At the BBC Radio Food and Farming Awards 2006 in Birmingham on Friday night, he won the accolade of Best Food Producer 2006 in the same week as he was crowned UKTV Local Food Hero for Scotland.
Nominees from all over Britain were put forward by their customers, with a shortlist of four being drawn up. Nigel Slater and Radio 4's Sheila Dillon had visited Iain at Auchmithie earlier in the month to sample the delights of the Smokie fresh from the barrel.
As the son of Arbroath Smokie guru, Bob Spink, who only a few years ago was successful in gaining European food name protection for the Smokie, and the fifth generation of the R.R. Spink dynasty, the mantle of champion for the product is worthy and transfers easily, but Iain is quick to recognise the part played by friends and family in his success.
"I owe a great deal to my good friend, Alex Spink, and I do appreciate all his support. Su, my partner, has become the champion Smokie bone-remover I am sure, and I am grateful to my uncle David, who so often stands in to cover for me when I have conflicting dates, and my dad, of course, for his ready help and advice: I am grateful to them all."
Iain is passionate about the Arbroath Smokie, and believes that the product deserves to be taken to a wider audience in this way, to allow as many people as possible to enjoy the sight, smell and flavour of a Smokie made in the traditional way, and at its very best. He has come a long way in five years, since working at a few Highland Games during his summer holidays to pay his way through a BSc degree. Although successful in his studies, Iain has carved out a niche market, with the increased public awareness undoubtedly benefiting the other producers in the town.
Gordon Ramsay presented Iain with his award at the ceremony. "It was a truly memorable evening for me," Iain told the Herald. "There were around 250 guests, and to talk to them and hear them praising my Arbroath Smokies was rather pleasing!
"No-one wants to overestimate their chances of winning, therefore I had not rehearsed any sort of a winner's speech! Once I got up on the stage and saw who was there in the front row alone, I realised just what an event this was.
"I am absolutely delighted to have won this award, as this truly was a nationwide competition and to finish up best in Britain makes me feel very proud. I would like to thank my customers for nominating me, as it is they who put me there in the first place, and I am indebted to them".
Celebrities in attendance at the event included Ainsley Harriott, Sophie Grigson, Paul Rankin, Jamie Oliver and Oz Clarke.
The programme can be heard on Radio 4 download via internet as it was broadcast on Sunday and repeated on Monday. And this week's edition of The Food Programme on Radio 4 has some of the interview done at Auchmithie with Sheila Dillon and Nigel Slater and Nigel cooks a dish using Iain's Arbroath Smokies.