The Scotch Whisky Experience on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile was the appropriate host venue for this year’s Scottish Field Whisky Merchants’ Challenge awards ceremony which once again drew strong industry representation from across the country.

Forty nine whiskies were ‘blind tasted’ for the annual challenge which is now in its ninth year and which has grown in strength and influence in that time. Alister Bennett, managing director of Scottish Field, welcomed the guests and thanked the industry for their support in what was a difficult economic period for all.

‘Unusually two whiskies tied for first place and unbelievable they were also overall winners in 2008.’

He said that in its commitment to supporting the whisky industry the magazine was playing its part by spreading the good word about Scotch Whisky among its He also welcomed Asmus Wolff and Douglas Ewing of Van Genechten Packaging from Belgium, sponsors of the 2009 whisky supplement. In a short speech Mr Wolff said that he and his colleagues were delighted to be in Edinburgh for the awards ceremony and to give their support to the event, which did so much to promote the Scotch Whisky Industry at home and abroad.

The award winners after the prize giving ceremony in the Scotch Whisky Experience.

Two whiskies tie

Unusually two whiskies tied for first place and unbelievably they were also overall winners in 2008. The level of consistency is what makes Glengoyne 21yo and Strathisla 30yo worldclass whiskies.

Julie Trevisan Hunter presents the award to Robbie Hughes of Ian MacLeod & Co for the 'Distillery Bottling of the Year'.

The Glengoyne is from the Dumbarton distillery of Ian MacLeod & Co Ltd and the Strathisla a 30-year-old Speyside Single Malt Whisky bottled by Gordon and MacPhail, Elgin.

The third major award is the Blended Scotch of the Year which went to Black Bull 30yo bottled by Duncan Taylor and Co. The awards proceedings were ably handled by Brian Cameron, sales director, and Scottish Field’s ‘whisky woman’, Clare Cameron, who is also team sales manager, and thanks were expressed to the judges Richard Joynson, Kier Sword, Darren Leitch, Elaine Cruickshank, Ronnie Routledge, Regis Lemaitre and Julie Trevisan Hunter.

The vote of thanks also included Raymond and Paul Davidson of Glencairn Crystal, who provided the beautiful crystal decanters and vases, and the Scotch Whisky Experience for the venue and buffet lunch.

Douglas Ewing, Louise Howe and Asmus Wolff of Van Genechten Packaging, sponsors of the Scottish Field Whisky supplement, 2009.

FIELD FACTS

AWARD CATEGORIES: The winners were selected from the following categories. Under £30. £30 - £75. Over £75.

Blended Bottling of the Year. Independent Bottling of the Year. Distillery Bottling of the year