Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland Awards 2010: Who deserves your vote?

For the 13th year running, Scotsman Publications has joined forces with Glenfiddich, the world's most award-winning single malt Scotch whisky, to give readers the chance to vote in the Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland Awards.

This unique awards scheme is your chance to single out the Scots who make us proud: the individuals who aim to exceed all expectations in their chosen fields and are pioneering new developments across Scotland's rich cultural and commercial spectrum. This year you can vote for nominees in the fields of Food, Music, the Environment, Screen, Art, Business, Writing and Sport.

The contenders in each category have been shortlisted by the Awards judging panel but it is over to you to decide the winners.

Receiving a Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland Award is now one of the country's most sought-after tributes - made all the more important because the final winners are selected not by an elite few, but by you, the people of Scotland. Last year, readers cast their votes by the thousand for winners including actor Peter Capaldi, author Ian Rankin and world-record breaking shinty player Ronald Ross.

Next week The Scotsman Magazine will profile the final four shortlisted individuals in the last two Awards categories, all keen to receive your votes. In the final week, you can vote for the Top Scot Award, an open category where you can choose the Scot you believe has made the greatest impact in furthering Scotland's reputation at home and abroad this year.

The consulting panel includes: John McLellan (Scotsman editor), Sally Gordon (Glenfiddich), Peter Irvine (Unique Events), Fiona Bradley (Fruitmarket Gallery), Celia Stevenson, David Sole, Stuart Nisbet (Unique Events), and correspondents from The Scotsman newspaper.

Music and Business nominees Music

NOMINEES

Isobel Campbell

Isobel Campbell was a founding member and cellist with Glasgow indie pop band Belle and Sebastian. Since leaving the group in 2002, she has worked on a number of successful projects, including an acclaimed solo album, Amorino. Released in August, her latest album, Hawk marks her third collaboration with former Screaming Trees and Queens of the Stone Age vocalist, Mark Lanegan. Their first collaborative album in 2006 received a Mercury nomination and Hawk has also been the subject of rave reviews.

Catriona McKay

Born in Dundee, Catriona McKay is an extraordinary musician and composer who plays the Scottish harp. While rooted in the Scottish folk tradition, her work is contemporary, adventurous and exciting. Catriona is a member of Fiddlers' Bid who won the Scots Trad Music Awards Album of the Year 2010 and her recent works also include CDs with Shetland fiddler Chris Stout and Swedish nyckelharpa player Olov Johansson. She also plays in Strange Rainbow, a laptop and harp experimental music duo with Alistair MacDonald.

Paolo Nutini

Singer-songwriter Paulo Nutini has had an incredible year. His latest album, Sunny Side Up has sold 2 million copies worldwide as well as collecting the prestigious Ivor Novello Award for Best Album 2010. Paolo was the biggest-selling male artist in 2009 and in 2010 and was nominated for Best Album and Best Male at this year's BRIT Awards. He also played two Royal Albert Hall shows this spring, the BBC Radio 1 BIG Weekend and has had a European summer tour that included the major UK festivals.

Biffy Clyro

Childhood friends, Simon Neil and twins James and Ben Johnston formed Scottish rock band Biffy Clyro when they met at school in Kilmarnock in 1995. In recent years, the group has gigged with The Rolling Stones, played Wembley Stadium with Muse and was even supported by Bono and The Edge at a special session in London. Their latest album, Only Revolutions, gained critical and commercial success and was nominated for the 2010 Mercury Prize. Biffy Clyro is set to headline this year's Hogmanay Concert in Edinburgh.

Business

NOMINEES

Dr John March

CEO, Big DNA Ltd

Dr John March is founder and chief executive of Edinburgh-based vaccine development company Big DNA. In less than two years he has launched a number of international commercial partnerships and secured multi-million pound investment to enable the company to develop its products. A graduate of the University of Edinburgh, Dr March is also an enterprise fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

Dougal Sharp

MD, Innis & Gunn

Since its launch in August 2003, Dougal Sharp has helped speciality brewer Innis & Gunn grow into a business with a turnover of 4.39 million. Innis & Gunn is currently the best-selling British bottled beer in Canada, number two bottled imported ale in Sweden and third-placed speciality beer in the UK off-trade. In the last year, the company has taken its UK and US distribution in-house, expanded its team, relocated its head office and won a string of awards for its beers.

Sir Bill Gammell

Chief Executive, Cairn Energy PLC

Sir Bill Gammell has more than 25 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, and in 2006 was awarded a knighthood for services to industry in Scotland. He founded Cairn Energy and was appointed chief executive in 1988. The company's half-year statement announced an operating profit of $94 million and a 311 per cent increase in revenue. There are high expectations of the company's current offshore explorations near Greenland.

Dr Rabinder Buttar

President and chief executive, ClinTech International

Dr Rabinder Buttar gained a PhD in Immunology from the University of Strathclyde and is one of Scotland's most successful businesswomen. She founded ClinTech in 1997, building it into a respected clinical research organisation operating in more than 40 countries. ClinTech has a growing presence in Europe, India and the Middle East and is setting its sights on new and emerging markets.

How to vote HOW TO VOTE

To vote in the Awards simply complete the entry coupon or vote online at www.glenfiddich.com/spirit

VOTE TO WIN

Voting in this year's Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland Awards not only gives you a say in who should pick up a gong, it also gives you the chance to win an inspiring prize.

Our top prize is a pioneering visit for two to The Glenfiddich Distillery, including luxury accommodation and the opportunity to try a new experience. The winner will stay at the beautiful Meldrum House country hotel and golf club in scenic Oldmeldrum, enjoying fabulous cuisine and relaxing in the hotel's stunning contemporary rooms. They will be taken on a personalised VIP tour of Glenfiddich - including a nosing and tasting masterclass with the chance to sample the Glenfiddich range of single malts including Glenfiddich 12, 15, 18 and 21-year-old. Finally, they can select an outdoor experience to try from a range of activities.

The combination of Meldrum House's stylish, luxurious rooms and acclaimed restaurant with Glenfiddich's historic distillery showcasing whisky-making at its best will make for the most memorable of winter breaks.

PLUS 20 runners-up can raise a glass to mark this year's Awards with a bottle of award-winning Glenfiddich Special Reserve 12-Year-Old, the world's favourite single malt.

Glenfiddich - A Pioneering Range

The Glenfiddich range has won more awards and accolades than any other single malt Scotch whisky.

This year Glenfiddich released 50 bottles of one of its most precious single malts, The Glenfiddich 50 Year Old. Priced at 10,000 a bottle this dram represents half a century of dedication and craftsmanship. It will only be enjoyed by a fortunate few but it shares many characteristics with Glenfiddich's other award-winning whiskies, ready to be experienced by everyone. Join the free "Explorers" club at www.glenfiddich.com

Glenfiddich is proud to be an integral part of the Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland Awards, recognising those who, through their pioneering spirit, inspire others.

This article was originally published in The Scotsman Magazine on Saturday 23 October 2010.