Duty Free Americas has won Travel Retailer of the Year in Whisky Magazine’s Icons of Whisky America 2017 awards.
“An operator of duty free shops in the western hemisphere, Duty Free Americas is proving itself as the company to beat having topped this Icons category for the second year running,” says the magazine in its online iconsofwhisky.com site.
“Offering a vast range of products from the finest brand names, including some of the most exclusive whisky releases, this Travel Retail provider offers a high quality shopping experience for business and holiday travelers alike,” it goes on.
DFS Group was noted as highly commended. The shortlisted companies also included Dufry, International Shoppes and Starboard Cruise Services.
Beam Suntory was also a big winner in the America’s category, with its brands taking home five awards. These included Whiskey Brand Ambassador of the Year (Adam Harris); Brand Innovator of the Year (Maker’s Mark); Distiller of the Year; Distillery Manager of the Year (Maker’s Mark); and Visitor Attraction Manager of the Year for the new Jim Beam American Stillhouse.
Other top awards went to Jack Daniel’s’ Jeff Arnett for Master Blender of the Year; Tullamore Dew’s Tim Herlihy for Irish Whiskey Brand ambassador, Martin Daraz of The Edrington Group for Scotch Whisky Brand Ambassador and to the Buffalo Trace Distillery for Visitor Attraction of the Year.
The regional winners now compete against the Scotland, India and Rest of World sector winners for the overall Icons of Whisky title in each category.
