Cooley Named Best Distillery in Europe for Third Consecutive Year
Cooley Distillery, Ireland’s only independent distillery, has been named European Distiller of the Year for the third consecutive year at the annual International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC). Cooley Distillery founder and chairman, John Teeling believes that Cooley’s achievements throughout the downturn are proof positive that the exporting and marketing of quality Irish produce will drive the recovery of the Irish economy.
Pictured (l to r): Jack Teeling, managing director, and John Teeling, chairman of Cooley Distillery.
“While the State and the economic commentators work to rearrange the chairs on the deck of the Titanic, the rest of us are getting on with what needs to be done to bring us back from the brink,” he says. “This award, Cooley’s for the third time in a row, demonstrates three things; the value of Irish businessmen building world class internationally competitive businesses; the indisputable fact that Irish workers can produce products of the highest quality and the ability of young Irish road warriors to market our products and gain market share in tough markets around the world.”
Cooley’s continuing international acclaim has been driven by its commitment to innovation and its focus on exporting its portfolio of award winning whiskeys to over 40 countries around the world. Despite the downturn, Cooley’s focus on export markets has enabled the company to continue to be profitable and it has recently invested Eur6.5m in the infrastructure of its two distilleries – Cooley Distillery in County Louth and the Old Kilbeggan Distillery in County Westmeath.
The latest accolade follows ten gold medals from the IWSC in July of this year and Cooley Distillery being named Distillery of the Year by Malt Advocate, a leading whisky magazine in North America.
