The Irish Whiskey Awards 2021 winners have been announced.
Details
A statement announcing the winners said, "Emerging and established Irish whiskey producers and patrons were honoured this evening at the 2021 Irish Whiskey Awards which took place at the Powerscourt Distillery in Co. Wicklow. The evening commenced with a tour of the distillery and a drinks reception hosted by the Powerscourt Distillery co-founders and team.
"Keynote speaker, Jack Teeling, Founder and Manager for Teeling Whiskey presented the awards, which are now in their eighth year and span over 12 categories.
"Judging of this year's awards took place earlier this Summer where organisers, Celtic Whiskey, posted out several hundred, blind tasting packs to members of the Celtic Whiskey Club, Irish Whiskey Society - Dublin and Dingle, Cork Whiskey Society, Waterford Whiskey Society, Kilkenny Whiskey Guild, Ennis Whiskey Club, 1875 Whiskey Club and Belfast Whiskey Club. All results have been audited and verified by Serghios Florides, Owner and Editor-in-Chief of Irish Whiskey Magazine and William Lavelle from the Irish Whiskey Association.
"Celtic Cask 1999 - Tríocha a Cúig - 35 won the coveted Best Irish Whiskey of the Year prize with extremely close competition from Dunvilles 18 Year Old Single Cask which picked up a gold medal and the much-coveted second place.
"The winners of the 2021 Irish Whiskey Awards are as follows:
"Overall Winner- Irish Whiskey of the Year 2021
"Best Irish Whiskey of the Year – Celtic Cask 1999 - Tríocha a Cúig - 35
"Categories
"Single Pot Still 11 and Under
"Winner: Method & Madness Single Pot Still French Chestnut
"Gold: Busker Single Pot Still
"Gold: Teeling Single Pot Still
"Single Pot Still 12 Year and Over (only two entrants)
"Winner: Powers Johns Lane
"Gold: Redbreast 12 Year Old
"Blended Limited Release
"Winner: Writers’ Tears Inniskillen Icewine Cask Finish
"Gold: Dubliner Old Fashioned Beer Cask
"Gold: Eiregold Special Reserve
"Blended No Age Statement
"Winner: Jameson Black Barrel
"Gold: Sailors Home The Journey
"Gold: The Irishman Founder’s Reserve Rum Finish
"Blended With Age Statement
"Winner: Jameson Bow Street 18 Year Old
"Gold: Pearse 7 Year Old Distillers Choice
"Gold: Tullamore DEW 12 Year Old
"Single Malt 11 and Under
"Winner: The Irishman Single Malt Marsala Cask Finish
"Gold: Writers Tears Red Head
"Gold: Jack Ryan Haddington
"Single Malt 12-15 Years Old
"Winner: Gelston's 15 YO Sherry Cask
"Gold: Method & Madness Single Malt
"Gold: The Irishman 12-Year-Old Single Malt
"Single Malt 16 Years and Over
"Winner: The Irishman 17-Year-Old Single Malt
"Gold: Tullamore DEW 18 Year Old
"Gold: Dublin Liberties Keepers Coin Batch 2
"Single Grain
"Winner: Teeling Single Grain (Vintage 13YO)
"Gold: The Bridge Bethlehem Release
"Gold: Method & Madness Single Grain
"Single Cask
"Winner: Celtic Cask 1999 - Tríocha a Cúig - 35
"Gold: Dunville’s 18 Year Old Cask 989
"Gold: The Irishman Peated Red Ale Cask
"Cask Strength
"Winner: Dunvilles 12 Year Old PX Cask Strength
"Gold: Redbreast 27 Year Old
"Gold: Writers’ Tears Cask Strength 2021
"New Irish Whiskey
"Winner: Shortcross Single Malt
"Gold: Connacht Whiskey Single Malt
"Gold: Teeling Black Pitts
"Commenting on the awards, organiser Ally Alpine - Managing Director of Celtic Whiskey Shop and organiser of Whiskey Live Dublin - said, 'We are delighted to celebrate the excellence and innovation in the Irish Whiskey industry this evening all whilst raising funds for our incredible charity partner Mary's Meals. Tonight's event will feed 572 pupils at Kapatamoyo school in Zambia every day for a year.'
"The events charity partner, Mary's Meals - www.marysmeals.ie - feed two million children everyday whilst ensuring they attend school. Tickets for the awards were priced at €60 and all proceeds from the night will be donated to sponsor the Kapatomoyo School in Zambia.
"Drinks Industry Ireland were the event's media partner as they have been for many years and key sponsors include the Irish Whiskey Association and Tuath Irish Whiskey Glass.
"The majority of the award winning whiskeys named above are available for purchase from Celtic Whiskey Shop on Dawson Street or online at www.celticwhiskeyshop.com."
A separate statement said, "Last night, the Irish Whiskey Awards, organised by Celtic Whiskey Store, celebrated the best of the best in the sumptuous surrounds of Powerscourt Distillery, home of Fercullen Irish Whiskey in Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow.
"The Powerscourt Distillery team were delighted to welcome distillers from the 30+ Irish whiskey distilleries around Ireland to their home. Congratulations to all the winners last night and we look forward to an exciting year ahead for the Irish whiskey industry. "
McConnell's Irish Whisky Strikes Gold In Poland
In other Irish whiskey award news, McConnell's Irish Whisky 5 Year Old Blend has won a gold medal at the prestigious Warsaw Spirits Competition.
A statement announcing the news said, "McConnell's Irish Whisky 5 Year Old Blend has won a Gold Medal at the prestigious Warsaw Spirits Competition. The Warsaw gold medal award signals the entry of McConnell's into the all-important Polish market via a new partnership in the region with Navigator - Spirit Depot.
"McConnell's, founded in 1776 and now owned by Belfast Distillery Company has re-emerged strongly in the last 18 months supported by its new 'Restoring The Legend' campaign. The result has been increased distribution in local and international markets, with McConnell's attracting widespread acclaim for its taste and diversity. This was the 4th annual Warsaw Spirits Competition and each category was judged through blind taste testing with samples coming from 25 different countries. McConnell's was scored for its aroma, taste, finish and overall impression with the whisky scoring 86.5 out of 100 points.
"Commenting on the accolade, Belfast Distillery Company's CEO, John Kelly, said, 'Our 5 Year Old Blended Irish Whisky, is a fine marriage of Irish malt and grain whiskies which have been aged in carefully selected bourbon casks to create a unique and exceptional flavour profile. A lot of time, care and craftsmanship has gone into creating this super-premium product. It is fantastic that our whisky is already taking its place among some of the most established brands globally and being recognised for its innovative flavour which contains multiple complimentary undertones including vanilla sweetness, smoky ripe fruits and pepper spice.
"'McConnell's has deep roots in Belfast with the distillery successfully running for 125 years from its foundation through to the 1930s which was a very difficult time for the whisky industry. We are proud to be re-emerging and thriving not only in Belfast but globally and I am delighted that Poland is now part of our expanding international distribution network.'
"The distribution will be undertaken in partnership with Navigator - Spirit Depot, a distributor which has quickly established as a leading player in the Polish consumer market.
"John continued, 'We have now secured a long-term partnership with Navigator - Spirit Depot in Poland and I am very impressed by their knowledge, trade relationship and passion for quality product. We are thrilled to partner with them in Poland.'
"Speaking on behalf of Navigator - Spirit Depot, Grzegorz Suroweiecki added, 'We are excited to have secured distribution for McConnell's Irish Whisky in Poland. We have seen the growth of the Irish Whiskey category over the last number of years and wanted to find the right strategic relationship. We are confident that we have done just that through our partnership with Belfast Distillery Company and McConnell's Irish Whisky.'"
© 2021 Hospitality Ireland – your source for the latest industry news. Article by Dave Simpson. Click subscribe to sign up for the Hospitality Ireland print edition.
