Connacht Irish Whiskey Distillery in Ballina, Co Mayo was awarded the top prize at the 2023 Irish Whiskey Awards.
The distillery took home the Best Irish Whiskey of the Year prize for their Connacht Irish Whiskey Distillery Exclusive Cask Strength.
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The 2023 Irish Whiskey Awards, which recognizes emerging and established Irish whisky makers, was held at the Jameson Bow Street Distillery in Dublin in November 2023.
Keynote speaker and Master of Ceremonies Patrick Rigney, Founder of The Shed Distillery, presented the awards. In its tenth year, the Irish Whiskey Awards spans 20 categories across Irish whiskeys and spirits.
Judging of this year’s awards took place in August where organizers, Celtic Whiskey of Celtic Whiskey Shop Dawson Street, hosted several blind tastings in Dublin’s Flowing Tide pub on Abbey Street and have been coordinating other tastings throughout Ireland with members of the 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.
Irish Whiskey Awards 2023 at the Jameson Distillery!
A fantastic evening was spent celebrating the Irish Whiskey & Spirits industry. A special congratulations to @connachtwhiskey for taking home IRISH WHISKEY OF THE YEAR 2023 for their Distillery Exclusive Cask Strength! pic.twitter.com/vAQsKo4w5K
— Irish Whiskey Awards (@WhiskeyAwardsIE) November 30, 2023
“We are very excited to be able to co-host this year’s awards at Jameson Bow Street Distillery," said Ally Alpine, Managing Director of Celtic Whiskey Shop and organizer of Whiskey Live Dublin, on the night.
"The IWA’s are always a fantastic night celebrating the excellence and innovation in the Irish Whiskey and Spirits industry, all whilst raising funds for our incredible charity partner 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."
Drinks Industry Ireland were the event’s media partner. Key sponsors include the Irish Whiskey Association and Label Tech Tuath Irish Whiskey Glass.
Congratulations to @ConnachtDistillery for winning Best Overall Whiskey of the Year with their Connacht Distillery Exclusive Cask Strength at #IWA23! #irishwhiskey #whiskeyoftheyear pic.twitter.com/4ttFIOCVsW
— Irish Whiskey Awards (@WhiskeyAwardsIE) November 29, 2023
Winners of the 2023 Irish Whiskey Awards
Overall Winner- Irish Whiskey of the Year 2023
- Best Irish Whiskey of the Year – Connacht Distillery Exclusive Cask Strength
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
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 Year 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'
* Originally published in Nov 2023, updated in June 2024.
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