7th August, 2024 – Camus Cognac, Liquid Icons and the Gérard Basset Foundation are delighted to announce the winners of the 2024 Alexa Camus Golden Vines® Scholarships in Spirits. These scholarships have been created to improve inclusion in the spirits industry and will support the winners as they pursue their WSET in Spirits Courses, as well as inviting them to partake in a 5-day immersion at Camus’ headquarters and distillery in Cognac, learning first-hand from the Camus team.
18 applications were received from 11 countries, all of them of a very impressive quality. The Judges conducted interviews with a shortlist of candidates and decided to award Scholarships to the following applicants:
- Jenipher Adero Achola, Kenya
- Yevhenii Homeniuk, France
- Scott Lam, Malaysia
- Bhoomi Salvekar, UK
- Aman Shinde, India
Alexa Camus DipWSET, Vice President of the Board and namesake of the Scholarships, remarked:
“The Alexa Camus Scholarships, in partnership with Golden Vines®, empower five passionate scholars to redefine the world of spirits. Selected for their passion and personal impact potential, these scholars are the catalysts of a new era in the industry. It’s a testament to the enduring legacy of knowledge, and an invitation to a craft world of spirits, as rich and complex as the finest aged Cognac. The Scholars will have a part in shaping the future, one sip at a time.”
About Gérard Basset Foundation:
The Gérard Basset Foundation is the world’s leading charitable foundation dedicated to using the wine, spirits & hospitality industry as a vehicle for change. Founded in honour of the world-renowned sommelier Gérard Basset, whose openness, humour and passion inspires all that we do, we share Gérard’s belief that, with the right support, opportunity and nurturing, lives can be improved.
About Liquid Icons:
Liquid Icons is a fine wine research and content production company founded by two friends to “do stuff in wine” – the late, great Gérard Basset OBE MW MS and Lewis Chester DipWSET. We create first-class original content and research about the world’s greatest fine wines and spirits. Our work encompasses motion picture, industry research, recognition and celebration of wine and spirits excellence, charitable and fundraising activities, as well as educational initiatives.
About Camus Cognac:
Celebrating a living tradition five generations strong, CAMUS reflects today over 160 years of family entrepreneurship. Operating independently since 1863 we uphold the same uncompromising philosophy, one of craftsmen of an extraordinary passion, engaged in a relentless quest for the utmost refinement. We embrace our traditions whilst remaining at the forefront of science to consistently achieve new levels of aromatic intensity in our Cognacs. Perfectionists, we seek the utmost refinement with sincerity, passion and determination to produce the best Cognac in the World for the pleasure of those who appreciate the finest things in life.
In 2018, Cyril Camus, family entrepreneur and 5th generation owner of the House of Camus, founded Les Ateliers Camus. Unique in its genre Les Ateliers Camus is the birthplace of Camus’ most exclusive cognacs and the bespoke workshop marrying the finest eaux-de-vie with unique pieces of art designed and created by our craftsmen, innovative creations that relate a unique story and create strong emotions in the heart of those fortunate enough to possess them.
