Irish Whiskey Award 2015 results

Flex

Hi guys, havent seen this posted anywhere, and with Whiskey Live this weekend... Irish Whiskey Awards for 2015 held last week. Winners below. Redbreast 21 YO voted best whiskey for second year in a row. Surprised at the single malts; have a bottle of Connemara Peated Single Malt at home and its very nice, but I find the 'peaty' smell and taste a bit much to have more than one or two, thats just down to my own taste of course! As far as Im aware Bushmills didnt take part (due to their change of ownership perhaps, as they were in it last year). Full list from the site here (Ive only copy-pasted the whiskeys, no gin, vodka, etc. below) Irish Whiskey Award Winners 2015

Im very fond of the Redbreast range, so happy out for them. While Im posting this Ill drop in a question; has anyone had Glendalough 13 YO Single Malt? I had a choice between a bottle of Glendalough 7 YO Single Malt or Teelings Single Malt a couple of weeks back and went with Teelings as I had read here to avoid Glendalough 7 YO and because theres a lot of hype around Teelings, but Im very underwhelmed by it (and didnt like their single grain either). Id still like to try another Irish single malt that doesnt have the peaty taste like Connemara does or a single grain though, could anyone suggest one (that doesnt exceed ~€50 preferably), please?

Irish Whiskey of the Year (Overall winner)

• Glencairn Trophy Winner - Redbreast 21 Year-Old

Irish Single Pot Still Whiskey

• Trophy Winner - Redbreast 21 Year Old

• Gold Medal - Midleton Barry Crockett Legacy
• Gold Medal - Powers Signature Release

Irish Single Malt Whiskey (12 Years & Younger)

• Trophy Winner - Connemara Single Malt

• Gold Medal - Tullamore Dew 10 Year Old Single Malt
• Gold Medal - Teeling Single Malt


Irish Single Malt Whiskey (13 Years & Older)

• Trophy Winner - Knappogue Castle Vintage 2000 Batch 2 Mongeard Mugneret Burgundy Cask
• Gold Medal - The Palace Bar Three Generations Batch 14 Year-Old

• Gold Medal - Glendalough 13 Year Old Single Malt

Irish Blended Whiskey (RRP of €60 or more)

• Trophy Winner - Midleton Very Rare 2015

• Gold Medal -Jameson Gold Reserve

• Gold Medal - Jameson 18 Year Old

Irish Blended Whiskey (RRP of less than €60)

• Trophy Winner - Tullamore Dew 12 Year Old

• Gold Medal - Jameson Select Reserve Black Barrel
• Gold Medal - Writers Tears Copper Pot


Irish Single Cask Whiskey

• Trophy Winner - An Púcán Teeling Whiskey Single Malt
• Gold Medal - Celtic Cask Trí Déag

• Gold Medal - Celtic Cask Dó Dhéag

Irish Cask Strength Whiskey

• Trophy Winner - Tullamore Dew Phoenix

• Gold Medal - Midleton Dair Ghaelach

• Gold Medal - Redbreast 12 Year Old Cask Strength

Irish Single Grain Whiskey

• Trophy Winner - Kilbeggan Single Grain
• Gold Medal - Glendalough Single Grain
• Gold Medal - Teeling Single Grain

Irish Whiskey Barrel Aged Irish Craft Beer

• Trophy Winner - O'Hara's Barrel Aged Series
• Gold Medal - Independent Whiskey Stout
• Gold Medal - Franciscan Well Jameson Stout

lord lucan

Personally I'd take the Glendalough 7yo over the 13yo and over the Teeling Single Malt. The Teeling has almost a bit too much going on in it tbh, there's Port, sherry, madeira and cab sav casks used to finish elements of it and nothing in particular rises to the fore. The Tullamore 10yo single malt is a great example of how it's done right.

The Glendalough 7yo just tastes better imo, can't put a finger on exactly why but the 7yo is far better than the 13yo.

All imo of course.

schemingbohemia

Fascinating that they actually have a barrel aged craft beer section, great to see!

I loved the Black Barrel, had a taste at a couple of festivals, got a bottle for the father-in-law, just wondering if there is anything similar out there? Doesn't have to be Irish.

Zaph

schemingbohemia wrote: »

Fascinating that they actually have a barrel aged craft beer section, great to see!

It's an interesting category to include, although I'm surprised at the Franciscan Well stout picking up a gold medal. It was a very nice stout, but I really couldn't tell if it had been anywhere near a whiskey barrel.

suicide_circus

Beware "awards"...the industry slapping itself on the back and printing stickers to go on the product to shift units. Drink what you like.

BeerNut

suicide_circus wrote: »

Beware "awards"...the industry slapping itself on the back and printing stickers to go on the product to shift units.

It's worth pointing out that the Irish Whiskey Awards aren't that.

I try to avoid mentioning whiskey awards, in general. They are too often profit-driven, cash-for-medals wheezes designed to deceive consumers.

Not so the Irish Whiskey Awards, presented last night at the Teeling Whiskey Distillery in Dublin. These are organised with scrupulous fairness by Ally Alpine of the Celtic Whiskey Shop. No fee is charged to enter a product (though bottles for judging must be supplied, of course) and profits from ticket sales for the awards evening go to the charity, Mary's Meals.

-- Liquid Irish

11214

Stupid question but do they taste these blind or do they know what they are drinking?

Flex

11214 wrote: »

Stupid question but do they taste these blind or do they know what they are drinking?

They blind taste everything

From Beernut's link there;

They are judged entirely blind by members of the Irish Whiskey Society and the Celtic Whiskey Club. In other words, those weighing in are routine drinkers of the stuff, au fait with the various styles, keep up with new releases, and can sort the wheat from the chaff.