s Mark | Jim Beam | Booker’s | Basil Hayden
World Whisky Brand Ambassador of the Year
Winner: Mark Hickey – Nant Whisky
Highly Commended: Kevin Griffin – Nikka Whisky
Bar of the Year
Winner: Whisky and Alement
Highly Commended: Nola Smoke House and Bar
Hotel Bar of the Year
Winner: Evolve Spirits Bar, MACq01 Hotel Hobart
Highly Commended: Eau De Vie, The Kirkton Hotel Sydney
Bar Group of the Year
Winner: Speakeasy Group
Highly Commended: Swillhouse Group
Bartender of the Year
Winner: Alexandra Dahlenburg – Mjølner
Highly Commended: Simon Hopkins – NOLA
Hall of Fame Inductee
Ian Atherton - Spirits Platform
Once again a massive congratulations to all involved :)
Cheers,
The TWL team