Diageo Honors America's Leading Drinks Distributors with 11th Annual Golden Bar Awards

News provided by

Sep 11, 2014, 03:15 ET

NORWALK, Conn., Sept. 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- 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, Ciroc, 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 Division of Martignetti Companies 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 - Ciroc	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 Division of Martignetti Companies 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 - Wine and Spirits	North American Spirits and Wine Brokerage of Michigan

About Diageo

Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands across spirits, beer and wine categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, JεB, Buchanan's, Windsor and Bushmills whiskies, Smirnoff, Ciroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is a global company, and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEO). For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo's global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice.

Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.

SOURCE Diageo