And the HONORS GO TO . . .

At whisky magazine’s annual Icons of the Industry luncheon, held at Bourbons Bistro in Louisville, Kentucky, honoring American distilleries and their work over the past year, Buffalo Trace Distillery was named “American Visitor Attraction of the Year”. Buffalo Trace also received the distinction of “Highly Commended” in the Innovator of the Year category. Also honored was Heaven Hill Distilleries which was voted the best distiller in the US. The judges said of the family-owned company that it had “quietly been getting on with the job and releasing some stunning whiskies”. “Innovator of the Year” went to Woodford Reserve while Frank Coleman of DISCUS was honored as the “Ambassador of the Year”.
The Icons celebrate the people and places behind the greatest whiskies in the world, with the judging process taking place in regional heats including the US, Rest of the World and Scotland. The US winners will now go head to head with the Rest of the World and Scottish winners, and the final World Icons will be announced at a ceremony held on the eve of Whisky Live London on February 25. For more information on the awards visit whiskymag.com.