THE WHISKY WINNERS ARE . . .

malt advocate has announced the winners of this year’s Whisky Awards. Now in their sixteenth year, this is the oldest and longest-running annual whisky awards program. They honor the world’s greatest whiskies and distilleries, and the individuals who make and promote them. To be eligible for this year’s awards, products must have been sold in the US during the 2OO9 calendar year. A complete write up of each award winner appears in the spring issue of malt advocate.

The categories and award winners are:
BEST BUY WHISK(E)Y of the YEAR
The MacPhail’s Collection (Tamdhu 8 year old,
  Glenrothes 8 year old and Highland Park 8 year old)
ARTISAN WHISKEY of the YEAR (operating 1O years or less)
Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey (Batch #49)
AMERICAN WHISKEY of the YEAR
Parker’s Heritage Collection “Golden Anniversary”
CANADIAN WHISKY of the YEAR
Crown Royal Cask No. 16
IRISH WHISKEY of the YEAR
Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve (2OO9 release)
SCOTCH WHISKY: BLEND of the YEAR
Compass Box, “The Peat Monster”
SCOTCH WHISKY: SINGLE MALT of the YEAR
Ardbeg Corryvreckan
INDUSTRY LEADER of the YEAR
Mark Brown, President and CEO of Buffalo Trace Distillery
DISTILLERY of the YEAR
Cooley
PIONEER of the YEAR
Whisky bloggers
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
John Ramsay and Robert Hicks   

And the Top Ten New Whiskies for 2OO9,
listed here alphabetically:
Ardbeg Corryvreckan
Brora 3O year old (2OO9 Release)
Dalmore 5O year old
Gold Bowmore, 1964 Vintage
Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve (2OO9 Release)
Laphroaig 25 year old
Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve (Bottle B1986)
Parker’s Heritage Selection Golden Anniversary
Rittenhouse Rye 25 year old (Barrel #1)
William Larue Weller (2OO9 Release)