The national awards programme which promotes and celebrates Scotch Whisky has announced its winners as part of its second annual competition.
The Scottish Whisky Awards is a comprehensive year-round programme which assesses Scotch whisky producers in both business performance and taste. This year, it involved a rigorous judging process with a panel of 40 experts and the blind tasting of 155 Scotch whisky products.
The ultimate award in the competition, Whisky Distillery of the Year, sponsored by Bruce Stevenson Insurance Brokers, was presented to Glasgow Distillery after a tremendous year of business progress and having won two Gold medals in the taste competition.
The team behind the 1770 Single Malt Scotch were praised by the judging panel for their great progress in product development, marketing and securing a range of new international deals. They were also the highest performing distillery in the taste competition, securing two Gold medals. Their new Blended Malt whisky, Malt Riot, won Blended Malt Under 12 Years Old and their 1770 Peated Release No1 Single Malt won in the toughest category in the competition - Single Malt No Age Statement with 31 finalists.
Chair of the judging panel, Professor Alan Wolstenholme, commented,
“Congratulations to all our winners for their success in this most challenging of years. Winning a Scottish Whisky Award is a significant achievement given the intense competition and rigorous judging.
“This year, we have seen distilleries, suppliers and producers step up to support their local communities when they needed it most. Scotch Whisky continues to demonstrate its strength, resilience, creativity, and community spirit. It is an industry which continues to shine brightly in good times and bad. We in Scotland can all be very proud of this.
“I applaud all of our winners and encourage them to make the most of this recognition by promoting Scotch worldwide as the whisky of choice.”
The Scottish Whisky Awards, unlike many international drink industry competitions, only presents three medals per category making the awards tough to win and highly sought after.
19 distilleries collected medals in the taste competition with Glenmorangie, Ardbeg and Glasgow Distillery collecting the most. Glenmorangie collected Gold for their Quinta Ruban 14 year old Single Malt, its taste profile described as mint chocolate, walnuts, rose, Turkish delight and sweet Seville oranges.
Islay’s Ardbeg Distillery won Gold in the Single Malt Under 12 category for Ardbeg 10 Year Old a popular peated dram which delivers smooth buttermilk, ripe bananas, and currants on the palate. Also in Islay, Bunnahabhain Distillery won the Gold Medal for its Single Malt Over 21 Year Old for its 25 Year Old dram delivering a smooth and sweet profile with sherry, caramel, berries and cream balanced with roasted nuts.
Other Gold Medals winners were Tomatin and Deanston Distilleries while Hannah Whisky Merchants collected Gold in Single Cask and Speciality Whisky for their June 2020 bottling of Tomintoul 2005 with First Fill Amontillado Sherry Casks.
The Independent Bottler of the Year went to North Star Spirits who also collected a Gold medal for Sirius in the Blended Malt over 12 Year Old category.
In the business competition, awards were presented to Diageo for Community Contribution in 2020, Isle of Raasay Distillery won Best Brand Experience and Angus-based Arbikie Distillery collected the award for Excellence in Sustainability for their field to bottle values.
The awards are supported by Bruce Stevenson Insurance Brokers. Graeme Dempster, Account Executive, commented,
“Congratulations to all the winners in this year’s Scottish Whisky Awards. In this highly challenging year, the industry can be proud of all its achievements to deliver our world class Scotch whisky from across Scotland.”
The news of the winners was announced at a live digital broadcast from Glasgow’s Hilton by Doubletree Hotel by comedian and presenter, Des Clarke. Over 200 people from across the Scotch whisky industry participated in the event, which was highly interactive, allowing guests to chat to each other privately and in groups. Live interviews were broadcast with distilleries across the country as the medal winners were announced.
The annual awards are supported throughout the year by Bruce Stevenson Insurance Brokers, Cara Technology, Scotland Food and Drink, Wolffe Design and Vision Events Glasgow. The event was also supported on the night by Rankin Brothers and Sons, Bruni Erben, Halewood, Michael Laird Architects, Bairds Malt, Close Brothers Brewery Rentals, Sanderson Weatherall, Muntons, Cooper Software and Cask and Still Magazine.
The Winners in Full
Scottish Whisky Distillery of the Year sponsored by Bruce Stevenson Insurance Brokers
WINNER: Glasgow Distillery
FINALISTS:
The GlenAllachie Distillery
Ardbeg Distillery
Product Launch of the Year
WINNER: Loch Lomond Group Glen Scotia Malts Festival
FINALISTS:
Glasgow Distillery 1770 Triple Distilled Release No.1
Glasgow Distillery 1770 Peated Release No.1.
Excellence in Branding sponsored by Wolffe
WINNER: Wemyss Vintage Malts
FINALISTS:
Colonsay Beverages
Cu Bocan
Distell International
Eden Mill St. Andrews
Glasgow 1770, Glasgow Distillery Company
Malt Riot, Glasgow Distillery Company
Isle of Arran Distillers
The GlenAllachie
Tobermory Distillery
Brand Experience of the Year sponsored by Rankin Brothers & Sons
WINNER: Isle of Raasay Distillery
FINALISTS:
Bunnahabhain
Dewar’s Aberfeldy Distillery
Loch Lomond
Tourism Destination of the Year sponsored by Michael Laird Architects
WINNER: The Clydeside Distillery
FINALISTS:
Glen Scotia Distillery
The GlenAllachie
Dewar's Aberfeldy Distillery
Community Contribution of the Year sponsored by Bairds Malt
WINNER: Diageo
FINALISTS:
Chivas Brothers
Deanston
Deeside Distillery
Highland Park
Loch Lomond Group
Independent Bottler of the Year
WINNER: North Star Spirits
FINALISTS:
Douglas Laing & Co
Great Drams
Hannah Whisky Merchants
John Crabbie & Co
Excellence in Sustainability sponsored by Scotland Food and Drink
WINNER: Arbikie Distillery
FINALISTS:
Diageo
Tomatin Distillery
TASTE CATEGORIES
Single Malt - No Age Statement sponsored by Bruni Erben
GOLD: Glasgow 1770 - Peated Release No.1.; Glasgow Distillery
SILVER: Ardbeg Blaaaack Committee Release; Ardbeg Distillery
BRONZE: Laphroaig PX (GTR); Laphroaig Distillery
FINALISTS:
2019 Release Single Malt; Eden Mill Distillery
Ardbeg An Oa; Ardbeg Distillery
Ardbeg Blaaaack; Ardbeg Distillery
Ardbeg Committee Release 2020; Ardbeg Distillery
Ardbeg Corryvreckan; Ardbeg Distillery
Ardbeg Supernova; Ardbeg Distillery
Ardbeg Uigeadail; Ardbeg Distillery
Arran Barrel Reserve; Lochranza Distillery
Auchentoshan Three Wood; Auchentoshan Distillery
Bunnahabhain Stireadair; Bunnahabhain Distillery
Chaos; North Star Spirits
Crabbie's Yardhead; John Crabbie & Co.
Cù Bòcan Creation #1; Tomatin Distillery
Deanston Virgin Oak; Deanston Distillery
Dream to Dram; Kingsbarns Distillery
Glasgow 1770 - The Original; Glasgow Distillery
Glen Moray Elgin Classic; Glen Moray Distillery
Glen Moray Elgin Classic Cabernet Cask Finish; Glen Moray Distillery
Glen Moray Elgin Classic Peated; Glen Moray Distillery
Glen Moray Elgin Classic Port Cask Finish; Glen Moray Distillery
Glen Scotia Double Cask; Glen Scotia Distillery
Glen Scotia Victoriana; Glen Scotia Distillery
Glenmorangie Nectar D'Or; Glenmorangie Distillery
Glenmorangie A Tale of Cake’; Glenmorangie Distillery
Glenmorangie Signet; Glenmorangie Distillery
Highland Park Orkney Rowing Club; Highland Park
Highland Park Scottish Ballet 50; Highland Park
Laphroaig Quarter Cask; Laphroaig Distillery
Laphroaig Select; Laphroaig Distillery
Loch Lomond Classic; Loch Lomond Distillery
Single Malt Under 12 Year Old sponsored by Muntons
GOLD: Ardbeg 10 Year Old; Ardbeg Distillery
SILVER: Arran 10 Year Old; Isle of Arran Distillers
BRONZE: Ledaig 10 Year Old; Tobermory Distillery
FINALISTS:
Ardbeg Wee Beastie; Ardbeg Distillery
Benromach 10 Year Old; Benromach Distillery
Benromach Cask Strength Vintage 2009 Batch 4; Benromach Distillery
Crabbie 8 Year Old; John Crabbie & Co.
Glen Moray Fired Oak 10 Year Old; Glen Moray Distillery
Glenmorangie Original; Glenmorangie Distillery
Laphroaig 10 Year Old; Laphroaig Distillery
Loch Lomond 10 Year Old; Loch Lomond Distillery
The GlenAllachie Wood Finish Batch 2 - 9 Year Old Rye Wood Finish; GlenAllachie Distillery
Single Malt 12 Year Old sponsored by Cooper Software and IFS
GOLD: Deanston 12 Year Old; Deanston Distillery
SILVER: Glenmorangie Lasanta; Glenmorangie Distillery
BRONZE: The Deveron 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky; Macduff Distillery
FINALISTS:
Aultmore 12 Year Old; Aultmore Distillery
Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old; Bunnahabhain Distillery
Crabbie 12 Year Old; John Crabbie & Co.
Glenmorangie The Accord; Glenmorangie Distillery
Highland Park Ness of Brodgar's Legacy 12 Year Old; Highland Park
Inchmoan 12 Year Old; Loch Lomond Distillery
Inchmurrin 12 Year Old; Loch Lomond Distillery
Loch Lomond 12 Year Old; Loch Lomond Distillery
Royal Brackla 12 Year Old; Royal Brackla Distillery
Tobermory 12 Year Old; Tobermory Distillery
Tomatin 12 Year Old; Tomatin Distillery
Single Malt 13-16 Year Old sponsored by Cooper Software and IFS
GOLD: Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban; Glenmorangie Distillery
SILVER: Highland Park Saltire Edition 2; Highland Park
BRONZE: Glen Scotia Campbeltown Malts Festival 2020; Glen Scotia Distillery
FINALISTS:
Aberfeldy 16 Year Old,; Aberfeldy Distillery
Aberfeldy Madeira Cask 16 Year Old; Aberfeldy Distillery
Benromach 15 Year Old; Benromach Distillery
Bowmore 15 Year Old GTR; Bowmore Distillery
Bowmore 15 Year Old; Bowmore Distillery
Crabbie 15 Year Old; John Crabbie & Co
Craigellachie 13 Year Old; Craigellachie Distillery
Glen Moray Elgin Heritage 15 Year Old; Glen Moray Distillery
Glen Scotia 15 Year Old; Glen Scotia Distillery
Glenmorangie The Cadboll Estate; Glenmorangie Distillery
Glenmorangie The Elementa; Glenmorangie Distillery
Glenmorangie The Tribute; Glenmorangie Distillery
The GlenAllachie 15 Year Old; GlenAllachie Distillery
Single Malt 17-20 Year Old sponsored by Cask & Still Magazine
GOLD: Tomatin 18 Year Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky; Tomatin Distillery
SILVER: Craigellachie 17 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky; Craigellachie Distillery
BRONZE: Glenmorangie 19 Year Old; Glenmorangie Distillery
FINALISTS:
Ardbeg 19 Year Old 2020 Edition; Ardbeg Distillery
Aultmore 18 Year Old; Aultmore Distillery
Bowmore 18 Year Old; Bowmore Distillery
Bunnahabhain 18 Year Old; Bunnahabhain Distillery
Deanston 18 Year Old; Deanston Distillery
Glen Moray Elgin Heritage 18 Year Old; Glen Moray Distillery
Glen Scotia 18 Year Old; Glen Scotia Distillery
Glenmorangie 18 Year Old; Glenmorangie Distillery
Ledaig 18 Year Old; Tobermory Distillery
Royal Brackla 18 Year Old; Royal Brackla Distillery
The Deveron 18 Year Old; Macduff Distillery
Single Malt 21 Year Old and Over Sponsored by Sanderson Weatherall
GOLD: Bunnahabhain 25 Year Old; Bunnahabhain Distillery
SILVER: Royal Brackla 21 Year Old; Royal Brackla Distillery
BRONZE: Glenmorangie Grand Vintage 1995; Glenmorangie Distillery
FINALISTS:
Aberfeldy 21 Year Old; Aberfeldy Distillery
Aberfeldy Madeira Cask 21 Year Old; Aberfeldy Distillery
Aultmore 21 Year Old; Aultmore Distillery
Bowmore 25 Year Old; Bowmore Distillery
Glen Moray Elgin Heritage 21 Year Old; Glen Moray Distillery
Glen Scotia 25 Year Old; Glen Scotia Distillery
Glenmorangie Grand Vintage 1996; Glenmorangie Distillery
Blended Malt – Under 12 Year Old sponsored by Cara Technology
GOLD: Malt Riot; Glasgow Distillery
SILVER: Clydebuilt Coppersmith; Ardgowan Distillery
BRONZE: Peat Chimney; Wemyss Vintage Malts
FINALISTS:
Big Peat; Douglas Laing & Co Ltd
Nectar Grove Batch Strength; Wemyss Vintage Malts
Scallywag; Douglas Laing & Co
Spice King; Wemyss Vintage Malts
The Hive; Wemyss Vintage Malts
The Scalasaig - Maiden Voyage; Colonsay Beverages
Waterproof; Macduff International
Blended Malt 12 Year Old and Over sponsored by Halewood
GOLD: Sirius; North Star Spirits
SILVER: Velvet Fig Aged 25 Years; Wemyss Vintage Malts
BRONZE: GreatDrams Blended Cask Series Batch 03; GreatDrams Ventures
FINALISTS:
MacNair's Lum Reek 21 Year Old; GlenAllachie Distillery
MacNair's Lum Reek 12 Year Old; GlenAllachie Distillery
Speciality or Single Cask Whisky sponsored by Close Brothers Brewery Rentals
GOLD: Tomintoul 2005 with First-Fill Amontillado Sherry Finish #19A; Hannah Whisky Merchants
SILVER: Crabbie 40 Year Old Speyside Single Malt; John Crabbie & Co.
BRONZE: Tomatin Decades II; The Tomatin Distillery
FINALISTS:
29.269 - It rubs the lotion on its skin; The Scotch Malt Whisky Society
37.127 - Coconut curry down the Douro valley; The Scotch Malt Whisky Society
Arbikie Highland Rye 4 Year Old; Arbikie Distillery
Crabbie 30 Year Old; John Crabbie & Co.
Hip Flask Series No. 15; Eden Mill Distillery
Isle of Jura 1992 #1857; Hannah Whisky Merchants
Knockdhu 8 Year Old; GreatDrams Ventures
Lochindaal 2009 Bourbon Barrel Cask #59; Hannah Whisky Merchants
Longmorn; North Star Spirits
Robert Graham's Dancing Stag Selection 2005 Tomintoul; Robert Graham