At the end of November, The Irish Whiskey Association announced the 2023 Irish Whiskey Awards winners. Now having over 40 distilleries, Ireland has reemerged as a powerhouse in the international whiskey industry and is now the fastest-growing whiskey making country in the world.

Whiskey tastings were conducted throughout Ireland with members of the Irish Whiskey Society. Events took place in Dublin, Dingle, Cork, Waterford, Kilkenny, Ennis, Carlow and Belfast. There was also a select group of international whiskey judges.

The 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.

Connacht’s single malt whiskey is a triple-distilled whiskey produced at their distillery in Ballina, County Mayo. 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 that contributes to producing a flavourful, heavily extracted whiskey. The use of custom-designed stills further enhances the unique character of the whiskey.

Other winners included:

Single Pot Still 11 Years 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’

Many of the award winners are available in the U.S. and Canada. They can also be ordered directly from the Celtic Whiskey Shop in Dublin, Ireland.

Happy New Year!

Sláinte mhaith