Winners of the Irish Whiskey Awards 2013

Irish Whiskey is enjoying the strongest period of growth in popularity since the 1800′s. The number of Irish whiskey distilleries has doubled from three to six in the last few years and with several new Irish Whiskey start-ups in the pipeline, this could at least double again in the next few years.

This event was the first of the new Annual Irish Whiskey Awards

Exports are booming worldwide and there is huge investment being put into the industry. In the USA alone, 2012 saw Irish Whiskey sales grow by a whopping 22.5% making it the fastest growing spirits category in the country. The Irish Whiskey Awards were held on the Friday the 4th October, in the Old Jameson Distillery, in Dublin and I was delighted to see one of my own favourites, Redbreast from Midleton Distillery, winning the single pot still award.

These recently launched Irish Whiskey Awards intend to be a new annual event to celebrate and reward the dedication to quality and flavour that it takes to create world class whiskey. It has been organised by the Celtic Whiskey Shop, which recently won "Best Retailer Worldwide" in the World Whiskey Awards, along with members of the Irish Whiskey Society and the recently formed Celtic Whiskey Club.

First opened in June 2003, the Celtic Whiskey Shop has become a mecca for whiskey lovers.

This was the first year that the diversity and quality of the vibrant Irish Whiskey industry was nationally celebrated in Ireland. With whiskey drinkers broadening their tastes and consumers demanding more diversity and quality, new small craft distillers have embraced the opportunity to fill niche markets with small batch and high value brands.


The Irish Whiskey Awards were presented across eight categories and the winners are:

Best Blended Whiskey Under €50

Writers Tears Pot Still Blend from Writers Tears Whiskey Ltd., Co. Carlow

Runners up: Powers 12 Year Old Special Reserve, Teeling Small Batch

Best Blended Whiskey Over €50

Midleton Very Rare 2013 produced at Midleton Distillery, Co. Cork

Runners up: Jameson Gold Reserve and Jameson 18 Year Old Limited Reserve

Best Single Pot Still Whiskey

Redbreast 15 Year Old produced at Midleton Distillery, Co. Cork

Best Irish Single Cask Whiskey

Tyrconnell 14 Year Old Cask 204/96 produced at Cooley Distillery, Co. Louth

Runners up: Midleton Cask 1044, Bottled for the Loop at Dublin Airport

Best Irish Cask Strength Whiskey

Redbreast 12 Year-Old Cask Strength produced at Midleton Distillery, Co. Cork

Runners up: Writers Tears Cask strength and Connemara Turf Mor

Best Irish Single Malt Whiskey

Bushmills 21 Year Old produced at Bushmills Distillery, Co. Antrim

Runners up: Teeling Whiskey Company 21 Year Old and Bushmills 12 Year Old Distillery Reserve.

Irish Whiskey Bar Of The Year

L. Mulligan Grocers, Stoneybatter, Dublin 7

Runners up: The Palace Bar, WJ Kavanaghs and Against the Grain 

Irish Poitin Of The Year

Teeling Whiskey Company Poitin produced at Cooley Distillery, Co. Louth

Runners up: Glendalough Sherry Cask Poitin and Cooley Single Pot Still Poitin.

Overall Irish Whiskey of the Year

Redbreast 12 Year-Old Cask Strength produced at Midleton Distillery, Co. Cork

It will be interesting to see how many Irish Whiskies from the new breed of distillers will be in the running for the awards next year. For more information on Irish Whiskey and to buy all these Whiskies Online go to The Celtic Whiskey Shop Website

Zack

What's Your favourite Irish Whiskey? Leave your comments below.