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communicators
Sponsor: Chivas Brothers
Chivas Brothers is a global drinks producer and export company steeped in Scottish heritage.
It is the only Pernod Ricard business devoted entirely to Scotch whisky and comprises a prestigious range of single malt and blended whiskies. Chivas Brothers’ award-winning portfolio features some of the world’s most revered Scotch whisky brands including Chivas Regal, Ballantine’s, Royal Salute and The Glenlivet. With a multitude of awards and accolades for its quality, craftsmanship, industry- leading sites and award-winning campaigns, its brands are at the heart of moments of connection across
the globe.
The company comprises 1,600
employees, 14 Scotch distilleries, two bottling facilities and over 300 warehouses across its 26 sites including Orkney, Scotland and London. The company is extremely proud to sponsor this year’s IWSC Spirit Communicator of the Year, which recognises an individual or organisation that has made an exceptional contribution towards the promotion of spirits.
CONTACT: ChivasBrothers@text100.com
SPIRIT COMMUNICATOR:
OLIVIER WARD
Ward is the editor, co-founder and creative force behind the gin-based website Gin Foundry, which covers news, reviews and insight on the gin industry and oversees a number of projects designed to celebrate the juniper-led spirit. These include workshops and masterclasses on gin and distillation, its Ginvent Calendar and Gin Kiosk shop.
Outside of Gin Foundry, Ward is also a regular on Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch, and has contributed articles about gin to magazines including Olive Magazine and BA Highlife.
How did you get into spirits?
The first time I knew that my career was going to be in spirits was when I tasted a very distinct American gin. I had always loved the flavours of spirits and eaux-de- vie, but it was at that moment that I understood that a great spirit can transport, can evoke and capture an entire story in a glass. It was like a lightbulb switching on and I finally saw that spirits could be a vehicle for a world of emotion and could encapsulate both terroir and human endeavour in a single drop. I was hooked.
How can the trade sustain gin’s appeal to ensure its long-term growth?
Try to keep authenticity first and foremost. The more it becomes about wacky flavours
and quick PR stunts, the sooner consumers will move on. Gin has always had a unique blend of heritage and innovation, progressive flavours and distillation techniques, sitting comfortably alongside more classic offerings, big personalities and big ideas – so it’s got a lot to lean on and lots of areas it can grow into. Simplistic brand reductionism and quick-buck marketing will be the death of the category, while gimmicky flavours will create a loss of identity too. Both need to be challenged for gin to maintain growth.
What has been the most exciting innovation or development in the gin category in the past year?
The continued hybridisation happening within the worlds of gin and wine, from adoption of ideas surrounding terroir, vintages, production techniques and infusions. I’m seeing it everywhere and it’s producing some really innovative products, rich in concept and tasty as hell.
Who are your gin heroes?
I idolise most gin makers one way or another, as each has something that makes both them and their spirits special. The two that come to mind are Lance Winters (St. George Spirits) for his ability to translate romanticism and concept-driven ideas into spirit form and explain that to consumers, and Jon Hilgren (Hernö) for his quiet humility.
Are there any other projects we should know about?
We’ve been working on two major projects that are due to come to fruition by May 2018, but it’s just a little too early to tell everyone about them yet. I think they will further the category in a big way.
SHORTLIST
Neil Ridley & Joel Harrison Dave Broom
Olivier Ward
Amanda Victoria
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