Diageo, the world’s leading premium drinks business, honored spirits, wine and beer distributors at the Eleventh Annual Golden Bar Awards which took place at a number of awards events and presentation ceremonies across the country. The Golden Bar Awards are presented for excellence in sales, marketing and promoting responsible drinking.
Larry Schwartz, President Diageo North America said, “Diageo works with the best distributors in the business, and the Golden Bars are a way for us to recognize the outstanding performance and hard work that helps to drive the business forward.”
The Golden Bar Awards, held at multiple locations across the United States, celebrate distributors and brokers for their excellence in the marketplace and the important role they play in their communities. The gold awards recognize distributors and brokers for performance across Smirnoff, Johnnie Walker, Baileys, Captain Morgan, Tanqueray, Crown Royal, Ketel One, Cîroc, Sterling Vineyards, Beaulieau Vineyard, Chalone Vineyard, Acacia Vineyard, Rosenblum Cellars, Guinness, Smithwick’s, Red Stripe and PABs. Gold awards are also given for innovation, consistency and quality. The two platinum awards are given for advancing responsible drinking. The grand prizes go to the distributors of the year.
In total 32 statuettes, 30 made of 24 carat gold, and two made of platinum, were awarded to distributors. Each Golden Bar statuette weighs eight pounds, stands more than a foot tall, and is produced by R.S. Owens, the company that created the Oscar®, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Below are the categories and winners for the 2014 Golden Bar Awards.
DISTRIBUTOR OF THE YEAR AWARDS
Distributor of the Year – Spirits Southern Wine and Spirits of Indiana
Distributor of the Year – Wine Ben Arnold Beverage Company of South Carolina
Distributor of the Year – Beer Glazer’s of San Antonio
NATIONAL AWARDS
Multicultural Excellence – Spirits Glazer’s of Texas
Three Year Consistency – Spirits and Wine Coastal Wine and Spirits of Indiana
Three Year Consistency – DGUSA Glazer’s Distributors in McAllen
SPIRITS AWARDS
Spirits Excellence – Smirnoff United Liquors, A Div of Martignetti Co of Massachusetts
Spirits Excellence – Johnnie Walker Washington Wholesale
Spirits Excellence – Baileys Horizon Wine and Spirits of Tennessee
Spirits Excellence – Captain Morgan Coastal Wine and Spirits of Florida
Spirits Excellence – Tanqueray Pacific Wine and Spirits of California
Spirits Excellence – Crown Royal Coastal Wine and Spirits of Indiana
Spirits Excellence – Ketel One Johnson Brothers of Minnesota
Spirits Excellence – Cîroc Southern Wine and Spirits of Nevada
Spirits Excellence – Reserve Brands Pacific Wine and Spirits of California
WINE AWARDS
Wines Excellence – Sterling Vineyards Alliance Beverage Company of Arizona
Wines Excellence – Beaulieu Vineyard Ben Arnold Beverage Company of South Carolina
Wines Excellence – Chalone Vineyard United Liquors, A Div of Martignetti Co of Massachusetts
Wines Excellence – Acacia Vineyard Pacific Wine and Spirits of California
Wines Excellence – Rosenblum Cellars Alliance Beverage Company of Arizona
BROKER OF THE YEAR
Broker of the Year – Spirits North American Spirits and Wine Brokerage of New Hampshire
Broker of the Year – Wines North American Spirits and Wine Brokerage of New Hampshire
BEER AWARDS
Beer Excellence – Guinness Houston Distributing Company
Beer Excellence – Smithwick’s Wirtz Beverage Nevada
Beer Excellence – Red Stripe I.H. Caffey Distributing Company
Beer Excellence – PABs Admiral Beverage Corporation
Quality Cup Wirtz Beverage Nevada
INNOVATION
Innovation Launch – Spirits Coastal Wine and Spirits of Florida
Innovation Launch – Wine Pacific Wine and Spirits of California
Innovation Launch – Beer & PABs Monarch Beverage Company
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Advancing Responsible Drinking – Wine & Spirits Coastal Wine and Spirits of Kentucky
Advancing Responsible Drinking in Control States – North American Spirits and Wine Brokerage of
Wine and Spirits Michigan
Visit Diageo’s global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practices.
