Celtic Cask 1999-Tríocha a Cúig is Irish Whiskey of the Year
From left: Teeling Whiskey Founder & Manager Jack Teeling presents the Irish Whiskey of the Year Award to Ally Alpine with William Lavelle, Head of the Irish Whiskey Association at last night’s Awards in Powerscourt Distillery.
Emerging and established Irish whiskey producers and patrons were honoured at the Awards which took place at the Powerscourt Distillery, Enniskerry, in County Wicklow.
The evening commenced with a tour of the distillery and a drinks reception hosted by the Powerscourt Distillery’s Co-founders and team.
Keynote speaker Jack Teeling, Founder and Manager of Teeling Whiskey, presented the awards, now in their eighth year.
He spoke of the need for whiskey producers to focus on adding to the Irish whiskey category as Irish whiskey expanded “into the premium space occupied by Scotch, American and Canadian whiskies”.
Later, the Head of the Irish Whiskey Association William Lavelle pointed out that the winning whiskey from Celtic Whiskey “had got the highest score from all 56 judges and was therefore the ‘undisputed champion'”.
Judging of this year’s awards took place earlier this Summer where the 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.
All results were audited and verified by Serghios Florides, Owner and Editor-in-Chief of Irish Whiskey Magazine and the Irish Whiskey Association’s William Lavelle.
Commenting on the awards, Organiser Ally Alpine – Managing Director of Celtic Whiskey Shop and Organiser of Whiskey Live Dublin – said, “We’re delighted to celebrate the excellence and innovation in the Irish Whiskey industry this evening all whilst raising funds for our incredible charity partner Mary’s Meals. Tonight’s event will feed 572 pupils at Kapatamoyo school in Zambia every day for a year.”
Mary’s Meals – www.marysmeals.ie – feeds two million children every day whilst ensuring they attend school. Tickets for the awards were priced at €60 and all proceeds from the night will be donated to sponsor the Kapatomoyo School in Zambia.
Drinks Industry Ireland magazine is the event’s media partner as it has been for many years and key sponsors include the Irish Whiskey Association and Tuath Irish Whiskey Glass.
The majority of the abovenamed award-winning whiskeys are available for purchase from Celtic Whiskey Shop on Dawson Street or online at www.celticwhiskeyshop.com.
The Awards span over 12 categories.
Overall Winner – Irish Whiskey of the Year 2021 & Best Irish Whiskey of the Year – Celtic Cask 1999 – Tríocha a Cúig – 35 from Celtic Whiskey
Categories
Single Pot Still 11 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 and Over (only two entrants)
Winner: Powers Johns Lane
Gold: Redbreast 12 Year-Old
Blended Limited Release
Winner: Writers’ Tears Inniskillen Icewine 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
Gold: Pearse 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 13 Year-Old)
Gold: The Bridge Bethlehem Release
Gold: Method & Madness Single Grain
Single Cask
Winner: Celtic Cask 1999 – Tríocha a Cúig – 35
Gold: Dunville’s 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
Full report on the awards in the next issue.
