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Laura Foster wins 2013 Alan Lodge Young Spirits Writer award

Laura Foster, freelance writer and sub-editor of Imbibe magazine, has been named the 2013 Alan Lodge Young International Spirits Writer of the year.

Laura Foster has become the second winner of the Alan Lodge Young Spirits Writer of the Year award

The 30-year-old journalist from London, UK, was picked by a panel of independent judges for her “tight writing style, clarity of expression and breadth of subject matter”.

Spirits writers aged 35 or under from around the world were invited to submit up to four pieces of work, published between September 2012 and 2013.

Although run by The Spirits Business magazine, an entirely independent judging panel was chosen to impartially choose the most promising young spirits writer this year.

Presented with her award at The Spirits Masters lunch in London today, Foster said: “I’m overwhelmed to have won the award this year – it is an unexpected and lovely surprise. It is also especially poignant for me, as Alan was the first person to encourage me to embark upon a career in drinks journalism, and for that I am forever grateful to him.

“As is always the way in this wonderful industry, there have been many people who have helped me over the last couple of years, so I would like to say an almighty thank you to everyone involved – you know who you are.”

Foster, who has been a drinks journalist for two years, has had work published by Square Meal, Waitrose, Stylist.co.uk and The Spirits Business.

She is the second recipient of the Alan Lodge award – named after the former deputy editor of The Spirits Business who died in 2012.

The judging panel included Richard Woodard, wine and spirits writer; Marcin Miller, managing director of Quercus Communications; Neil Ridley, co-founder of Caskstrength Creative; and Jennie Norrish, head of PR for Chivas Brothers.

Woodard said: “All the judges were extremely impressed with the high standard of this year’s entries, which bodes very well for the future. Several names featured in the final reckoning, but Laura’s submissions stood out for their tight writing style, clarity of expression and breadth of subject matter. She is a very worthy winner.”

Last year Drinks International deputy editor Hamish Smith was crowned the inaugural winner of the award.

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