The 2024 Òran Mór Whisky Awards took place last night with the great and the good of the Scotch Whisky industry gathering to celebrate their love of Scotland and Whisky.
The event, which is fast becoming one of the biggest of its type in the awards calendar, attracted a glittering attendee list to the venue.
This Summer The Oran Mór Auditorium was packed out with Reps, Brands and Journalists from across the trade, as guests enjoyed a fine three course meal followed by entertainment from “Reely Jiggered”, the winners of O2 ABC Soundwave Music Competition. The event was hosted by Kenny MacDonald, the co-founder of Dràm Mòr Group, with a very special guest speaker in the form of Richard Paterson (“the nose”), Master Blender at Whyte & Mackay.
The submissions this year have been sampled by an expert panel of judges, including Alan Wood (Scotch Malt Whisky Society), Ken Smith (The Herald), and Justine Hazlehurst (KASK Whisky Club)
It was a special night indeed for Jim McEwan MBE, a giant of the industry who scooped the Lifetime Achievement Award after an illustrious career which started at Bowmore, going on to become Master Distiller at Bruichladdich and most recently heading up production at Ardnahoe.Dave Robertson, General Manager at Oran Mór, said of the event;
“The Oran Mor Whisky Awards are a staple in the calendar, and this year was definitely the biggest and best yet!
Thank you so much to all those who attended, it was amazing to look out and see everyone enjoying themselves and getting an opportunity to let their hair down. A huge congratulations goes out to all the nominees and winners – with over 100 entries our panel had a really tough task of narrowing it all down.
I think a personal highlight of mine was awarding the founder of Oran Mor Colin Beattie the lifetime achievement, a great way to honour everything he has done within the Whisky Industry, from next year onwards we will be renaming the award the ‘Colin Beattie Lifetime Achievement Award’ and I can’t wait to see who takes home the award next year.”
We are delighted to announce that The Oran Mor Whisky Awards will be returning in Spring 2025. Details on how to enter will be announced this Autumn.
Winners of the Òran Mór Whisky Awards 2024
Whisky Bar of the Year – The Pot Still
Whisky Cocktail of the Year – Honey Bee – Breagha Wolfgang
Best Blend – The Gauldrons
Best Malt – Highlands – Glencadam Reserva PX
Best Malt – Speyside – The Glenturret 10
Best Malt – Island – Isle of Harris, Hearach
Best Malt – Glen Scotia Rum Cask
Best Newcomer – The Hearach – Isle of Harris
Under 30’s Whisky Award – Breagha Wolfgang – The Gate / Absent Ear
Bar Person of The Year – Liam Grogan – Absent Ear
Whisky Rep of the Year – Emma Kirk – Lochlea
Peoples Choice Award – Glen Scotia Rum Cask
Lifetime Achievement Award – Colin Beattie