Last night on November 11th, we were delighted to co-host the eighth Irish Whiskey Awards alongside Powerscourt Distillery. Emerging and established Irish whiskey producers, whiskey clubs around Ireland, and whiskey lovers from all corners of this country gathered together at the Powerscourt Distillery in Co. Wicklow to celebrate all things Irish whiskey. The evening commenced with an incredible tour of the distillery and a drinks reception hosted by the Powerscourt Distillery co-founders and team.
Keynote speaker, Jack Teeling, Master Distiller and Founder for Teeling Whiskey Co presented the awards, which are now in their eighth year and spanned 12 categories.
Last year due to Covid-19 the Irish Whiskey Awards were unable to go ahead, however, producers and consumers rallied together to submit and bid on rare bottles on Celtic Whiskey’s sister site, Celtic Whiskey Auction. A total of €10,953 was raised for the event’s charity partner Mary’s Meals who help feed children in impoverished areas of the world.
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 were audited and verified by Serghios Florides, Owner and Editor-in-Chief of Irish Whiskey Magazine and William Lavelle of the Irish Whiskey Association.
The Irish Whiskey Awards were created by Celtic Whiskey Shop who are also behind Whiskey Live Dublin and Celtic Whiskey Fest. Managing Director Ally Alpine 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.”
Celtic Cask 35 won Best Irish Whiskey of the Year with extremely close competition from Dunvilles 18 Year Old Single Cask picking up a gold medal and the much-coveted second place. The newly released Writers Tears Inniskillen Icewine Finish had a great debut as the overall winner of Blended Limited Release. Irish Distillers had another great year, winning awards for Jameson Black Barrel (best Blended No Age Statement), Jameson Bow Street 18 Year Old (Best Blended With Age Statement), and Method & Madness Single Pot Still French Chestnut (Best Single Pot Still 11 and Under). In the malt categories, we saw awards go to The Irishman Single Malt Marsala Cask Finish (Best Single Malt 11 and Under). Teeling Whiskey Company in Dublin had another great year, winning an award for their Teeling Single Grain (Best Vintage 13 Year Old). This year also saw an award go to Samuel Gelston’s 15 Year Old Sherry Cask (best Single Malt 12 – 15 Year Old)
The winners of the 2021 Irish Whiskey Awards are as follows:
Single Malt 16 Years and Over
Gold: Dublin Liberties Keepers Coin Batch 2
Gold: Dubliner Old Fashioned Beer Cask
Single Pot Still 11 and Under
Single Pot Still 12 Year and Over (only two entrants)
Gold: The Irishman Founder’s Reserve Rum Finish
Blended With Age Statement
Gold: Pearse 7 Year Old Distillers Choice
Winner: The Irishman Single Malt Marsala Cask Finish
Gold: The Bridge Bethlehem Release
The events charity partner, Mary’s Meals — www.marysmeals.ie — feed over 1.5 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 was the event’s media partner and key sponsors include the Irish Whiskey Association and Tuath Irish Whiskey Glass.
A huge congratulations to all participants and roll on Irish Whiskey Awards 2022 #IWA22!
