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Past Award Winners
The Annual Malt Advocate Whisky Awards for 2007
by John Hansell
Welcome to the Malt Advocate Awards for 2007. For the past fourteen years, our awards program has recognized achievements in the drinks industry, the "best of the best." The awards encompass the people who work in the industry, the products they create, and the distilleries where those products are made.
The awards are not about money. Unlike most other awards programs, there are no entry fees. Indeed, there is no solicitation for entries. We also do not have a host of categories. We do not want to dilute the value of the awards. More awards would likely make us more friends, but that's not what this is about. These awards recognize exceptional feats in the field, not another round of the same old thing.
People, to be eligible, must be doing business in the United States. Products, to be eligible, must be sold in the United States. Our only exception to this rule is our Pioneer Award, because innovation doesn't always originate in this country.
We look for character, complexity, and individuality in drinks. Distilleries are judged on innovation, industry leadership, and overall excellence. Individuals are chosen as the greatest contributors to the industry this past year. Our pioneer award recognizes innovation.
Join us in congratulating them: our Malt Advocate Award winners for 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 Macallan1976 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 (Four Roses)
David Stewart (William Grant & Sons)
Top Ten New Whiskies in 2007 (in alphabetical order)
Buffalo Trace Experimental Collection Chardonnay Aged Bourbon, 14 year old, %45%,$50/375 ml
Crown Royal Cask No. 16, 40%, $100
Dun Bheagan (distilled at Springbank), Cask No. 1704, 35 year old, 1970 vintage, 50.5%,$300
The Glenlivet Cellar Collection, 1969 vintage, 50.8%, $750
Highland Park,Cask #13308, 1973 vintage, 33 year old, 54.4%, $280
Highland Park, Cask #7957, 1977 vintage, 29 year old, 48.5%, $300
Old Forester Birthday Bourbon, 1994 vintage, 47%, $40
Macallan 1976 Vintage, 29 year old, cask #11354, 45.4%, $1,500
Parker's Heritage Collection, First Edition, 1996 vintage, 61.3%, $80
Wild Turkey American Spirit, 15 year old, 50%, $90
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