Diageo honored its top picks for leading spirits, wine and beer distributors with the company's annual Golden Bar Awards. The awards recognize distributors and brokers from across Diageo’s brands, including Smirnoff, Captain Morgan, Guinness and Beaulieu Vineyard. They also are given for outstanding innovation launches and control states excellence, and include a Distributor of the Year in wine, spirits and beer. The company added a new award this year — the Platinum Bar — to recognize the distributor who best promoted responsible drinking.

 

Award winners included:

 

DISTRIBUTOR OF THE YEAR

 

Distributor of the Year – Spirits: Reliable Churchill of Maryland

 

Distributor of the Year – Wine: Washington Wholesale – District of Columbia

 

Distributor of the Year – Beer: Wright Wisner Cos.

 

SPIRITS EXCELLENCE AWARDS

 

Spirits Excellence Award – Smirnoff: Reliable Churchill of Maryland

 

Spirits Excellence Award – Baileys: United Distributors of Delaware S

 

pirits Excellence Award – Johnnie Walker: Coastal Wine & Spirits of Florida

 

Spirits Excellence Award – Jose Cuervo: Capitol – Husting Co. of Wisconsin

 

Spirits Excellence Award – Captain Morgan: Diageo Moet Hennessy, Pennsylvania Sales Team

 

Spirits Excellence Award – Crown Royal: Glazer’s of Iowa

 

Spirits Excellence Award – Tanqueray: Southern Wine & Spirits of New England, New Hampshire

 

Spirits Excellence Award – Reserve Brands: Washington Wholesale – District of Columbia

 

Control State Excellence Award – Spirits: Southern Wine & Spirits of Virginia

 

Venture Market Award – Spirits: Johnson Bros., ND, Northwest Division

 

President’s Award – Share Growth: Glazer’s of Ohio

 

WINE EXCELLENCE AWARDS

 

Wine Excellence Award – Beaulieu Vineyard: Capitol – Husting Co. of Wisconsin

 

Wine Excellence Award – Sterling Vineyards: Coastal Wine & Spirits of Florida

 

Wine Excellence Award – Chalone Vineyards: Reliable Churchill of Maryland

 

Wine Excellence Award – Edna Valley Vineyards: Coastal Wine and Spirits of Florida

 

Wine Excellence Award – Acacia Vineyards: Glazer’s of Ohio

 

Wine Excellence Award – Rosenblum Cellars: Washington Wholesale – District of Columbia

 

BEER EXCELLENCE AWARDS

 

Beer Excellence Award – Guinness: Peerless Beverage

 

Beer Excellence Award – Smithwick’s: Alliance Beverage – Phoenix

 

Beer Excellence Award – Red Stripe: Summit Distributing – Colorado

 

Beer Excellence Award – Progressive Adult Beverages: Houston Distributing Co.

 

Venture Market Award – Beer: John G. Ryan Inc.

 

GOLDEN BAR CONSISTENCY AWARDS

 

Golden Bar Consistency Award – Spirits: Empire Merchants North, New York

 

Golden Bar Consistency Award – Beer: J&L Ventures

 

INNOVATION LAUNCH AWARDS

 

Innovation Launch Awards – Spirits: United Liquors LLC, A Division of Martignetti Cos. – Massachusetts

 

Innovation Launch Award – Wine: Capitol – Husting Co.of Wisconsin

 

NATIONAL ACCOUNTS EXECUTION EXCELLENCE AWARD

 

National Accounts Execution Excellence Award: Pacific Wine & Spirits of California

 

ADVANCING RESPONSIBLE DRINKING AWARDS

 

Advancing Responsible Drinking – Beer: Kramer Beverage

 

Advancing Responsible Drinking – Spirits & Wine: The Charmer Sunbelt Group – USA