Five things you didn’t know about the IWSC 50th Anniversary Awards Banquet

As the year draws to a close, here at the IWSC we’re busy gearing up for the biggest event of the year: our 50^th Anniversary Awards Banquet. Held annually at the historic Guildhall in the City of London, the gala dinner is a celebration of the world’s best wines and spirits.

As well as all the usual treats – including a tasting of 500 gold medal-winning wines and spirits, a five-course feast paired with trophy-winning wines, and special gin and baijiu bars to extend the party into the early hours – guests at the banquet will enjoy a series of new initiatives in celebration of the IWSC’s 50^th anniversary this year.

From specially crafted celebratory drinks to unique awards, our 50^th Anniversary Awards Banquet is set to be one to remember. And don’t forget – if you can’t make it in person, the awards ceremonies will be livestreamed on Facebook for the world to see. Be sure to follow the IWSC Facebook page to get a notification when the broadcast starts.

1. A limited-edition anniversary whisky blend will be served for the first time

In celebration of 50 years of the IWSC, five of the world’s best master blenders and distillers have joined forces to create a limited-edition blended malt Scotch whisky.

Richard Paterson of Whyte & Mackay, Dr Bill Lumsden of Glenmorangie, David Stewart of William Grant & Sons, Caroline Martin of Diageo, and Kirsteen Campbell of Edrington each contributed 20 bottles of whisky from their respective companies. The anniversary whisky has been ageing since June, and guests at the IWSC Awards Banquet will have the opportunity to try it for the very first time.

“The anniversary blend is a great assemblage, and to me it encapsulates what blending is all about. It’s a celebratory, luxury drink,” said Paterson, who will be in attendance on the night to present the whisky alongside his peers. 

2. Our lineup of the top fifty future stars of the industry will be revealed

Also in celebration of the 50^th anniversary, the IWSC and WSET Future 50 lineup will be unveiled for the first time at the Awards Banquet.

The Future 50 is a new initiative created by the IWSC and WSET in recognition of their joint 50^th anniversaries, and will recognise and reward fifty up-and-coming stars of the global drinks industry. Over 600 nominations were received in the first round of judging, and the final listing will be revealed during the awards ceremony on 28 November.

3. A range of new trophies have been introduced this year 

Alongside the new Wine Discovery Trophy – sponsored by Prowein and awarded to Chinese winery Ningxia Jade Vineyard – and the Own-Label Range Trophy – awarded to Lidl for their quality range of wines and spirits – the IWSC’s two top awards will also be slightly different in recognition of the anniversary year. 

The Winemaker and Distiller of the Year trophies – the pinnacle of awards in the wine and spirit industries – will this year be named IWSC Outstanding Wine Producer and IWSC Outstanding Distiller.

“In recognition of the 50 years of the IWSC, this year we are awarding these prestigious trophies to producers who have not only achieved this year, but consistently throughout the competition’s history,” said IWSC head of tastings Pip Mortimer.
 

4. Guests can toast the occasion with a celebratory sparkling wine 

South African wine producer Pongracz will be presenting their gold medal-winning Methode Cap Classique Blanc de Blancs NV in special limited edition packaging to mark the IWSC’s 50^th anniversary. 

“We are thrilled with the generous collaboration with Pongracz to celebrate 50 years of the IWSC,” said Mortimer. “The greatest of the South African sparkling wines is a fitting way to celebrate this long-standing relationship with one of the world’s great wine producing regions.”

5. The latest issue of Club Oenologique will be released 

November marks the first birthday of IWSC’s sister company, fine wine and spirits magazine Club Oenologique. Launched at the IWSC Awards Banquet last year, the magazine has published three issues so far, and introduced cluboenologique.com which features news and reviews of the global wine and spirits scene. 

Guests at the Awards Banquet will be the first to receive the new, fourth issue, which features articles on leading Italian wine producers Frescobaldi and Ferragamo, the unconventional distilleries of Denmark, and an extensive expert tasting of 2010 white Burgundy, Hermitage and St Joseph, Shafer Hillside Select, and rare whiskies.

The IWSC Awards Banquet returns to Guildhall, City of London, for our annual celebration of excellence in wine and spirit making on Thursday 28 November. If you’d like to attend, it’s not too late – simply email info@iwsc.net to request a ticket.