The 16th annual Malt Advocate Whisky Awards were recently announced on Malt Advocate magazine Publisher John Hansell’s blog, What Does John Know?
 
The categories and award winners are:
 

Best Buy Whisk(e)y of the Year:
The MacPhail’s Collection (Tamdhu 8 year old,
Glenrothes 8 year old, Highland Park 8 year old)

Artisan Whiskey of the Year (operating 10 years or less):
Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey (Batch #49)

American Whiskey of the Year:
Parker’s Heritage Collection “Golden Anniversary”

Canadian Whisky of the Year:
Crown Royal Cask No. 16

Irish Whiskey of the Year:
Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve (2009 release)

Scotch Whisky: Blend of the Year:
Compass Box, “The Peat Monster”

Scotch Whisky: Single Malt of the Year:
Ardbeg Corryvreckan

Industry Leader of the Year:
Mark Brown, President and CEO of Buffalo Trace Distillery

Distillery of the Year:
Cooley

Pioneer of the Year:
Whisky bloggers

Lifetime Achievement Award:
John Ramsay & Robert Hicks

Also announced were the Top Ten New Whiskies for 2009
(listed alphabetically):
Ardbeg Corryvreckan
Brora 30 year old (2009 Release)
Dalmore 50 year old
Gold Bowmore, 1964 Vintage
Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve (2009 Release)
Laphroaig 25 year old
Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve (Bottle B1986)
Parker’s Heritage Selection Golden Anniversary
Rittenhouse Rye 25 year old (Barrel #1)
William Larue Weller (2009 Release)

The Malt Advocate Whisky Awards exist to recognize excellence in the world of whisky. Now in their sixteenth year, these awards are the oldest and longest-running annual whisky awards program. They honor the world’s greatest whiskies and distilleries, and the individuals who make and promote them. To be eligible for this year’s awards, products must have been sold in the U.S. during the 2009 calendar year.

A complete write up of each award winner will be published in the Spring issue of Malt Advocate magazine, out March 1st. You can see this in advance, with a lively discussion about each winner, on John’s blog (www.whatdoesjohnknow.com).