Diageo Announces 9th Annual Golden Bar Winners

NORWALK, Conn., Oct. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/mbb — Diageo, the world’s leading beverage alcohol company, honored spirits, wine and beer distributors at the Ninth Annual Golden Bar Awards which took place at a number of awards events across the country. The Golden Bar Awards recognize excellence in sales, marketing and promoting responsible drinking.

Larry Schwartz , President and CEO of Diageo North America, said, "The Golden Bar Awards recognize the best of the best in the industry. Our strong relationships with our distributors help to drive Diageo’s success and we thank our distributors for their dedication and hard work demonstrated over the past year."

The Golden Bar Awards, held for the first time 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 Golden Bar Awards recognize distributors and brokers for performance across Smirnoff, Captain Morgan, Ciroc, Johnnie Walker , Baileys, Jose Cuervo , Tanqueray, Crown Royal, Ketel One, Guinness, Smithwick’s, Red Stripe, Sterling Vineyards, Chalone Vineyard , Acacia Vineyard, Rosenblum Cellars and Beaulieu Vineyard wines. Awards are also given for corporate citizenship, innovation and the grand prizes go to the distributors of the year for beer, wine and spirits.

In total 29 statuettes, 27 made of 24 carat gold, and 2 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 2012 Golden Bar Awards.

DISTRIBUTOR OF THE YEAR

Distributor of the Year – Spirits

Coastal Wine & Spirits of Indiana

Distributor of the Year – Wine

Glazer’s of Louisiana

Distributor of the Year – Beer

Alliance Beverage

TRANSFORMATIONAL PRIORITY

Multicultural Excellence Award

Glazer’s of Texas

On Premise Excellence Award

Atlantic Wine & Spirits, a Division of Empire Merchants, LLC, Metro New York

SPIRITS

Spirits Excellence Award – Smirnoff

Coastal Wine & Spirits of Indiana

Spirits Excellence Award – Johnnie Walker

United Distributors of Delaware

Spirits Excellence Award – Baileys

Atlantic Wine & Spirits, a Division of Empire Merchants, LLC, Metro New York

Spirits Excellence Award – Captain Morgan

Coastal Wine & Spirits of Indiana

Spirits Excellence Award – Jose Cuervo

Wirtz Beverage of Illinois

Spirits Excellence Award – Tanqueray

Glazer’s of Missouri

S
pirits Excellence Award – Crown Royal

North American Spirits and Wine Brokerage of Pennsylvania

Spirits Excellence Award – Ketel One

Coastal Wine & Spirits of Florida

Spirits Excellence Award – Ciroc

Reliable Churchill of Maryland

Control State Excellence Award

North American Spirits and Wine Brokerage of Ohio

BEER

Beer Excellence Award – Guinness

Peerless Beverage Co.

Beer Excellence Award – Smithwick’s

Harbor Southern California Network

Beer Excellence Award – Red Stripe

Wirtz Beverage of Nevada

Beer Excellence Award – PABs

Faust Distributing Co.

3 Year Consistency Award

Town & Country Distributing

WINE

Wines Excellence Award – Sterling Vineyards

Glazer’s of Texas

Wines Excellence Award – Beaulieu Vineyard

Coastal Wine & Spirits of Florida

Wines Excellence Award – Chalone Vineyard

Coastal Wine & Spirits of Florida

Wines Excellence Award – Acacia Vineyard

North American Spirits and Wine Brokerage of New Hampshire

Wines Excellence Award – Rosenblum Cellars

Capitol – Husting Company of Wisconsin

Control State Excellence Award

North American Spirits and Wine Brokerage of New Hampshire

INNOVATION

Innovation Launch Award – Spirits

Wirtz Beverage of Illinois

Innovation Launch Award – Wine

Pinnacle Division of Beverage Distributors Company, Colorado

Innovation Launch Award – Beer & PABs

Yahnis Distributing

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Advance Responsible Drinking – Beer

RMC Distributing Co.

Advance Responsible Drinking – Spirits & Wine

Major Brands, Inc of Missouri

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