Midlands Distilleries were well-represented among the many emerging and established Irish whiskey producers and patrons honoured at the 2023 Irish Whiskey Awards which took place at the Jameson Bow Street Distillery in Co. Dublin. The evening commenced with a tour of the distillery and a drinks reception hosted by Irish Distillers at the Jameson Distillery, Bow Street in Dublin.
Keynote speaker, Patrick Rigney, Founder for the The Shed Distillery, presented the awards, which are now in their 10th year and span 20 categories across Irish whiskeys and spirits.
Judging of this year’s awards took place earlier this August where organisers, 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.
Tullamore DEW in Offaly took home two awards on the night, with a win for their Tullamore DEW 14 Year Old Whiskey, as well as a Gold Medal for their Tullamore DEW Honey Whiskey Liqueur.
Lough Ree Distillery in Lanesboro, Longford, took home three awards, with two wins for their The Bridge – Galey Bay Single Grain Whiskey, and their Lough Ree 99 Vanilla Vodka, as well as a Gold Medal for their The Bridge – Inny Bay Single Grain Whiskey.
The Midlands winners of 2023 Irish Whiskey Awards are as follows:
Categories
Single Malt 12 – 15 Year Old
Winner: Tullamore DEW 14 Year Old
Single Grain
Winner: The Bridge – Galey Bay
Gold: The Bridge – Inny Bay
Whiskey Liqueur
Gold: Tullamore DEW Honey
Vodka
Winner: Lough Ree 99 Vanilla Vodka
Commenting on the awards, organiser Ally Alpine — Managing Director of Celtic Whiskey Shop and organiser of Whiskey Live Dublin, said
“We are very excited to be able to co-host this year’s awards at Jameson Bow Street Distillery. 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”.
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