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Three
top malt whiskies from Speyside have been recognised in the 2008
Spirit of Speyside Whisky Awards it was announced recently.
The
respective winners in each of the three award categories were:
12
years old and under
The
Balvenie 10 Years, Founders Reserve
13
to 20 years old
The
Glenlivet 16 Years Nàdurra
21
years old +
The
Balvenie 21 years Port Wood
Representatives
of each distillery are received their awards from Gavin Hewitt,
Chief Executive of the Scotch Malt Whisky Association at a special
luncheon in the Robbie Dhu Centre in Dufftown.
Also
present were the editor of Whisky Magazine France, internationally
renowned cookery expert and whisky writer, Martine Nouet, who
presented the prizes to the winners of the 2008 Spirit of Speyside
Chef Award.
Richard
Lochhead MSP announced the winning malt whiskies at the opening
dinner for the festival on Thursday night after they was chosen from
a shortlist by over 150 Festival visitors who enjoyed a rare
opportunity to participate in the judging of a top level whisky competition.
Richard
Ruane, chairman of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival Board,
said: "These whiskies are the expressions of the highest
quality of Speyside's wonderful spirit. I'm sure that their success
will confirm their international recognition. The Awards Lunch gives
an opportunity for us to recognise the very best of Speyside - its
outstanding whisky, superb food and warm hospitality."
Richard
added: "The industry is delighted that whisky is to be a
pillar strand of the Government's Homecoming Scotland 2009 initiative
and we are ready and enthusiastic to play a part in this celebration."
Now
in its fourth year, the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Awards are firmly
established as one of the most prestigious annual whisky
competitions. Organised in association with Whisky Magazine, the
first round of the competition was a blind tasting which took place
at Holyrood earlier this year (by kind invitation of Richard Lochhead
MSP), judged by a panel of whisky experts. Two finalists were
selected from each category from a total of over forty magnificent
Speyside malt whiskies.
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