Dave Broom Communicator of the Year

Award-winning whisky ‘legend’ praises spirits industryDave Broom was the first whisky writer ever, anywhere, to seek to understand the glories and peculiarities of Canadian whisky. While others "covered" Canadian whisky, their comments were always filtered through a lens coloured by Scotch. Broom, himself a Scot, is a rarity among spirits writers. He thinks with his palate, unconstrained by the pre-conceived notions of earlier writers, marketing blurbs, and common belief. In addition to being the world's leading expert on whisky, Broom has authored the definitive book on rum and several others on wine, spirits and cocktails. His World Atlas of Whisky is the most up to date and authoritiative book about whisky on the market today. Congratulations to a fan of Canadian whisky for winning this prestigious honour. The official announcement follows below:World-renowned whisky and spirits expert Dave Broom today dedicated a prestigious award to ‘the wonderful distillers and blenders in the spirits industry’.He also praised ‘the great bartenders around the world’ when he accepted the International Wine and Spirit Competition’s (IWSC) title Communicator of the Year 2013.The prestigious title, sponsored by Veronafiere and announced at a gala dinner at the Italian wine and spirits fair Vinitaly, recognises an exceptional contribution to increasing awareness of wine and spirits.Glasgow-born Broom, said: “It’s a great honour for me to receive this fantastic award.  It’s very humbling, because all I do is ask people in the world of spirits the question: ‘Why?’“They give me the answers and I just pass on that information to as many folk as possible. The award is as much to the wonderful distillers and blenders within the spirits industry for giving me their time and sharing their expertise. So I’m accepting the award on their behalf and that of all the great bartenders around the world.”Broom praised the men and women who had transformed spirits from the poor relation of wine to its equal.He said: “When I started writing about spirits they were regarded as little more than an industrial product not worthy of deep study. Thankfully this has changed and people are now realising the artistry and creativity that goes into crafting a fantastic spirit brand is every bit as great as that required to craft a wonderful wine.”IWSC judges recognised Broom as ‘one of the most universally accessible communicators’ and praised ‘his ability to reach live audiences around the world in both consumer and trade’.Broom, who is based in Hove, is the contributing editor of Whisky Magazine and editor in chief of the on-line Whisky Mag Japan. He is a columnist and taster on Whisky Advocate and writes for Mixology (Germany) Drink! (China), Fine Spirits and Ginger (both France) and occasionally for The Spectator as well as many other national and international publications.His latest book, The World Atlas of Whisky (a companion volume to The World Atlas of Wine, and The World Atlas of Beer) has been hailed as ‘a landmark publication’. Two of his previous books, Drink! and Rum, won the Glenfiddich Award for Drinks Book of the Year. His work as a whisky writer has seen him honoured as a Master of the Quaich and a Kentucky Colonel.Broom, who travels the world with his master-classes as well as judging at international whisky awards, joins an impressive list of past winners including Jancis Robinson, Olly Smith, Susy Atkins, Oz Clarke and Tim Atkin.IWSC’s Anna Grant, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Dave as this year’s Communicator of the Year. Judges were impressed by the breadth of his knowledge and the passion and enthusiasm with which he shares it."It’s the second time in the title’s 18-year history that the award has gone to an expert from the world of spirits, reflecting the worldwide strength of the sector.Broom was selected from a six-strong list, drawn from the world’s leading wine and spirits experts, including Eric Asimov, the influential wine critic on The New York Times, the Finnish writer, presenter and director, Arto Koskelo, the Swedish lecturer and broadcaster, Jan Petersen and Whyte & Mackay partner, Richard Paterson and the Irish wine journalist Jean Smullen.