Hall of Fame

Founder of the Canadian Whisky Awards and one of the original Malt Maniacs of the 1990s, Davin de Kergommeaux is considered a legend in the world of whisky. His written works, seminars, and judging have taken him to four different continents to voice his thoughts on Canadian whisky. Davin has written award-winning books including Canadian Whisky: The Portable Expert, The Definitive Guide to Canadian Distilleries, and various other acclaimed works about whisky, spirits, and cocktails. In 2016, Canada’s national newspaper the Globe & Mail named him as one of the most influential Canadians in food and drink, while a 2018 feature in the New York Times stated that his influence in raising the profile of Canadian whisky could not be overstated. His writings about Canadian whisky have gained attention from the industry as well as the political establishment — two speakers from the Canadian government invited him to select an official speaker’s whisky for the House of Commons. Davin’s other notable achievements include winning the International Association of Culinary Professionals’ Best Spirits Book as well as the award for one of the top three spirits books in the world at the International Gourmand Awards. Over the past quarter of a century, Davin has published several books, acted as Canadian contributing editor for Whisky Magazine, and established his own site, canadianwhisky.org, where he regularly produces reviews and discusses current events within the industry.