IWSC reveals the distilleries shortlisted for top spirit trophies

Spirit news

Fri 2 Oct 2020

By Rachel Swatman

Following the much-anticipated announcement of our spirit trophies in September, today IWSC unveils the final shortlists for the Spirit Producer Awards, which recognise the best distilleries across the world.

Experts have carefully analysed all the IWSC 2020 results, looking at producers' medals, scores and other achievements, in order to find the top distilleries across key categories, including worldwide gin, vodka and Scotch whisky.

“Producer trophies are the pinnacle of achievement”, said IWSC head of tastings Pip Mortimer. “They reward the overall portfolio, ethos and achievement of companies that enter the IWSC.”

The winners of these awards will then be put forward for IWSC's coveted Outstanding Spirits Producer trophy, which was achieved by William Grant & Sons in 2019 for the second consecutive year (and fourth time in total).

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William Grant & Sons accepting their award at IWSC's 50th anniversary awards banquet

The winners of the Spirit Producer Awards will be announced at the IWSC 2020 Awards Ceremony on 18 November. This year, IWSC is taking the celebration online with a virtual broadcast on YouTube Premiere. It will be filmed at the renowned English wine estate of Ridgeview and will be produced by one of the foremost documentary filmmakers in the UK – a producer who has worked with Pink Floyd, Blur and the Sex Pistols.

Read more: IWSC hires star music producer for 2020 awards ceremony


Meet the nominees for the IWSC Spirit Producer Awards:


UK Gin Producer

  • 58 Gin
  • City of London Distilling
  • Wessex Distillery
  • JJ Whitely/Whitley Neil

International Gin Producer

  • Four Pillars Distillery
  • Kangaroo Island Distillery
  • Herno Gin
  • Zamora Company

Vodka Producer

  • Dom Wina
  • Halewood International
  • Prodal '94

Liqueur Producer

  • Bimmerle Private Distillery
  • Mozart Distillery
  • Hombo Shuzo
  • Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits

Rum Producer

  • Groupe BBS
  • La Maison & Velier
  • R L Seale
  • Worthy Park Estate

Brandy Producer

  • Chateau de Breuil
  • Maison Boutillier & Cie
  • Chateau de Pellehaut Armagnac
  • Bodegas Fundador

Worldwide Whiskey Producer

  • Kavalan Distillery
  • Sazerac Company
  • Teerenpeli Panimo & Tislaamo
  • The Lark Distillery

Scotch Whisky Producer

  • Chivas Brothers
  • William Grant & Sons
  • Distell
  • Dewars Scotch Whisky
  • Whyte & Mackay
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