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TOP INDEPENDENT BOTTLERS REVEALED

10th December 2020
Despite the unsettling times faced by many in 2020, the announcement of the Independent Bottlers Challenge winners hails a moment of triumph for the industry in the face of adversity.

This year’s results have been announced by Whisky Magazine, with Malts of Scotland taking the top spot as Independent Bottler of the Year.

Now in its 15th year the IBC is going from strength to strength, showcased through the sheer variety of entries that illustrate what is available from the sector. In previous years the category has been dominated by bottlings from Scottish distilleries, however, the 2020 selection, in particular, has highlighted the variety with offerings from Japan, Australia, Ireland and America too.

The most highly performing bottling in each category is named Independent Bottler of the Year for that category, while the bottling that picks up the most points overall takes the title of Independent Bottler of the Year.

Awards director, Anita Ujszaszi, explains: “This year’s entrants have proved, yet again, that the scope for variety and quality is continuing to flourish in this exiting sector.”

Whisky Magazine editor and head of content & marketing, Christopher Coates, says: “As always, we have been delighted by the quality of entries from independent bottlers across the world. Though access to aged Scotch whisky on the broker’s market has become more restricted in recent years, Independent bottlers have continued to maintain their high standards when selecting single cask and small-batches of whisky to release under their private labels.

“Once again, entries of spirit from distilleries outside have Scotland have continued to grow; this is a trend the is likely to continue in the coming years as maturing stock from newer distilleries around the world reaches maturity. I look forward to seeing how these perform in next year’s Independent Bottlers Challenge.”

The full results are listed below:

Independent Bottler of the Year
Malts of Scotland

American Independent Bottler of the Year
Woolf Drinks Ltd

Gold
12 Years Old & Under
Artful Dodger Whisky, Heaven Hill

Silver
13-20 Years Old
Heaven Hill MoS19033, Malts of Scotland

Grain Independent Bottler of the Year
Malts of Scotland

Gold
Ayreshire MoS20005, Malts of Scotland

Silver
Battlehill Invergordon 2007, Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky Ltd

Bronze
Good Times, Simply Whisky

The Octave Cambus 1991, Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky Ltd

Irish Independent Bottler of the Year
Bronze
No Age Statement
Molly Malone Small Batch, The Molly Malone Whisky Company

Japanese Independent Bottler of the Year
Cask 88

Gold
12 Years Old & Under
Dekanta Asaka Aoi Edition, Cask 88

Non-Scotch Independent Bottler of the Year
Dark Valley Whisky

Gold
No Age Statement
Heartwood Malt Whisky Wizard’s Sceptre, Tasmanian Heartwood Malt Whisky Pty Ltd

Silver
No Age Statement
Apera Cask, Derwent Distilling Co.

Bronze
No Age Statement
Tasmanian Pinot Noir Cask, Derwent Distilling Co.

Gold
12 Years Old & Under
Magnate’s Monocle, Dark Valley Whisky

Silver
12 Years Old & Under
Convict’s Arrow, Dark Valley Whisky

Bronze
12 Years Old & Under
Swallow’s Winter, Dark Valley Whisky

Scotch Highlands Independent Bottler of the Year
Malts of Scotland

Gold
No Age Statement
Images of Lockness MoS20032, Malts of Scotland

Silver
No Age Statement
SmokeStack, The Vintage Malt Whisky Company

Gold
12 Years Old & Under
The Maltman Ardmore, Meadowside Blending

Silver
12 Years Old & Under
The Octave Ardmore Peated 2008, Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky Ltd

Bronze
12 Years Old & Under
Let’s Dance, Simply Whisky

The Octave Brackla 2001, Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky Ltd

Teaninich 9 Years Old, Autumn 2020 Release - Casks #718018, #718019 & #721587, James Eadie Limited

Gold
13-20 Years Old
Glengoyne MoS19028, Malts of Scotland

Silver
13-20 Years Old
Westport MoS19029, Malts of Scotland

Bronze
13-20 Years Old
Clynelish, Whiskies of Scotland

Teaninich 2007, The Whisky Cellar Ltd

Gold
21 Years Old & Over
The Octave Premium Range, Blair Athol 1991, Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky Ltd

Silver
21 Years Old & Over
Tomatin MoS19036, Malts of Scotland

Bronze
21 Years Old & Over
Artful Dodger Whisky, Ben Nevis, Woolf Drinks Ltd


Scotch Islands (non Islay) Independent Bottler of the Year
Malts of Scotland

Gold
No Age Statement
Images of Orkney MoS20013, Malts of Scotland

Gold
12 Years Old & Under
Ledaig MoS20034, Malts of Scotland

Silver
12 Years Old & Under
Battlehill, Tobermory 2008, Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky Ltd

Gold
13-20 Years Old
Isle of Arran MoS20031, Malts of Scotland

Silver
13-20 Years Old
Dimensions, Highland Park Sherry Cask 2004, Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky Ltd

Gold
21 Years Old & Over
Highland Park MoS20021, Malts of Scotland

Silver
21 Years Old & Over
Monologue Isle of Jura 1998, Chapter
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