Emerging and established Irish whiskey producers and patrons were honoured this year 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.
The Judges:
The Verifiers:
All results were been audited and verified by Serghios Florides, Owner and Editor-in-Chief of Irish Whiskey Magazine and William Lavelle from the Irish Whiskey Association.
The Results Are In…
Overall Winner 2021:
Celtic Cask 1999 Tríocha a Cúig 35
This double distilled whiskey was initially matured in a first fill bourbon cask for 18 years before being partly decanted in March 2018 for a further period of maturation in an old 125 litre solera sherry cask that previously matured oloroso sherry.
Single Pot Still 11Yrs 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+:
WINNER: Powers John’s Lane
Gold: Redbreast 12 Year Old
Blended Limited Release:
WINNER: Writers’ Tears Inniskillin Ice Wine 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 Cask Strength
Gold: Pearse Lyons 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-Year-Old 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 Tríocha a Cúig 1999 Vintage
Gold: Dunvilles 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
