Australian Icons of Whisky announced in Adelaide

The second-ever Australian Icons of Whisky Awards dinner was held in Adelaide in late August, recognising the nation’s top people, bars, producers and retailers for their contribution to the whisky industry.

A new addition to the Australian Icons of Whisky Awards this year was the Whisky Bars category. Big winners here were The Baxter Inn (taking home Bar of the Year), with Websters Bar the Highly Commended. Speakeasy Group won Bar Group of the Year and Grain Bar took out the Hotel Bar of the Year category.

Patrick Maguire, Head Distiller at Sullivans Cove, was inducted into the global Icons of Whisky Hall of Fame, one of the whisky world’s top honours.

Great Southern Distilling Company took home the award for Distiller of the Year; Belgrove Distillery was named Craft Producer of the Year, and New World Whisky Distillery (AKA Starward) the Brand Innovator of the Year. Hellyers Road Distillery’s Mark Littler took home the award for Master Distiller/Master Blender of the Year and Distillery Manager of the Year was awarded to John Rochfort from McLaren Vale Distillery.

On the brand side of the equation, Mark Hickey from Spirits Platform was named Scotch Whisky Brand Ambassador of the Year, Paul Slater from Starward the World Whisky Brand Ambassador of the Year, Martin Lynch (Teeling) the Irish Whiskey Brand Ambassador of the Year, and Daniele Pirotta (Wild Turkey) the American Whiskey Brand Ambassador of the Year.