Anniversary & Awards night for IWSC
16 July 2009
Anniversary Celebration & Awards night for IWSC
Last night at a celebration marking 40 years of the International Wine & Spirit Competition, the elite from the world of whisky gathered in the sumptuous surroundings of Hopetoun House near Edinburgh, to hear the winners of the special anniversary awards, which followed the earlier release that day & tasting of the IWSC 2009 Spirits medal winners. Honoured guests at the dinner included Gavin Hewitt (Scotch Whisky Association), Iain Curl (Chief Executive of The Edrington Group), the Earl of Hopetoun & IWSC Vice President, Kenneth Graham and IWSC Chairman, The Viscount Thurso.
A special one-off award commemorating the 40 years of the IWSC was then unveiled; a Trophy for the best 40 year old Scotch Whisky in the 2009 Competition. This prize went to Glenglassaugh 40 year old Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky.
Following the banquet, a further dedicated anniversary celebration award was announced; one which was created to recognize the person whose contribution had made a fundamental and positive difference to the Scotch whisky industry during the past 40 years; consistently pushing new boundaries for the good of the industry. Campbell Evans took to the stage to announce the winner.
Nominations for this award had been chosen by an industry panel, independently of the IWSC. The nominees were: Bill Lumsden (Master Blender – Glenmorangie); John Ramsey (Master Blender – The Edrington Group); Richard Paterson (Master Blender - Whyte & Mackay); Sir Ian Good (Chairman – The Edrington Group) and James Espey. To enormous applause the winner was announced as 2009 President of the IWSC and Chairman of The Edrington Group, Sir Ian Good.
Another major highlight of the evening was the presentation of the “IWSC 40th Anniversary Blend”, a whisky created specially to commemorate this occasion, brought out to the high table and served to all gathered guests. This was followed by a beating of the retreat featuring a 16 piece pipe band.
The evening concluded a full programme that had began at 12 noon with an industry debate in a packed hall at Edinburgh University. The motion chaired by Campbell Evans was “This House believes that the future of spirits is white.” The lively discussion continued into the afternoon’s tasting of some 200+ winning brands that had taken Gold or Silver medals in the Competition.
Speaking after the evening presentations, Allen Gibbons, Executive Director IWSC, said:
“In honour of the 40th anniversary of the IWSC, we have tonight announced a number of special awards, including some that recognise the investment & commitment of the scotch whisky industry and people in it who are often forgotten: still-men; mash-men; coopers; blenders; in the warehouse and bottling plant. Many people dedicate their working lives to these jobs. Without them, companies would have nothing to sell.”
Indiuiduals nominated who had worked in these roles in the industry for more 40 years or more were:
Allen Clark (Dufftown); Alexander Gun (Beam Global); Dennis Malcolm (Glen Grant Distillery); Donald C Grant (Invergordon); Douglas Cruickshank (Chivas Brothers); Douglas Lewis (Ardmore Distillery); Douglas Taylor (Speyside Cooperage); Eddie MacAffer (Morrison Bowmore Distillers); Frank Masse (Miltonduff / GlenDronach); Gordon McBain, (Diageo); Harry Woods, (Inverhouse Distillers); Jackie Ross (Girvan Distillery); Jim Manson (Inverhouse Distillers); Kenny Gray (Oban Distillery;Diageo); Victor MacLellan, (Bunnahabhain Distillery); William McKechnie (Morrison Bowmore Distillers); Willie Taylor (Broxburn & Speyside Cooperage).
Frances Horder, Competition Director, IWSC, closed saying:
"Tonight, we raise a glass to all those in the industry whose commitment to excellence & innovation has made our job in choosing winning brands every year such a pleasurable task.
“Even in these recessionary times the Competition has shown a strong growth from the scotch whisky industry, once again confirming their committed, on-going support for the IWSC.
This has been a memorable day for our anniversary celebration and we’ve enjoyed acknowledging the people and products that have been central to our work over the years at the IWSC.”
(Ends)
Date: 17.07.09
Editors notes:
The International Wine and Spirit Competition was founded in 1969 and is the premier competition of its kind in the world. Its aim is to promote the quality and excellence of the world's best wines, spirits and liqueurs.
All entries of wines, spirits and liqueurs are blind tasted in groups divided by variety, region and vintage as necessary. Awards are made on a points system and sponsored trophies are presented in selected categories. Technical analysis is carried out on Gold, Gold (Best in Class), Silver (Best in Class) award winning wines, spirits and liqueurs to ensure that all products are technically sound and will be of the same high quality when they reach the consumer as they were when the judging panels originally tasted them.
The Competition is supported by a group of Vice Presidents made up of some of the most influential men and women in the trade, including Baroness Philippine de Rothschild, Miguel Torres, Marchese Piero Antinori, Robert Drouhin, Chris Hancock, Wolf Blass, May de Lencquesaing, Gina Gallo and this years President; Sir Ian Good, Chairman of The Edrington Group.
Further information & full results:
Emma Calland, Marketing Manager
International Events: IWSC
e-mail: emma.calland@nexusmediaevents.com Tel: + 44 (0) 1483 548963