World Whiskies and Spirits Conference Illuminates State of the Spirits Industry

USA - English

• USA - English

New York, NY (PRWEB) April 13, 2015 -- Now in its 10th anniversary year, the one-day annual Whiskies and Spirits Conference was recently held at The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers in New York City. The conference is the spirits industry's eagerly anticipated unvarnished state of the union gathering where the tough questions are asked and addressed.

At this 10th annual event, which recently changed its name from the World Whiskies Conference to encompass a broad spirits industry overview and reflect the growing trends of this dynamic sector, leaders gathered to share their expertise in the field and discuss, explore and reveal future trends, prior successes and challenges, and growth and shifts ahead.

Topics covered at this year's conference touched upon: the continuous growth and boom of the whisky industry with acknowledgment paid to the tactical fact that more women are drinking whiskies than ever before, thereby creating a larger whisky drinking market for brands to reach; where whisky has been and where it is going; packaging design and the science and art behind it; building a brand identity; and a deep dive into the world economics of the whiskies category alongside other spirits.

Says Dave Sweet, organizer of the event in his capacity as Whisky Magazine's Senior Vice President - North America, "Our full day of seminars, highlighted by the North American winners of the World Whiskies Awards and induction of honorees into the Whisky Magazine American Whiskies Hall of Fame at lunchtime, covers the breadth of the spirits industry, uniquely providing unprecedented access to trends and in cites presented by industry leaders."

Inductees into the American Whiskies Hall of Fame honored for their long lasting contributions to the whiskey world: Steve Beal (Diageo); Al Young (Four Roses); Bill Samuels, Jr. (Maker's Mark)

World Whiskies Awards 2015 – American and Canadian Winners
Best Bourbon - Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve 20 Year - Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery

Best Non-Age Statement Bourbon- Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey - Heaven Hill Distilleries Inc.

Best Age Statement Bourbon - Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve 20 Year – Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery

Best Canadian Whisky - Forty Creek Confederation Oak - Forty Creek Distillery

Best Blended Non-Age Statement Canadian Whisky - Forty Creek Confederation Oak - Forty Creek Distillery

Best Non-Blended Canadian Whisky - Caribou Crossing Single Barrel Canadian Whisky - Sazerac Company Inc.

Best Age Statement Canadian Whisky - J.P. Wiser's 18 Years Old - Hiram Walker and Sons Ltd./Corby

Best Flavored Whisky - Sons of Liberty Hop Flavored Whiskey

Best Non-Bourbon Whiskey - Mellow Corn Bottled-in-Bond Corn Whiskey – Heaven Hill Distilleries Inc.

Best American Whiskey - Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey - Buffalo Trace Distillery

Best Non-Age Statement American Rye - Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey - Buffalo Trace Distillery

Best Age Statement American Rye - Redemption Rye Barrel Proof 7 Year - MGP

Best American Single Malt Whiskey - Balcones Texas Single Malt - Balcones Distilling

Best American Wheat Whiskey - Parker's Heritage Collection Original Batch Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey - Heaven Hill Distilleries Inc.

Non-Age Statement Bourbon -
Gold - Buffalo Trace - Kentucky Straight Bourbon - Buffalo Trace Distillery
Silver - Col. E. H. Taylor Jr. - Single Barrel Bourbon - Buffalo Trace Distillery
Silver - Four Roses - Single Barrel Uncut - Four Roses Distillery
Bronze - William Larue Weller - Uncut Unfiltered Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Whiskey - Buffalo Trace Distillery

Age Statement Bourbon -
Gold - Four Roses Ltd Edition Small Batch - Four Roses Distillery
Silver - Four Roses Single Barrel Ltd Edition 2014 - Four Roses Distillery
Bronze - W.L. Weller 12 Year - Buffalo Trace Distillery

Blended Non-Age Statement Canadian Whisky -
Gold - J.P. Wiser's Legacy - Hiram Walker and Sons Ltd./Corby
Silver - Forty Creek Double Barrel Reserve - Forty Creek Distillery
Bronze - Forty Creek Evolution - Forty Creek Distillery Age Statement Canadian Whisky
Gold - Canadian Club Reserved
Silver - Pike Creek 10 Years Old - Corby Distilleries Ltd.

Flavored Whisky -
Gold - Knob Creek Smoked Maple Whiskey - Beam Suntory
Silver - J.P. Wiser's Spiced Vanilla - Hiram Walker and Sons Ltd./Corby

Non Bourbon Whiskey -
Gold - Balcones Brimstone - Balcones Distilling
Silver - Rogue Dead Guy Whiskey - Rogue Spirits
Bronze - Balcones Baby Blue - Balcones Distilling

Non Age Statement American Rye -
Gold - Col. E. H. Taylor Jr. Straight Rye Whiskey - Buffalo Trace Distillery
Silver - Sonoma County Distilling Rye Whiskey - Sonoma County Distilling
Bronze - Rittenhouse Bottled - in Bond Straight Rye Whiskey - Heaven Hill
Distilleries Inc.

American Single Malt Whiskey -
Gold - Balcones Fr. Oak - Balcones Distilling
Silver - Sons of Liberty Battle Creek

American Wheat Whiskey -
Gold - Bernheim Original Straight Wheat - Heaven Hill Distilleries Inc.
Silver - Bainbridge Battle Point - Bainbridge Organic Distillers

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Francine Cohen, +1 917-607-2404, [email protected]