Hat trick for SMWS at IBC 2019!

//Hat trick for SMWS at IBC 2019!

Hat trick for SMWS at IBC 2019!

Society makes it three-in-a-row with Independent Bottler of the Year award!

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society has claimed its third consecutive title of Independent Bottler of the Year in Whisky Magazine’s Independent Bottlers’ Challenge (IBC) competition.

What better way to approach the end of the year than with further recognition for the consistently outstanding quality of our whiskies, by picking up our third consecutive title of Independent Bottler of the Year in Whisky Magazine’s Independent Bottlers’ Challenge (IBC) competition.

The award makes it an unprecedented three-in-a-row for the top award, and an incredible seventh time we’ve picked up the accolade in the past 10 years.

The Society also won the regional awards for Independent Bottler of the Year for Lowlands, Islay, Speyside and American whiskies.

Our partner bars also picked up several accolades, with Campbeltown’s Ardshiel Hotel winning Hotel Bar of the Year and Dornoch Castle being named Highly-commended, while our Glasgow partner bar the Bon Accord won Bar of the Year.

“What a fantastic achievement for the Society, which we’re delighted to share with all our members,”said SMWS spirits director Kai Ivalo. “Winning the overall title of Independent Bottler of the Year for the third time in a row is a huge endorsement for our ever-more creative approach to the whiskies we are able to offer our members, whether they are single cask bottlings, whiskies that we’ve additionally matured, or our experimental range of blended malt bottlings.
“We’re currently offering a wider range of whiskies than ever before, and this accolade demonstrates that we’re serving our membership well – and giving more and more whisky lovers good reason to join our ‘All Together Unique’ Society. Prospective members can look forward to even more amazing offerings in 2020, so it’s the perfect time to sign up and share our love for amazing whisky and good company.”

This Society’s latest award as Independent Bottler of the Year for 2019 comes on the back of a hugely impressive year of accolades, with a ‘best in show’ win in the recent Luxury Masters award as well as the Scotch Whisky Masters, along with top awards in the International Wine and Spirits Competition, the International Spirits Challenge, the Ultimate Spirits Challenge and the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Start your year in the best of spirits by taking out a membership to the world’s best whisky club here. Use the code ‘IBC2019’ for $30 off your first year’s membership! There’s never been a better time to be a member of the world’s most recognised independent bottler.

Individual results

American Whiskey Independent Bottler of the Year
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society

12 Years Old & Under
Gold The Scotch Malt Whisky Society 140.2 – Shotgun whirligig

Silver The Scotch Malt Whisky Society 140.3 – Nik nak woody whack

21 Years Old & Over
Gold The Scotch Malt Whisky Society G1.18
Bronze The Scotch Malt Whisky Society G7.15 – Mind-altering hugs

Irish Whiskey Independent Bottler of the Year
Woolf Sung

13-20 Years Old
Gold Artful Dodger Whisky Collective Single Malt Irish Whiskey
Silver The Scotch Malt Whisky Society 51.11 – Irish danger juice
Bronze The Scotch Malt Whisky Society 51.13 – Fifty shades of lemon

12 Years Old & Under
Bronze The Scotch Malt Whisky Society 140.1 – Cornography

No Age Statement
Gold The Scotch Malt Whisky Society 139.2 – A tropical affair
Bronze The Scotch Malt Whisky Society 139.1 – Chomping a herbal cigar

12 Years Old & Under
Gold The Scotch Malt Whisky Society 93.119 – Charcoal in a honeypot
Silver The Scotch Malt Whisky Society 93.111 – Sea through the smoke
Bronze The Scotch Malt Whisky Society 93.108 – Earthy and masculine

12 Years Old & Under
Silver The Scotch Malt Whisky Society 96.31
Bronze The Scotch Malt Whisky Society 123.31 – Death by florist

21 Years Old & Over
Gold The Scotch Malt Whisky Society 77.51 – Flower shower power
Silver The Scotch Malt Whisky Society 66.145 – Flambé away

13-20 Years Old
Silver The Scotch Malt Whisky Society 4.249 – The mermaid’s marmalade

Scotch Islay Independent Bottler of the Year
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society

12 Years Old & Under
Gold The Scotch Malt Whisky Society 33.138
Silver The Scotch Malt Whisky Society 10.162 – Big wave sofa
Bronze The Scotch Malt Whisky Society 10.181

13-20 Years Old
Gold The Scotch Malt Whisky Society 29.260 – A visceral, elemental experience

21 Years Old & Over
Silver The Scotch Malt Whisky Society 29.258 – Remembrance of fruits past
Bronze The Scotch Malt Whisky Society 53.308 – Let the Tempest tout an’ blaw!

Scotch Lowland Independent Bottler of the Year
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society

12 Years Old & Under
Gold The Scotch Malt Whisky Society 136.2 – Paradise in a paradis

13-20 Years Old
Gold The Scotch Malt Whisky Society 5.71 – Elbow patches and saucy librarians

21 Years Old & Over
Gold The Scotch Malt Whisky Society 50.109 – Mangroves and marshmallows
Silver The Scotch Malt Whisky Society 97.22 – Emerald-masked triple thrill

Scotch Speyside Independent Bottler of the Year
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society

12 Years Old & Under
Silver The Scotch Malt Whisky Society 35.247

13-20 Years Old
Gold The Scotch Malt Whisky Society 46.84
Silver The Scotch Malt Whisky Society 37.128

21 Years Old & Over
Gold The Scotch Malt Whisky Society 1.212 – Beeswax on barrels
Silver The Scotch Malt Whisky Society 9.169 – Enthralling and enchanting

2020-01-05T20:34:53+11:00

About the Author:

Matt Bailey is the Branch Director for the Scotch Malt Whisky Society Australia. He's tirelessly trying to meet every member and share a dram with you all.

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