THE JUDGES


DARREN LEITCH Regional Manager Edinburgh,


The Whisky Shop


The Whisky Shop is the largest independent specialist retailer of whisky in the UK, with 22 stores already established throughout Scotland and the rest of the UK. New websites for both www. whiskyshop.com and www.lfw. co.uk also enable them to meet an even greater global demand for Scotch whiskies. Darren has been involved with the Scottish Field Whisky


Challenge since it’s second year in 2001 and has always championed it as the ultimate whisky competition. The whiskies entered into the annual challenge are there on merit, chosen by the panel of judges who, all being in the trade of selling the stuff, know what a great whisky is, alongside winning whiskies from previous challenges. So all whiskies which appear on the final line-up in his opinion are already winning whiskies. For that reason he considers the competition to be the Grand National of whisky comps.


He also believes a


competition like this should always be done blind with no clues to age, regions, cask type or strength, leaving it down to the skill of each individual judge. He thinks that this competition, it’s rules and it’s judging panel make it a very exciting and useful event for the industry – more so because it’s a Scottish based competition for Scottish whisky.


leading book on its subject, Malt Whisky.


Charles is also the star


of the silver screen, having appeared in the popular 2012 film The Angels’ Share, directed by Ken Loach. He was trained in ‘the sensory


MACLEAN Whisky Writer


‘Charles MacLean is Scotland’s leading


whisky expert’ [The Times, December 2013]


Charles MacLean has been researching, writing and talking about whisky since 1981, and has published thirteen books on the subject, including the standard work on whisky brands, Scotch Whisky, and the


CHARLES


evaluation of potable spirits’ by Pentlands Scotch Whisky Research in 1992, is a member of the Judging Panel (Spirits) of the International Wines & Spirits Competition and the World Whiskies Awards. He acts as a consultant to the whisky industry on a variety of matters, including staff training, and hosts tutorials from his purpose- built Dramming Room near Edinburgh, for the trade, clubs and private groups. In 2009 he was elected Master of the Quaich, and in 2012 won the ‘Outstanding Achievement Award’ at the International Wines & Spirits Competition.


Charles has been a Scottish Field Whisky Challenge judge for nine years.


Mark runs several whisky businesses including The Good Spirits Co, Glasgow’s Whisky Festival (of which there will be two as of this year), the busiest English-language whisky forum online as well as other interests which will appear later this year.


The shop has grown dramatically in the two and


MARK CONNELLY Director,


The Good Spirits Co


a half years it has been open and is now, for many, the first port of call when shopping in Glasgow for whisky. The online shop will be going live early this year and further expansion is highly likely. It runs regular, sold-out, tastings in the shop in the purpose-built tasting room. Mark has judged for Whisky Magazine and the Oran Mor Whisky Awards in Glasgow, and, of course, for Scottish Field. He loves the SF Whisky Challenge because it is the only awards where the nominations come from the people who deal in the products every day, rather than simply whatever each company chooses to enter. Thus, he believes, makes the results more credible than other awards. Plus, it’s great for retailers because readers call or come into the shop asking about those products that win awards, and they can genuinely recommend them. whiskywhiskywhisky.com


MIKE LORD The Whisky Shop Dufftown


The Whisky Shop Dufftown is a truly independent whisky retailer. It is only interested in finding the right whisky for the people they meet and their customers throughout the world, who come back time and time again for their excellent selection of whiskies and great customer service. Given the shop’s location, its client base is skewed towards enthusiastic beginners and whisky connoisseurs who are genuinely interested in trying new and different whiskies. The shop is the largest


Mike is passionate about whisky and about promoting the industry, a passion that was recognised with a Whisky Icons 2012 award for best single retailer in Scotland and invitation to be the ambassador of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival in 2013/14.


provider of events to the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, and also runs its own whisky festival in the autumn, in which it organises tastings of whiskies from across Scotland for visitors from around the world. They also host bespoke tastings in the shop for visitors to the area and give tastings at whisky festivals all over the world.


Mike genuinely relishes the opportunity the Scottish Field Whisky Challenge gives him to try new and different whiskies.


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