Irish Distillers, maker of some of the world’s most enjoyed whiskeys, is proud to celebrate an outstanding awards season after receiving 224 medals from the world’s leading taste and design competitions throughout 2022.
The extraordinary haul of medals, an increase of 41 versus 2021, includes several of the top accolades in the Irish Whiskey Category for Irish Distillers’ diverse portfolio of brands, as well as a special achievement for Kevin O’Gorman who was bestowed the ‘Master Distiller of the Year’ award from Icons of Whiskey in March this year.
In this record-breaking year which saw sales of Jameson surpass 10 million cases globally for the first time ever, the whiskey’s array of medals, including a Gold in the International Spirits Challenge and the Irish Whiskey Masters, are a further testament to the quality and craftmanship of the world’s most awarded Irish whiskey.
Jameson Black Barrel took home Double Gold at the International Spirits Challenge and Gold at the Beverage Testing Institute, The Irish Whiskey Masters and The Design and Packaging Masters for its distinctive rich flavour and bottle design respectively. Meanwhile, ultra-premium Jameson Bow Street 18 Years was awarded a Platinum Medal (96 points) at the Beverage Testing Institute as well as Best of Class Blended Irish Whiskey at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
In luxury whiskeys, the pinnacle of Irish whiskey, Midleton Very Rare, Dair Ghaelach Kylebeg Wood was awarded a Platinum Medal at the Beverage Testing Institute, achieving an extraordinary score of 98/100. The range’s only permanent expression, Midleton Very Rare Barry Crockett Legacy, was also awarded a Platinum Medal (96 points).
This year’s annual release, Midleton Very Rare 2022, attained recognition across the board, taking home Gold at The Irish Whiskey Masters, Beverage Testing Institute (95 points), the International Spirits Challenge and the International Wine & Spirits Competition (95 points).
Remaining the world’s most awarded single pot still Irish whiskey, Redbreast secured 29 medals of Gold and above, including Platinum Medals for Redbreast 21 Year Old and Redbreast 27 Year Old from the Beverage Testing Institute and Gold Outstanding (98 points) for both expressions at the International Wine & Spirits Competition.
Elsewhere, the Redbreast range collected two Master medals at The Irish Whiskey Masters, won the Worldwide Whiskey Producer of the Year award at the International Wine & Spirits Competition, as well as the Irish Whiskey Trophy 2022 for Redbreast 27 Year Old, the highest accolade for an Irish whiskey at the competition. Continuing to wow the whiskey world, Redbreast 27 Year Old was crowned the Best of Class Pure Pot Still Whiskey and Best of Class Overall Irish Whiskey at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Redbreast also won the coveted Chairman’s Trophy (98 points) at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge for its acclaimed 21 Year Old expression.
Irish Distiller’s vanguard of innovation, the Micro Distillery in Midleton, continues to surprise and delight the spirits industry with award winning, hand-produced, experimental expressions. The Method and Madness collection, produced by the team at the Micro Distillery, won a Double Gold for its Single Grain expression at the International Spirits Challenge and a further 10 Gold Medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, The Gin Masters, Beverage Testing Institute and The Irish Whiskey Masters. Most recently, Method and Madness Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey finished in Japanese Chestnut Casks received the top accolade, the Master Medal, at the Design and Packaging Masters.
Whiskey lovers favourite Powers John’s Lane scored an impressive 95/100 Gold Medal at the International Wine & Spirits Competition followed by a further 4 Gold Medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, International Spirits Challenge, The Design and Packaging Masters and The Irish Whiskey Masters. In addition, Powers Three Swallow Release and Powers Gold Label both collected Gold Medals at The Irish Whiskey Masters and the International Spirits Challenge.
Following the return of Blue Spot to the historic Spot Family in 2021, the expression once again was well received by judges, winning 5 Gold Medals and a Platinum Medal (96 points) at the Beverage Testing Institute.
Beloved Red Spot won a prestigious place in the Ultimate Spirits Challenge Top 100 Spirits List, in addition to 3 Gold and 1 Double Gold Medal across the board. Other expressions in the range were equally celebrated, including a Double Gold for Green Spot Château Léoville Barton and Yellow Spot at the San Francisco Spirits Competition.
Last but by no means least, single malt Irish whiskey collection, Knappogue Castle, achieved a remarkable 13 Gold Medals and the highly coveted Chairman’s Trophy at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge for its 21 Year Old Cask Strength expression, in addition to a Platinum Medal at the Beverage Testing Institute.
Commenting on the success of the 2022 awards season, Paul Wickham, Irish Distillers Head of Production, says:
“It has been another outstanding awards season across the Irish Distillers portfolio. Being recognised by the most prestigious tasting competitions in t he world and securing some of the top accolades in the Irish whiskey category is a testament to the craft, tireless dedication and passion that our people put into creating our brands’, their distinctive flavours and striking designs. From our most iconic whiskeys like Jameson, to our more innovative and exemplary whiskeys such as Method and Madness, we will end 2022 by raising a glass to our collective success - Sláinte!”
