Society Wins Three Awards at Icons of Whisky 2020

The Icons of Whisky 2020, Australia awards were held in Sydney on October 21^st this year. The Icons of Whisky is an awards program convened by Whisky Magazine and its international agents to recognise the people, places, and products that strive for excellence in the whisk(e)y industry.

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, Australian branch, have taken out a full trifecta this year:

SMWS National Ambassador, Matt Bailey, won “Scotch Whisky Ambassador of the Year”.
SMWS Director & Cellarmaster, Andrew Derbidge, won “Whisky Communicator of the Year” for his work through Whisky & Wisdom.
SMWS Partner Bar, Whisky & Alement, won Best Whisky Bar.

Congrats to all nominees and well done to all winners.

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 (aka Starward)
Highly Commended: Archie Rose Distillery

Visitor Attraction Manager of the Year
Winner: Harriet Leigh – Archie Rose Distillery
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: Rochford Distillery
Highly Commended: New World Distillery

Whisky 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 Murphy’s Online
Highly Commended: The Old Barrel House

Supermarket Retailer of the Year
Winner: Dan Murphy’s
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

World Whisky Brand Ambassador of the Year
Winner: Mark Hickey – Nant Whisky
Highly Commended: Kevin Griffin – Nikka Whisky

Bar of the Year
Winner: Whisky + Alement, Melbourne
Highly Commended: Nola Smoke House and Bar, Sydney

Hotel Bar of the Year
Winner: Evolve Spirits Bar, Hobart
Highly Commended: Eau De Vie, Sydney

Bar Group of the Year
Winner: Speakeasy Group
Highly Commended: Swillhouse Group

Bartender of the Year
Winner: Alex Dahlenburg – Mjølner
Highly Commended: Simon Hopkins – NOLA

Hall of Fame Inductee
Ian Atherton

2019-12-19T20:23:32+11:00

About the Author: Andrew Derbidge

Andrew is a Director of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society in Australia, and is also its Cellarmaster and its State Manager for NSW, roles he's held since 2005. He describes himself as a whisky presenter, host, educator, taster, and writer!