With St Andrew's Day fast approaching it will be useful to know which gins and whiskies might be worth picking up to celebrate.

Thankfully, the Scottish Gin and Whisky Awards both recently revealed their winners for this year's competitions during two exciting virtual ceremonies.

This means drinks fans now have a top list of Scottish spirits to choose from.

Glasgow Distillery were named Distillery of the Year.
Glasgow Distillery were named Distillery of the Year

Scottish Whisky Awards 2020

Celebrating the very best of Scotch whisky across a range of categories including business and taste, the SWA's wide-ranging blind tasting competition saw Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards presented to producers across the country.

The news of the winners was announced at a live digital broadcast from Glasgow’s Hilton by Doubletree Hotel by comedian and presenter, Des Clarke.

This year, Glasgow really came into its own after a long absence on the whisky making scene with Glasgow Distillery named Scottish Distillery of the Year.

While Glasgow-based North Star Spirits were crowned Independent Bottler of the Year, and The Clydeside Distillery was named Tourism Destination of the Year.

Unsurprisingly, newcomer Arbikie Distillery in Arbroath was chosen for the Excellence in Sustainability due to their recent excellent work with sustainable spirits.

When it comes to the taste categories, it was the Glenmorangie, Ardbeg and Glasgow Distilleries who won big.

In the Single Malt - No Age Statement  category, the gold medal was given to the Glasgow 1770 - Peated Release No.1. (Glasgow Distillery), while gold in the Single Malt Under 12 Year Old went to the Ardbeg 10 Year Old (Ardbeg Distillery) .

Deanston 12 Year Old (Deanston Distillery) took home the gold in the Single Malt 12 Year Old category, and Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban (Glenmorangie Distillery) came out top in the hotly contested Single Malt 13-16 Year Old field.

Tomatin 18.
Tomatin 18

The Tomatin 18 Year Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky (Tomatin Distillery) celebrated with Gold in the Single Malt 17-20 Year Old, while Bunnahabhain 25 Year Old (Bunnahabhain Distillery) took home the top prize in the Single Malt 21 Year Old and Over.

A full list of the winners can be found here.

Speaking about the winners, Chair of the judging panel, Professor Alan Wolstenholme, said: “This year, we have seen distilleries, suppliers and producers step up to support their local communities when they needed it most.  

"Scotch Whisky continues to demonstrate its strength, resilience, creativity, and community spirit.  It is an industry which continues to shine brightly in good times and bad. We in Scotland can all be very proud of this."

Scottish Gin Awards 2020

The largest gin competition in the UK, the Scottish Gin Awards saw 38 top judges cast their eyes over the best and brightest of the Scottish gin scene.

Again the blind tasting competition saw Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards being presented to worthy distillers and brands across Scotland.

This year's big winner was Crafty Distillery in Newton Stewart, Dumfries and Galloway with the team behind Hills and Harbour Gin named Distillery of the Year being lauded for their excellent growth and tourist offering.

Lind and Lime Gin.
Lind and Lime Gin from the Port of Leith Distillery

The Highland Liquor Company , who produce the popular Seven Crofts Gin, were deemed worthy winners of the Best Newcomer Award, and Fife's Darnley's Gin named Scottish Gin Destination of the Year.

The sustainability award was presented to Beinn an Tuirc Distillers in Argyll for their excellent work with renewable energy and community iniatives.

Other top awards saw Eden Mill named Best Brand Experience for their incredible work with, and success of, their new virtual online tastings.

In the taste categories, the family run Mackintosh Gin in Angus celebrated as they took home the Scottish Gin of the Year award after their Pineapple & Grapefruit Old Tom Gin, which also won Old Tom Gin of the Year, beat out the other winners to take the top accolade.

Edinburgh's Port of Leith Distillery beat out over 50 other gins to win the Gold in the London Dry Gin of the Year with their Lind and Lime Gin .

The relatively new Isle of Bute Gorse Gin (Isle of Bute) was the winner in the Distilled Gin category, and Tarbert Legbiter Navy Strength Gin (Beinn an Tuirc Distillers) was named High Strength Gin of the Year (50% ABV and over).

Moray distiller, El:gin Findrassie, collected two Gold Medals for El:Gin Speyside Heather Honey (Flavoured Gin) and El:Gin Moray Berry (Gin Liqueur).

A full list of the medal winners can be viewed her e.

Chair of the judging panel, Adam Hardie, said: “Winning a Scottish Gin Awards medal is a significant achievement and provides a huge opportunity to promote Scottish gin both at home and abroad.

"I hope that this year’s winners will take the opportunity to promote their successes and increase their sales, in what was the largest and toughest competition to date.”