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The Spirits Business Awards announces 2024 shortlist
The finalists for The Spirits Business Awards 2024 have been selected following a record number of entries.
Taking place at the Underglobe Theatre in London on 14 November, this year’s awards have seen a shake-up with new categories introduced, and the awards evening itself revamped into a black-tie event presented by Strictly Come Dancing and The Traitors host Claudia Winkleman.
This year’s edition also marks a banner year for the awards, established in 2019, with more than 215 submissions received, spanning the following categories: Retail and Marketing; Sustainability and Innovation; Culture and Tourism; Products; and People.
Within these areas, a number of new categories have been added to 2024’s edition, including Bar of the Year, Bartender of the Year and Brand of the Year.
The awards were created to celebrate and reward excellence across the industry; from retailers and distributors to marketers, brands, distillers and blenders.
To narrow down this year’s entries into a shortlist of finalists, The Spirits Business editor Melita Kiely chaired several judging panels in August, where each category was judged by independent experts to ensure fair and unbiased assessments of all entrants.
The judges consisted of: Pooja Sharma-Jones (Mocktail Beverages Inc); Nicky Burston (The Drinks Trust); Kate Malczewski (award-winning freelance drinks writer); Will Meredith (co-founder of consultancy firm Daisy Age Drinks); Guy Hodcroft (Bordeaux Index); Tom Brady (Oxford Wine Company); Nick Larsson-Bell (spirits and beer buyer at Harvey Nichols, previously retail general manager at Amathus Drinks); Dawn Davies (The Whisky Exchange); Billy Abbott (ambassador at The Whisky Exchange); David T Smith (spirits writer, consultant, and co-founder of the Craft Spirits Expo); Rob Hollands (CEO of Proofworks); Michael Vachon (co-founder of Maverick Drinks); Siobhan Payne (co-founder of London Cocktail Week and The Pinnacle Guide).
Kiely said: “Each judging panel was blown away by the standard of entries submitted into this year’s awards. The care and attention to detail that brands, marketers, suppliers and bar professionals continue to pour into their work is incredible to witness. It’s a reminder of precisely why the spirits industry is a global success story – and one that continues to excite both trade professionals and consumers.
“I’m delighted we can now share our shortlisted entries for each category. Every single finalist has demonstrated true excellence in their respected categories, and my congratulations go to each of them on their accomplishments. I look forward to celebrating everyone’s achievements at our awards event in November.”
The winners will be announced on the night by Winkleman, who will also name the recipient of this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Terry Fraser, master distiller for gin brands Gordon’s and Tanqueray, was awarded the honour last year.
The SB Awards has also confirmed a number of sponsors, including Per Se, the official aperitivo partner; Neit Whiskey, sponsor of the Bartender of the Year award; and 9 Meadows, the official non-alcoholic ‘spirit’.
Tickets to The SB Awards can be bought online. Sponsorship opportunities are still available by contacting Richard Cochrane, Ryan Graves or Rhiannon Morris.
The shortlisted nominations for The Spirits Business Awards 2024 are named below.
Retail and Marketing
Spirits Retailer of the Year
The Whisky Exchange
Duty Free Americas
Amathus Drinks
Aldi UK
Waitrose
Spirits Bottler of the Year
GreatDrams
Single Cask Nation
Elixir Distillers
Brave New Spirits
Spirits Distributor of the Year
Truth Malters
Speciality Drinks
African + Eastern – Dubai
Ten Locks
Emporia Brands
Best Marketing Campaign
The Vegan Road by Savoia
Four Walls Irish American Whiskey
Hedonism: From Grain to Gold
Spirit Cartel: Don’t Mention It
The Story: Mortlach
Best Event
Cayman Cocktail Week
World Class
Sydney Spirits Festival
London Cocktail Week
The Whisky Event
Best Spirits PR Company
May Fox Communications
Richmond & Towers
Cultural Communications
New Make Communications
MPR Communications
Sustainability and Innovation
Spirits Sustainability Award
Two Drifters
Bruichladdich
Bus Whisky
Belvedere Vodka
Brother’s Bond Bourbon
Ethical Award
Be Inclusive Hospitality
OurWhisky Foundation
Equal Measures
Elephant Gin Foundation
Distill Ventures
Innovation in Packaging
Bruichladdich
Starward
Mallard Point
Penrhos
Mclaren
Innovation in Production
Paragon Palo Santo Cordial
Nc’nean Distillery
Archie Rose Distilling Co
Drylaw
Smeaton’s Bristol Method Dry Gin
Culture & Tourism
Distillery Consumer Experience Award
Puerto de Indias, Carmona (Seville), Andalusia
Roe & Co, Dublin, Ireland
Archie Rose Bar & Cellar Door, Sydney, Australia
Citadelle Gin Distillery, Ars, France
Borodale House, Isle of Raasay, Scotland
Cultural Contribution to the Spirits Industry
Gin & Juice by Dre and Snoop
Hedonism: From Grain to Gold
Luxardo Distillery Museum
The Three Drinkers
NIO Cocktails
Bar of the Year
The Absinthe Parlour at The Last Tuesday Society, London
Side Hustle, London
American Bar, London
Kiki Lounge, Isle Of Man
Kavalierbar Wagemut, Vienna
Product & Brand
Best New Product
Allora
Curatif Piña Colada
Mount Gay Single Estate Series 23_01
Olmeca Altos Margarita
Absolut and Sprite
Brand of the Year
Brandy/Cognac
Rémy Martin
Aznauri
Cognac Ferrand
Gin
Peddlers Shanghai Gin Company
Hernö Gin Distillery
Astraea Spirits
The Botanist
Erbe Gin
Rum/Cachaça
Ten to One Rum
Camikara
Sarl Rex
Planteray
Speciality (Low & No /Liqueurs / Pre-Mixed / Other)
Paragon Brands
Curatif
Free AF
Gutss Drinks
The Drinks Bureau
Tequila/Mezcal
Neurita Tequila
Patrón
Olmeca Altos
El Tequileño
Tequila Barajas
Vodka
Desi Daru
Pulse Vodka
Drylaw
Weber Ranch 1902 Vodka
Whisky/Whiskey
Kavalan
Stauning Whisky
Indri Single Malt Indian Whisky
Lochlea Distillery
Isle of Raasay
People
Blender of the Year
Tony Salles, El Tequileño
Steven Rioux, Takamaka
David Fisher, Archie Rose Distilling
Alexandre Gabriel, Maison Ferrand
Distiller of the Year
Federico Gulino Camarero, Drylaw
Dave Withers, Archie Rose Distilling
Don Benn, West Indies Rum Distillery
Young Achiever of the Year
Isobel Armstrong & Imogen Armstrong, Secret Garden Distillery
Alice Pearson, Cotswolds Distillery
Silas Palm, R&B Distillers
Gerbe Suttels, Erbe Gin
Wilfrid Shon, Shroton Fair Gin
Bartender of the Year
Jhon Ortega, The Coral Room, London
Takuma Watanabe, Martiny’s, New York City
Alice Linihan, Copiña, Méribel
James Lin, Kavalan Whisky Bar
Gregor Eisele, Kavalierbar Wagemut, Vienna
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