Representatives of Connacht Irish Whiskey Distillery accepting the award for Best Irish Whiskey of the Year

The Irish Whiskey Association convened at the Jameson Bow Street Distillery in Dublin on November 29 to reveal the 2023 Irish Whiskey Awards champions. With the presence of over 40 distilleries, Ireland has cemented its position in the global whiskey industry in the past ten years and is currently leading the fastest-growing whiskey category globally.

The event kicked off with a distillery tour and a drinks reception, courtesy of Irish Distillers at the Jameson Distillery, Bow Street in Dublin. Patrick Rigney, the founder of The Shed Distillery and the Master of Ceremonies and keynote speaker, presented the award. The awards, now in their 10th year, comprise 20 categories across Irish whiskeys and spirits and are recognized as the ultimate evaluation of Irish whiskey globally.

The determination of this year’s awardees happened earlier in August when the organizer, Celtic Whiskey of Celtic Whiskey Shop Dawson Street, organized several blind tastings at Dublin’s Flowing Tide pub on Abbey Street. Extra tastings were scheduled across Ireland with members of various whiskey societies including Irish Whiskey Society — Dublin and Dingle, Cork Whiskey Society, Waterford Whiskey Society, Kilkenny Whiskey Guild, Ennis Whiskey Club, 1875 Whiskey Club, Carlow Whiskey Society, Belfast Whiskey Club, and the Aviator’s Whiskey Society, along with a select group of international whiskey judges.

Connacht Irish Whiskey Distillery, Exclusive Cask Strength, Single Malt Irish Whiskey, 47% ABV, 750 ml.

The coveted Best Irish Whiskey of the Year prize was awarded to Connacht Irish Whiskey Distillery, Exclusive Cask Strength, Single Malt Irish Whiskey, 47% ABV, 750 ml.

Connaacht’s single malt whiskey is a triple-distilled whiskey produced at Connacht’s distillery in Ballina, County Mayo, on northwest Ireland’s rugged Atlantic coast. The distillery is situated where the River Moy meets the Atlantic Ocean on a stretch of Ireland’s wild and picturesque coast.

The distillery was founded by Master Distiller Robert Cassell in 2016, along with a team of Irish whiskey entrepreneurs who saw the potential of northwest Ireland’s unique climate to produce an iconic Irish whiskey. The region is characterized by dramatic swings in atmospheric pressure, producing a flavorful, heavily extracted whiskey. The use of custom-designed stills further enhances the unique character of the distillery’s whiskey.

Irish Whiskey Categories

Single Pot Still 11 and Under

Winner: Drumshanbo Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey Pinot Noir Cask

Gold: Jameson Single Pot Still

Gold: Powers Three Swallows

Single Pot Still 12 Years and Over

Winner: Red Spot 15 Year Old

Gold: Yellow Spot 12 Year Old

Gold: Redbreast 15 Year Old

Single Malt 11 Years and Younger

Winner: Jack Ryan Whiskey 5-Year-Old Oloroso Finish Cask Strength

Gold: Dunville’s 10 Year Old Pedro Ximenez Cask

Gold: The Irishman Legacy

Single Malt 12 – 15 Year Old

Winner: Tullamore DEW 14 Year Old

Gold: Knappogue Castle 12 Year Old

Gold: The Irishman 12 Year Old

Single Malt 16 Years & Older

Winner: The Irishman 17 Year Old

Gold: Dunville’s 21-Year-Old Palo Cortado Cask

Gold: McConnell’s Irish Whisky 20 Year Old Port Finish Single Cask

Blended No Age Statement

Winner: Writers’ Tears Double Oak

Gold: Jameson Crested

Gold: Powers Gold Label

Blended Age Statement

Winner: McConnell’s Irish Whisky Sherry Cask (5 years)

Gold: The Dead Rabbit Irish Whiskey

Gold: Clan Colla 13 Year Old

Blended Limited Release

Winner: Writers’ Tears Japanese Cask Finish

Gold: Dunville’s 1808 “Casked in Bond” Dick Mack’s Honey & Hemp IPA Cask, Cask No. 1451

Gold: Writer’s Tears Inniskillin Ice Wine

Peated Irish Whiskey

Winner: Micil Single Cask Release with Garavan’s Bar

Gold: Killowen Barántúil Single Cask KD202

Gold: Celtic Cask 47 Daichead a Seacht 2016 Peated Oloroso

Single Cask 11 Years & Younger

Winner: Celtic Cask 44 Daichead a Ceathair 2014 PX Cask Finish

Gold: Dunville’s PX 11 Year Old Single Malt Cask Strength

Gold: Dunville’s 11 Year Old Palo Cortado Cask Strength

Single Cask 12 Years & Older

Winner: Dunville’s 22 Year Old Palo Cortado Cask No. 1204

Gold: Dunville’s 20 Year Old Oloroso Cask Strength Cask No. 990 56.2% ABV

Gold: Dunville’s 21 Year Old PX Sherry Cask Finish – James J. Fox Single Cask

Cask Strength

Winner: Connacht Distillery Exclusive Cask Strength

Gold: Redbreast 12 Year Old Cask Strength

Gold: Dunville’s 20 Year Old PX Cask Strength, Cask 1644, 55% ABV

Single Grain

Winner: The Bridge – Galey Bay

Gold: The Bridge – Inny Bay

Gold: Method and Madness Single Grain

New Irish Whiskey

Winner: Pearse Genesis Irish Whiskey

Gold: Fercullen Single Malt

Gold: Fercullen Estate Series ‘The Gates’

Also recognized in other spirit categories were:

Whiskey Liqueur

Winner: The Dubliner Honey

Gold: The Whistler Honey Liqueur

Gold: Tullamore DEW Honey

Cream Liqueur

Winner: St Patrick’s Cappucino Irish Cream

Gold: Two Stacks Double Irish Cream Liqueur

Gold: Coole Swan Irish Cream Liqueur

Poitin

Winner: Straw Boys Poitín

Gold: Micil Heritage Poitín

Gold: Bán Cask Aged Poitín

Vodka

Winner: Lough Ree 99 Vanilla Vodka

Gold: Míl Vodka

Gold: Istil Vanilla Vodka

Gin

Winner: Garnish Island Gin

Gold: Micil Gin

Gold: Glendalough Wild Botanical Gin

Best Other Irish Spirit

Winner: Stillgarden Café O’Maro

Gold: Stillgarden Berrissimo

Gold: Rebel City Distillery Series – Absinthe

In regards to the awards, the organizer and founder, Ally Alpine who happens to be the Managing Director of Celtic Whiskey Shop, and the anchor behind Whiskey Live Dublin, shared the following statement:

We anticipate a grand celebration by co-hosting this year’s awards at the Jameson Bow Street Distillery. The IWA’s radiate an air of festivity as we acknowledge the excellence and innovation of the Irish Whiskey and Spirits domain. Our additional aim is to gather funds for our impressive charity associate, Mary’s Meals.

There are more than 64 million primary school-age children out of school around the world. In order to survive, they have to work or beg. Even if they do make it into the classroom, hunger affects their ability to learn. The money raised through the Irish Whiskey Awards each year ensures that 629 children are fed for a whole school year at the Kapatamoyo school in Zambia.

The event’s charity partner, Mary’s Meals (www.marysmeals.ie), feeds two million children every day whilst ensuring they attend school.

Drinks Industry Ireland was the event’s media partner, as they have been for many years, and key sponsors include the Irish Whiskey Association and Label Tech Tuath Irish Whiskey Glass.

Most of the award winners are available in the United States. They can also be ordered directly from the Celtic Whiskey Shop in Dublin.