NORWALK, Conn., Aug. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Diageo, a global leader in beverage alcohol, honored spirits and beer distributors at the 14(th) Annual Golden Bar Awards, which took place recently in Las Vegas. The Golden Bar Awards are presented to distributors demonstrating excellence in sales, marketing and promoting responsible drinking.

"The Golden Bar Awards are one way we are able to come together to show our appreciation for the hard work our distributors do all year long on behalf of our fine brands," said Tom Looney, President, US Spirits and Canada, Diageo North America. "At the Golden Bars we celebrate the successes of the previous year and look ahead to the coming year to discuss how we can work together to help our brands grow."

Tom Day, Diageo Global Sales Officer and Chairman, Diageo Beer Company, USA, reinforced the importance of the Golden Bar Awards: "The Diageo Beer Company had a defining year, and gained lots of exciting momentum. We couldn't have achieved it in the ways that we did without the relationships with our distributors and their mutual commitment to the business. These awards give us an opportunity to acknowledge their invaluable efforts."

The Golden Bar Awards celebrate distributors across the U.S. for their excellence in the industry and the important role they play in their respective communities. Awards are given in seven categories including On Premise Performance, Innovation and Social Responsibility, as well as Brand Excellence. The distinction of Distributor of the Year is also awarded for spirits and beer.

Additionally, Platinum Bar Awards are awarded to a distributor in each of the beer and spirits categories for advancing responsible drinking.

"Diageo places utmost importance on responsible drinking and combatting underage drinking. Our Platinum Bar Awards recognize those distributors who best support these critical initiatives within their own communities," said Jon Pageler, Executive Vice President, Diageo North America.

In total, 26 Golden Bar statuettes, 24 made of 24 carat gold and two made of platinum, were awarded to distributors. Each statuette weighs eight pounds, stands more than a foot tall, and is produced by Society Awards, the company that produces The Emmy's®, presented by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

Below are the categories and winners for the 2017 Golden Bar Awards.



    DISTRIBUTOR OF THE YEAR AWARDS
    ------------------------------

    Distributor of the Year - Spirits   Southern Glazer's Coastal -Pacific
                                        Wine & Spirits Division, Florida

    Distributor of the Year - Beer     Beechwood Distributors, Wisconsin


    SPIRITS EXCELLENCE AWARDS
    -------------------------

    Spirits Excellence - Smirnoff       National Distributing Company,
                                        Georgia

    Spirits Excellence -Johnnie
     Walker                            Martignetti Companies, Massachusetts

    Spirits Excellence - Baileys       Martignetti Companies, Massachusetts

    Spirits Excellence -Captain         Southern Glazer's Coastal -Pacific
     Morgan                             Wine & Spirits Division, Florida

    Spirits Excellence - Tanqueray      Southern Glazer's Coastal -Pacific
                                        Wine & Spirits Division, Florida

    Spirits Excellence - Crown Royal    Breakthru Beverage, United Division
                                        Washington D.C.

    Spirits Excellence - Ketel One      Southern Glazer's Coastal -Pacific
                                        Wine & Spirits Division, Washington

    Spirits Excellence - Cîroc          Southern Glazer's Coastal -Pacific
                                        Wine & Spirits Division, Washington

    Spirits Excellence - Bulleit        Southern Glazer's Coastal -Pacific
                                        Wine & Spirits Division, Hawaii

    Spirits Excellence -Reserve         Breakthru Beverage, United Division,
     Brands                             Arizona


    BEER EXCELLENCE AWARDS
    ----------------------

    Distributor of the Year - Guinness Manhattan Beer Distributors, New York

    Distributor of the Year -Smirnoff
     Ice                               Clark Distributing Co., Kentucky

    Guinness Quality Award             Burke Distributing Co., Massachusetts

    Chain Executional Excellence        Southern Glazer's Coastal Pacific
                                        Wine & Spirits Division, Texas

    Executional Excellence             Harbor Distributing Llc., California


    INNOVATION AWARDS
    -----------------

    Innovation Launch - Spirits         Southern Glazer's Coastal -Pacific
                                        Wine & Spirits Division, Texas

    Innovation Distributor of the Year  Frank B. Fuhrer Wholesale,
     -Beer                              Pennsylvania

    Innovation Distributor of the Year
     -FMB                              L. Knife & Son, Massachusetts


    SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AWARDS
    ----------------------------

    Advancing Responsible Drinking -    Coastal Pacific Wines And Spirits
     Spirits                            Broker, New Hampshire

    Advancing Responsible Drinking -
     Beer                              DBI Beverage, California


    ADDITIONAL AWARDS
    -----------------

    On Premise Excellence Award -       Breakthru Beverage, United Division,
     Spirits                            Maryland

    Multicultural Excellence - Spirits  Breakthru Beverage, United Division,
                                        Colorado

    Three Year Consistency - Spirits    Breakthru Beverage, United Division,
                                        Colorado

    Three Year Consistency - Beer      J.J. Taylor Distributing, Florida

About Diageo
Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, Bulleit and Buchanan's whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. 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. Follow us on Twitter for news and information about Diageo North America: @Diageo_NA.

Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/diageo-honors-drinks-distributors-at-14th-annual-golden-bar-awards-300505696.html

SOURCE Diageo