FDBusiness.com

The diversity and quality of Irish Whiskey were celebrated at the second annual Irish Whiskey Awards. The event, which was organised by the Celtic Whiskey Shop, showcased and honoured this rapidly growing indigenous Irish Industry over 17 categories.

The judging panel consisting of members from the Celtic Whiskey Club and the Irish Whiskey Society chose the winners based on blind tastings. Redbreast 21 Year Old Whiskey was awarded Overall Best Whiskey 2014 while Dick Mack’s in Dingle won The Whiskey Bar of the Year.

Following the success of the inaugural Irish Whiskey Awards in 2013, the number of categories increased from 9 to 17 this year to include new awards for Best Irish Liqueur, Irish Whiskey Barrel Aged Craft Beer and four provincial awards for Irish Whiskey Bar of the Year. All categories awarded both an overall winner with a trophy and the runner up was awarded a gold medal, which in turn will be used as promotion for and by the respective winners.

Aoife Keane, Head of the Irish Whiskey Association, which was established in 2014 to represent the rapidly expanding sector, comments: “Fifteen years ago,1.5m cases of Irish whiskey were being sold around the world and there werefour distilleries on the island. Since then, Irish whiskey has been the fastest growing premium spirit category in the world, selling 6.2m cases last year. This year, we have over 20 new distillery projects in the pipeline; 5,000 people are employed directly and indirectly and more than 500,000 tourists go through our visitor centres annually. Irish whiskey is one of Ireland’s fastest growing exports, experiencing 220% growth in the last ten years. We rightly aspire to regain our position as the largest whiskey category in the world.”

The Irish Whiskey Award winners for 2014 are:

Overall Best Irish Whiskey 2014 – Redbreast 21 Year Old Whiskey

Irish Single Pot Whiskey – Redbreast 21 Year Old Whiskey

Irish Single Malt Whiskey (12 years &younger) – Jack Ryans 12 Year Old Whiskey

Irish Single Malt Whiskey (13 years and older) – Teeling 21 Year Old Whiskey

Irish Blended Whiskey (RRP of less than €60) – Powers 12 Year Old Whiskey

Irish Blended Whiskey (RRP of more than €60) – Jameson Gold Reserve

Irish Single Cask Whiskey – Celtic Cask Naoi

Irish Cask Strength Whiskey – Redbreast Cask Strength

Irish Single Grain Whiskey – Teeling Whiskey Single Grain

Irish Whiskey Bar of the Year (Leinster) – Palace Bar, Dublin

Irish Whiskey Bar of the Year (Munster) – Dick Mack’s Bar, Dingle

Irish Whiskey Bar of the Year (Connaught) – Garavan’s Bar, Galway

Irish Whiskey Bar of the Year (Ulster) – Duke of York, Belfast

Irish Whiskey Bar of the Year (International) – Whisky and Alement, Melbourne, Australia

Irish Whiskey Bar of the Year (Overall) – Dick Mack’s, Dingle, Co. Kerry

Irish Poitin – Teeling Whiskey Company Poitin

Irish Liqueur – Coole Swan

Irish Whiskey Barrel Aged Irish Craft Beer – Franciscan Well Jameson Stout.

CAPTION:

Jack Teeling with the Teeling Whiskey Company’s three awards.