The Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland Awards set out to celebrate achievements by Scots in eight different categories. Authors, sportspeople and musicians are honoured alongside film-makers, businesspeople, artists, environmentalists and foodies.
"The Scotsman is delighted to be involved again with The Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland Awards," says the paper's editor, Mike Gilson. 'I have been consistently impressed by the calibre of the nominees and the willingness of our readers to show their support for the worthy people and organisations represented.
"The Scotsman is committed to reporting Scotland's successes. The good news is as important as the not so good.
"Stories that inspire and lift the spirit are an important part of our mix, particularly in these troubled financial times. You will find plenty of those stories at The Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland Awards."
Each week nominees in two of the eight categories – arts, entrepreneur, environment, food, music, screen, sport and writing ' will be profiled in The Scotsman Magazine.
Scotland's reputation as the home of great chefs and fantastic produce is highlighted in the food category. The owner of new Edinburgh restaurant "the dogs" David Ramsden is nominated, along with the team at Monachyle Mhor, Tony Pierce at Knockinaam Lodge in Dumfries and Galloway and John Sinclair of Craigie's Farm Deli and Cafe, South Queensferry.
The writing category includes such luminaries as veteran crime author Val McDermid and novelist AL Kennedy, who has already enjoyed a successful 2008 after Day won the Costa Book of the Year. They are joined in the category by comic writer Mark Millar and Robert McFarlane, a nature writer and author of the multi-award winning The Wild Places.
Chris Hoy, dubbed "the King of Scotland" after his triple gold medal-winning haul at the Beijing Olympics, leads the nominees for sport. Fellow cyclist Mark Beaumont, who made history as the first man to successfully circumnavigate the world on a bike, is in there too. Sir Alex Ferguson, CBE, son of Govan and manager of Manchester United where he has been in charge since 1986, is also nominated. This highly competitive category is completed with the addition of tennis star Andy Murray, who has notched his way up to world number four in the rankings after stellar performances at Wimbledon this summer and in his first Grand Slam final, at the US Open.
Glasvegas, KT Tunstall, folk band Lau and cellist Peter Gregson will slug it out in the music category, while Oscar winner Tilda Swinton and her Nairn Film Festival collaborator Mark Cousins will be up against actors James McAvoy and Brian Cox, as well as each other, in the screen category.
SuperJam business whizz Fraser Doherty makes an appearance in the entrepreneur category, while architect Gareth Hoskins appears in the arts line-up, and Tanya Ewing, inventor of the Ewgeco, features among the environment nominees.
Who will get your vote?For the eleventh year Scotsman Publications has joined forces with Glenfiddich®, the world's premier single malt Scotch whisky, to give you the chance to vote in the Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland Awards® Broadcast on STV on St Andrew's night (November 30), this unique awards scheme recognises the individuals who inspire our nation, leading the way in Scottish culture from food, music, the environment and screen to arts, entrepreneur, writing and sport, and who through their achievements are making every year count.
Over the years, the Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland Awards has grown in stature. Receiving one of these awards is now one of the country's most sought-after honours - made all the more important because the winners are selected not by an elite few, but by the people of Scotland. Last year readers cast votes by the thousand for winners including actor David Tennant, writer Christopher Brookmyre and musician Edwyn Collins.
In the coming weeks The Scotsman Magazine will profile four individuals in each of the following categories: arts, entrepreneur, environment, food, music, screen, sport and writing. The nominees have been shortlisted by our judging panel but it's over to you to decide who should win.
In the final week, you can vote for the Top Scot Award, an open category where you can choose the Scot from any walk of life whom you believe has made the greatest impact in furthering Scotland's reputation at home and abroad this year.
Judges The judging panel for the Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland Awards includes: Lee Randall (assistant editor, magazines & arts, The Scotsman), Sally Gordon (Glenfiddich), Peter Irvine (Unique Events), Fiona Bradley (Fruitmarket Gallery), David Sole (David Sole Associates), Celia Stevenson (Scottish Screen), Stuart Nisbet (Unique Events), Alexander McCall Smith (author) and correspondents from The Scotsman newspaper.
Your chance to win fantastic prizesVote in this year's Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland Awards and enter the draw for a selection of whisky prizes
Our top prize is an elegant whisky decanter featuring a solid silver stag's head stopper and accompanied by a personalised bottle of Glenfiddich 30 Year Old Single Malt Scotch whisky. The winner will also receive the Glenfiddich Quartet.
A celebration of excellence, the Glenfiddich Quartet has been specially crafted to reward the winner with a different aged Glenfiddich Single Malt Scotch whisky, delivered directly to their door each quarter.
Beginning with Glenfiddich 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch whisky in December, they will subsequently receive Glenfiddich 15 Year Old in March, Glenfiddich 18 Year Old in June and Glenfiddich 21 Year Old in September.
The chance to savour these wonderful, different-aged Glenfiddich Single Malt Scotch whiskies for 12 months will ensure you have a year to remember.
Five runners-up will also have a very special year ahead as they will each receive the Glenfiddich Quartet, with a special Glenfiddich variant arriving each quarter to savour and enjoy.
Fifteen runners-up can raise a glass to mark this year's Awards with a bottle of Glenfiddich Special Reserve 12 Year Old, the world's favourite single malt.
How to vote for Week 1's nomineesSimply call 09016 560160 and follow the instructions or text SCOTA followed by the code of your choice to 81800 or vote online at:
www.glenfiddich.com/spiritTanya Ewing - energy campaigner
VOTE CODE: 1014
Tanya Ewing from Perth aims to reduce energy consumption by making it visible. Frustrated at not knowing how her behaviour impacted on her energy bills or the environment, she invented Ewgeco, a real-time monitor for electricity, water and gas. Its "traffic light" display reveals whether usage is normal, moderate or high. The consumer can then act to save money and reduce CO2 emissions.
