The national independent awards programme for the Scottish Whisky industry has opened for entry with a promise to recognise, reward and promote the many achievements in Scotch, despite the challenges of the last year.

The 3rd annual Scottish Whisky Awards line-up features new categories and plans to celebrate success at a black-tie St Andrews Day dinner in Glasgow which will also be broadcast live on 30 November 2021.

Chair of the Judging Panel, Professor Alan Wolstenholme, commented;

“These awards are eagerly anticipated as they give us all an opportunity to promote and celebrate the breadth and quality of Scotch Whisky.  The industry continues to be faced with several challenges, but fortunately these awards give everyone working in the industry some much needed fuel to fire up the engines of success. 

“The plans for an industry dinner on St Andrews Day is something which we can all look forward to as the return of live events looks ever more promising over the coming months.”

The awards are sponsored once again by Bruce Stevenson Insurance Brokers and feature 9 business categories including Product Launch of the Year, Sustainable Scotch Distillery of the Year and Tourism Destination of the Year.  

The creative response of marketing teams to the global pandemic has presented a range of new digital experiences for the whisky consumer worldwide. Digital Marketing Campaign of the Year is a new award introduced to the line up to recognise the achievements of marketing teams in creating an innovative digital campaign.

This year will also see the return of the presentation of the Dr Jim Swan Memorial Award for Services to Scotch Whisky to an individual chosen by the judging panel.

The panel, which consists of over 40 whisky experts, will be meeting in a few months’ time to assess the talent and skill crafted in the Scotch whisky industry through a carefully staged blind tasting competition moderated by sensory management experts, Cara Technology. 

The Scottish Whisky Awards is open for entry until Wednesday 4 August 2021.  For full details on the categories, how to enter the competition and product delivery details please visit www.scottishwhiskyawards.org.uk   For details on available sponsorship opportunities, please contact maxine@kdmedia.co.uk.


The Taste Categories

The top three scoring products will be awarded Gold, Silver and Bronze Scotch medals in age ranges the following categories:

  • Single Malt
    Blended Malt
    Blends
    Single Cask
  • Speciality


The Business Categories

  • Scottish Whisky Distillery of the Year
    The Dr Jim Swan Award for Services to Scotch Whisky
  • Scottish Whisky Producer of the Year
  • Product Launch of the Year
  • Newcomer of the Year
    Independent Bottler of the Year
    Digital Marketing Campaign of the Year
    Sustainable Distillery of the Year
    Community Contribution of the Year
  • Tourism Destination of the Year

 

The Judging Panel

Alan Wolstenholme, Chair, Scottish Whisky Awards, Scotland

Mike Aikman, Director, Mothership (Scotland) Ltd, Scotland

Jon Beach, Director, Fiddlers Whisky Bar, Scotland

Blair Bowman, Author & Whisky Consultant, Scotland

David Brown, Managing Director of John Crabbie & Co

Sian Buchan, Co-Owner, Uno Mas Bar

James Campbell, Consultant/ Non-Executive Director and Chairman of Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival

Ryan Chetiyawardana, Founder, Mr Lyan

Colin Church, Director, Big Red Teapot, Scotland

Marc Crothall, Chief Executive, Scottish Tourism Alliance, Scotland

Graeme Dempster, Whisky & Distillery Insurance Broker

Rosemary Gallagher, Journalist and Communications Specialist

Gordon Galloway, Business Consultant, Scotland

Adrian Gomes, Owner and Founder of The Tippling House

Jan Groth, Co-Founder, World Whisky Forum, Sweden

Colin Hampden-White, Presenter on The Three Drinkers TV show on Amazon Prime. Keeper of the Quaich & Chairman of the Circle of Wine Writers.

Justine Hazelhurst, Co-Founder, Fife Whisky Festival, Scotland

Kyle Jamieson, Director, Nauticus Bar, Scotland

David Johnston, Director, Colonsay Beverages, Scotland

Darren Leitch, National Retail Manager, The Whisky Shop, UK Wide

Steven Lin, Owner, L’arrière-cour Taipei, Taiwan

Viktorija Macdonald, Co-Founder, Mòr Whisky Club, Scotland

Charles MacLean, Author & Whisky Consultant, Scotland

Michael MacLean, General Manager, Usquabae

Stuart McCluskey, Founder and Director of The Bon Vivant Group, Scotland

Matthew McFadyen, Co-founder of The Good Spirits Company

Kirsty McKerrow, Managing Director, Edinburgh Whisky Academy

Annabel Meikle, Director, Keepers of the Quaich, Scotland

David Moore, Director, Fusion Whisky, Scotland

Arthur Motley,   Purchasing and Sales Director, Royal Mile Whiskies, Scotland

Frank Murphy, Proprietor, The Pot Still, Scotland

Sean Murphy, Food & Drink Writer, The Scotsman, Scotland

Hanns & Becky Offringa, The Whisky Couple, Netherlands

James Porteous, Director, Electric Spirits Co, Scotland

James Robertson, Director, Wildcat Spirits, Scotland

Bernhard Schäfer, Consultant & Spirits Writer, Germany

Karen Somerville, Co-Founder, Fife Whisky Festival, Scotland

Tristan Stephenson, Director, Blackrock London, England

Keir Sword, Director, Royal Mile Whiskies, Scotland

Karen Walker, Marketing Consultant, Scotland

Ged Welch, Director, Ged Welch Associates, Scotland     

Dr Christopher White, Editor, Edinburgh Whisky Blog, Scotland