(Photo by iStock) The Whisky Advocate Awards system has evolved over the years, just as the industry itself has undergone impressive changes and progress. We started giving out awards in 1994 and continue to so today. Many of the whiskies we once loved are no longer available, and some of people we’ve honored have since passed on, but we continue to celebrate their legacy.
Whisky Advocate’s 17th Annual Awards (2010)
Best Buy Whiskey of the Year—Tie: Evan Williams and Very Old Barton 6 Year Old Bottled in Bond
Artisan Whisky of the Year: Kilchoman (Summer 2010 Release)
American Whiskey of the Year: Buffalo Trace Antique Collection
Canadian Whisky of the Year: Forty Creek Confederation Oak
Irish Whiskey of the Year: Redbreast 12 year old
World Whisky of the Year: Amrut Fusion
Scotch Whisky Blend of the Year: Compass Box “Flaming Heart”
Scotch Whisky Single Malt of the Year: Glenfarclas 40 year old
Industry Leader of the Year: Glencairn Crystal
Distillery of the Year: Heaven Hill
Pioneer of the Year: David Perkins and High West
Lifetime Achievement Awards: Evan Cattanach, Fritz Maytag, and Angelo Lucchesi
Whisky Advocate’s 16th Annual Awards (2009)
Best Buy Whisky of the Year: The MacPhail’s Collection (Tamdhu 8 year old, Glenrothes 8 year old, Highland Park 8 year old)
Artisan Whiskey of the Year: 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 (2009 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 of Buffalo Trace Distillery
Distillery of the Year: Cooley
Pioneer of the Year: Whisky bloggers
Lifetime Achievement Award: John Ramsay and Robert Hicks
Whisky Advocate’s 15th Annual Awards (2008)
Best Buy of the Year: Ancient Ancient Age Ten Year Old
American Whiskey of the Year: Parker’s Heritage Collection 27 Year Old Bourbon
Canadian Whisky of the Year: Canadian Club 150th Anniversary 30 Year Old
Irish Whiskey of the Year: Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve, 2007 Release
Scotch Blended Whisky of the Year: The Antiquary 21 year old
Scotch Malt Whisky of the Year: Black Bowmore, 1964 Vintage, 42 year old
Microdistillery Whisky of the Year: Penderyn Welsh Whisky
Industry Leader of the Year: Dr. Bill Lumsden
Pioneer of the Year: The United States Microdistillers
Distillery of the Year: Four Roses
Lifetime Achievement Award: Willie Tait of Whyte and Mackay, Kenny Gray of Oban, and Ronnie Eddins of Buffalo Trace
Whisky Advocate’s 14th Annual Awards (2007)
Best Buy of the Year: Black Bottle Original
American Whiskey of the Year: Old Forester Birthday Bourbon (2007 Release)
Canadian Whisky of the Year: Crown Royal Cask No. 16
Irish Whiskey of the Year: Redbreast 12 year old
Scotch Whisky Blend of the Year: Chivas 18 year old
Scotch Whisky Malt of the Year: The Macallan 1976 Vintage (Cask #11354)
World Whisky of the Year: Suntory Yamazaki 18 year old
Industry Leader of the Year: Mixologists
Pioneer of the Year: Bruichladdich Distillery
Distillery of the Year: BenRiach
Lifetime Achievement Awards: Jim Rutledge of Four Roses and David Stewart of William Grant & Sons
Whisky Advocate’s 13th Annual Awards (2006)
Best Buy of the Year: Rittenhouse Rye 100 Proof
American Whiskey of the Year: Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection Four Grain Bourbon (Batch #2)
Import Blend of the Year: Johnnie Walker Blue Label Anniversary
Import Malt of the Year: Highland Park, 34 year old, 1971 vintage (Cask #8363)
Distillery of the Year: Buffalo Trace
Pioneer of the Year: John Hall
Industry Leader of the Year: Dr. Bill Lumsden
Lifetime Achievement Award: Frank McHardy
Whisky Advocate’s 12th Annual Awards (2005)
Best Buy Whisky: The Dalmore 12 year old
Import Whisky: Highland Park 30 year old
American Whiskey: Sazerac Rye 18 year old
Import Blended Whisky: Black Bottle 10 year old
Distillery: Buffalo Trace
Industry Leader: Brett Pontoni
Pioneers: Bernheim Original Straight Wheat Whiskey, Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection Four Grain Bourbon, and Dr. Jim Swan
Lifetime Achievement: Michael Jackson
Spirit: Santa Teresa 1796 Rum
Beer/Brewery: Russian River Brewing Company
Whisky Advocate’s 11th Annual Awards (2004)
Best Buy Whisky: Elijah Craig 12 Year Old
Import Whisky: Glenfarclas 1968 Vintage
American Whiskey: Wild Turkey Tribute
Import Blended Whisky: Compass Box Asyla
Distillery: Ardbeg
Industry Leader: Bob Dalgarno
Pioneer: Julian Van Winkle
Lifetime Achievement: Jim Cryle, The Urquhart Family, and Joe Congiusti
Spirit: Herradura Selección Suprema Tequila
Beer/Brewery: Stone Brewing
Whisky Advocate’s 10th Annual Awards (2003)
Best Buy Whisky: Evan Williams 7 year old
Import Whisky: Bruichladdich 1970
American Whiskey: Old Forester Birthday Bourbon, Spring 1990 Vintage
Import Blended Whisky: Jameson 18 year old
Distillery: Bruichladdich
Industry Leader: Barry Walsh
Pioneer: Orangerie, by Compass Box Whiskies
Lifetime Achievement: Parker Beam, Lincoln Henderson
Spirit: Mount Gay Rum Tricentennial Selection
Beer/Brewery: DeuS Brut des Flandres
Whisky Advocate’s 9th Annual Awards (2002)
Import Whisky: Talisker 25 year old
American Whiskey: George T. Stagg
Distillery: Macallan
Industry Leader: Richard Paterson
Pioneer: John Glaser
Lifetime Achievement: Iain Henderson, Elmer T. Lee, and Booker Noe
Whisky Advocate’s 8th Annual Awards (2001)
Import Whisky: Midleton 26 year old
American Whiskey: Sazerac Rye 18 year old
Distillery: Bruichladdich
Industry Leader: Dr. Bill Lumsden
Pioneer: Distillers’ Masterpiece
Lifetime Achievement: Jimmy Russell
Whisky Advocate’s 7th Annual Awards (2000)
Import Whisky: The Macallan 50 year old
American Whiskey: Evan Williams Single Barrel 1991 Vintage
Distillery: Buffalo Trace
Whisky Advocate’s 6th Annual Awards (1999)
Import Whisky: Glenmorangie Fino Sherry Wood Finish
American Whiskey: Booker’s Batch C91-L-20
Distillery: Midleton
Industry Leader: David Robertson
Whisky Advocate’s 5th Annual Awards (1998)
Import Whisky: The Macallan Gran Reserve 1979
American Whiskey: A. H. Hirsch 16 year old
Distillery: Ardbeg
Industry Leader: Jim Murray
Whisky Advocate’s 4th Annual Awards (1997)
Import Whisky: Highland Park 25 year old
American Whiskey: W. L. Weller Centennial 10 year old
Distillery: Glenmorangie
Industry Leader: James McEwan
Whisky Advocate’s 3rd Annual Awards (1996)
Import Whisky: The Macallan 1874
American Whiskey: Woodford Reserve
Industry Leader: Fritz Maytag
Whisky Advocate’s 2nd Annual Awards (1995)
Import Whisky: Lagavulin 16 year old
American Whiskey: Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit
Industry Leader: Michael Jackson
Whisky Advocate’s 1st Annual Awards (1994)
Import Whisky: Springbank 21 year old
Industry Leader: Michael Jackson
