Australia has won two trophies in Whisky Magazine’s Global 2020 Icons of Whisky awards.
For the second year in a row, Dan Murphy’s has been awarded Whisky Magazine’s ‘Icons Of Whisky – Supermarket of the Year’.
The liquor chain said it was “fantastic recognition of our team’s ability to bring the world of whisky to life for our customers every day”.
Brown-Forman Australia’s Thalita Alves (below) also scooped the trophy for American Whiskey Brand Ambassador of the Year.
Congratulations Thalita!
The Icons of Whisky are firstly presented regionally; in America, Australia, China, Ireland, Scotland and Rest of World. Those successful within their region then compete for the global title.
The Icons of Whisky Awards are a celebration of the years of hard work by the distillers themselves and brand ambassadors, to visitor centre managers, bars, bartenders, stores and the industry’s communicators.
With the usual awards dinner cancelled due to COVID-19, the results of the World Whiskies Awards were streamed live on the internet.
Anthony Denny, Publisher and Managing Editor of Whisky Magazine said: “In an industry that, year after year, continues to improve its game on every level, this year’s Icons of Whisky have been awarded to some truly outstanding companies and individuals, hailing from all over the world. By their own supreme efforts, they have succeeded not just in earning themselves well deserved recognition, but have demonstrated just how dynamic and innovative the whole industry is. It is a real pleasure to celebrate with them.”
This year’s Icons are:
Advertising Agency of the Year: TBWA, Dublin
Brand Innovator of the Year: Irish Distillers
PR Agency of the Year/Communications Agency of the Year: SPEY
Communicator of the Year: Becky Paskin
Design Agency of the Year: Stranger & Stranger
Multiple Outlets Retailer of the Year: C.Gars – Turmeaus Cigars & Whisky
Online Retailer of the Year: La Maison du Whisky
Own Brand Supermarket of the Year: Lidl GB
Single Outlet Retailer of the Year: Whisky Brother
Supermarket of the Year: Dan Murphy’s
Travel Retailer of the Year: Big Five Duty Free
Whisky Buyer of the Year: Pete Newton, Booths
Whisky Bar Group of the Year: Seven Grand
Whisky Bar of the Year: Jack Rose Dining Saloon
Bar Manager of the Year: Frank Murphy, The Pot Still
Bartender of the Year: Cache Bouren, Haberdasher
Whisky Hotel Bar of the Year: The Tack Room, Adare Manor
Irish Whiskey Ambassador of the Year: Avril Hogan, Dingle Distillery
Scotch Whisky Ambassador of the Year: Georgie Bell, Barcardi Brands
World Whisky Ambassador of the Year: Andy Watts, Distell
American Whisky Ambassador of the Year: Thalita Alves, Brown-Forman
Distillery Manager of the Year: Scott Sell, Westland Distillery
Master Distiller/Blender of the Year: Billy Walker, The GlenAllachie Distillery
Sustainable Distillery: The James Sedgwick Distillery
Visitor Attraction of the Year: Buffalo Trace Distillery
Visitor Attraction Manager of the Year: Lisa Jameson, Teeling Distillery
Craft Producer of the Year: Dad’s Hat
Campaign Innovator of the Year: Ardbeg Distillery, Masters of Smoke
Distiller of the Year: Irish Distillers
Additionally, Archie Rose Distilling Co’s Rye Malt Whisky was named World’s Best Rye Whisky at the World Whisky Awards.
