SB’s Amy Hopkins wins 2014 Alan Lodge award

After an overwhelming number of entries, the Alan Lodge Young International Spirits Writer of the Year Award has been given to Amy Hopkins, news and web editor of The Spirits Business.

Amy Hopkins, news and web editor of The Spirits Business, is the 2014 winner of the Alan Lodge Young International Spirits Writer Award

Open to journalists and bloggers from across the globe and all areas of the spirits industry, the award gives the opportunity for the industry’s most talented writers to be recognised by their peers.

The judges praised Hopkins’ coherent and engaging writing style and in particular her sensitive tackling of the delicate issue of alcoholism among bartenders.

“I’m truly delighted and touched to have won this award, which came as a huge surprise to me, particularly knowing the calibre of talent among previous winners,” Hopkins said.

“It saddens me greatly that I never had the opportunity to meet Alan, but knowing how much he was loved in the industry, and that he was such an immensely talented journalist, makes this award all the more special.”

The Alan Lodge Award was launched in 2012 in memory of the late deputy editor of The Spirits Business.

The award itself is judged by an independent panel of writers and former editors, including Richard Woodard freelance wine and spirits writer, Marcin Miller, founder of Quercus Communications, Olly Wehring, editor of Just-Drinks and Lucy Britner, sub-editor of Square Meal.

Although organised by Union Press, publisher of The Spirits Business, the judging process is completely impartial and open to all writers aged 35 or under with work published in print or online within the last year.

Hopkins follows in the footsteps of last year’s winner Laura Foster, associate editor of Imbibe, and inaugural winner Hamish Smith, deputy editor of Drinks International.

This year’s prize, kindly sponsored by William Grant & Sons, is a VIP trip to one of the group’s distilleries.