The Irish Whiskey Masters 2025 results
Irish whiskey has had its travails in recent years, but given the excellent standard of its producers’ output, its upward trajectory seems certain.
After a difficult 12 months in 2023, the market was looking up for Irish whiskey in 2024. Last year’s exports mostly reversed the 14% decline seen in 2023 with a 13% bounceback to €1 billion (US$1.03bn), Bord Bia disclosed. Growth was seen in all markets, except for the UK which experienced a 10% decline – although that was after ‘strong growth’ in 2023.
The sensible conclusion, then, is Irish whiskey is in rude health. This made for an exciting tasting at the annual Irish Whiskey Masters competition, as the judges sampled entries blind to determine quality, trends and vibrant styles across the category.
Six sets of judges were required to cover the extensive list of entries. Karen Taylor, director of Whisky For Everyone, chaired a panel with Caroline Roddis, freelance drinks writer. A second team comprised Richard Legg, founder of Distilled Knowledge, and Antony Moss, independent sustainability consultant, who chaired.
Bryan Rodriguez-Curtis, spirits buyer at Bottle Apostle, chaired a third group. He was joined by spirits writer Ian Wisniewski, and Dan Greifer, bar supervisor at London’s Black Parrot. Ruchira Neotia, drinks consultant and founder of Ruchira’s Table, also acted as a panel chair for the tasting. Her group consisted of Vicky Ilankovan, executive director of non-profit Equal Measures, and Emily Webster, senior PR and marketing manager at The Whisky Exchange.
David T Smith, spirits writer, consultant, and co-founder of the Craft Distilling Expo, chaired a team made up of Rosie Milsom, spirits judge, and Miona Madsen, content writer for The Spirits Business and the drinks business. The final team, chaired by Nicola Carruthers, deputy editor of The Spirits Business, was formed of Malika Kirchel-Sharper, bar manager at Boisdale, the Canary Wharf venue for the day’s tasting.
As is customary, the tasting started by exploring whiskeys priced in the Blended – Standard segment of up to £30 (US$40). Two Golds and four Silver medals were unearthed, with Gold awards given to Kirker Shamrock Irish Whiskey and Jameson Triple Triple Chestnut Edition. Kirker Shamrock delivered “creamy sweetness, with vanilla and honey” making it “approachable and easy-drinking”. Jameson Triple Triple Chestnut Edition was described as “rich and robust, with hints of caramelised fruit, red apples and pear”.
As the price bracket expanded to Blended – Premium (£31-£45), a swathe of Gold medals were awarded – eight to be precise. Half of these went to iterations of Jameson, including Jameson Caskmates Stout Edition. Greifer noted a “chocolate richness” on the palate from the influence of the stout cask, while Wisniewski praised the whiskey’s “harmonious flavours”.
Belfast Distillery Company collected two of the remaining Gold medals for “smooth, well-rounded, with a slightly dry finish” McConnell’s Irish Whisky 5 Years Old and McConnell’s Irish Whisky Sherry Cask Finish, which showed notes of “sweet malted bread and the lightest touch of spun honey”.
The remaining two Gold medals went to Molly Malone Small Batch Irish Whiskey, with its “intensely floral nose, and baked banana and drying, stone fruit finish”, and Lazy Ace Irish Whiskey – Rye Cask Finish, said to have a “bright rye profile with a slick, stony, floral palate to finish”.
An equal number of Silver medals completed the flight.
In the Blended – Super-Premium round, which looked at whiskeys costing between £46 and £60, six Golds and one Silver medal were awarded. Powers Irish Rye was one
of the Gold winners, celebrated for its flavours of “dried figs, Christmas spices, and yellow fruit sweetness”. Clan Colla Irish Whiskey 13 Years Old Oloroso Finish also secured a Gold medal, praised for having “rich, furniture polish and woodiness” on the nose, leading to “a sweetness that is well balanced by the wood”.
But as the judges moved to the Blended – Ultra-Premium round (£61+), it was Gold medals across the board, six in total. Teeling collected a Gold medal for its Explorer’s Series 15 Years Old Japanese Edition, enjoyed for demonstrating a “good composition and a pleasant level of grain character alongside touches of malt”.
Irish Distillers added another three Golds to its medal haul, too, including one for Midleton Very Rare 2025. Webster found notes of “apricot jam and ripe red tomatoes” on the nose, which developed into “green grapes” on the palate. Neotia also highlighted “burnt caramel and salty-sweet corn, with malted bread”.
Atom Brands was also bestowed with two Gold medals, including an award for Saints & Sinners & Rebels & Rogues. The whiskey delighted with flavours of “light vanilla and caramel, fruitiness in the form or orchard fruits and some brioche, too”.
Nutty complexity
With the blends wrapped up, the tasting move on to single malts. At the premium end of the price spectrum (£41-£60), the first Master of the tasting was discovered: Teeling Single Malt. Legg described flavours of “Werther’s Original, lots of toffee and soft fruit; a nutty complexity with a restrained finish, and it opens up even more with water”. Four Gold medals plus one Silver were also awarded in this round, including a Gold for Knappogue Castle 12 Years Old. The whiskey presented notes of “orange marmalade and nut brittle”, resulting in “quite a rich blend”.
“There was a significant step up in complexity and richness, all with a satisfying chewiness,” noted Moss.
More Masters were enjoyed in the following flight: Single Malt – Super-Premium (£61-£90). Dublin Liberties Copper Alley was one of the top medallists. The whiskey delivered notes of “vanilla, dried fruits” on the nose, leading to “some dark cocoa, raisins and a nuttiness” on the palate. Six Gold medals were also awarded, included an award for “well-balanced, with a barbecue hint” Ardara Single Malt Irish Whiskey. Two Silver medals finished the round.
In the most expensive single malt heat, where ultra-premium whiskeys cost £91 and up, Teeling Very Rare 32 Years Old Rivesaltes Cask secured the Master award. Milsom said: “The nose has a lot of character, good richness with a lovely sweetness. The palate is really well-balanced, with fantastic integration for the ABV. There are Wine Gums on the palate, and a really long and lingering finish.”
Four Golds and one Silver were also celebrated in this round. Two whiskeys from Dublin Liberties won Gold medals, including the “chocolatey, spicy” Keeper’s Coin Irish Whiskey.
Up next came a selection of single grain whiskeys beginning with a premium (£31-£45) selection. Gold medals went to Teeling Single Grain, with “juicy, stewed apples, Shreddies and Gram crackers”, and Merchants’ Quay 5 Years Old Single Grain, with notes of “cinnamon, peach syrup and a touch of almond”. A Silver medal went to Garden County 5 Years Old Oloroso Cask.
Oily and fruity
In the Single Grain – Super-Premium (£46-£60) round, two Gold medals were delivered to “oily and fruity” Method and Madness Single Grain and “rich and very spicy” Glendalough Double Barrel Cask Strength.
Teeling picked up another Gold medal in the ultra-premium segment for whiskeys priced at more than £61. Teeling 15 Years Old Vintage Single Grain received the medal for “dried floral and woody” aromas, and “a smooth, delicate” palate.
Progressing to the Single Pot Still – Premium (£41-£60) flight, and there was a standout expression: Teeling Wonders of Wood Series 3 Swedish Oak, which took home the Master accolade. The judges praised the whiskey’s “complex, deep oak character” that was apparent on the nose. The palate brought “dried fruits, gentle nuttiness, sweet toffee and a slight herbaceous note”.
Six Gold medals gave the flight a boost, with winners including: “honeyed apricot, lemon sponge, spicy” Redbreast 12 Years Old; Green Spot, which had a “chewy richness, lovely sweetness”; and “well-balanced and tasty, with seaside bonfire notes” Glendalough Peated Pot Still Irish Whiskey.
As the price range increased so too did the standard of the whiskeys, as in the following flight three Masters were awarded. Sitting in the super-premium price range (£61-£90), all three were bestowed upon whiskeys made by Irish Distillers: Redbreast PX Edition, Blue Spot, and Redbreast Lustau Edition.
Rodriguez-Curtis said about Redbreast PX Edition: “Good strong Sherry character on the nose, sour black cherry, moss and undergrowth, with hints of pickled nuts and a touch of coffee. The palate is smooth, well-rounded and shows the Sherry perfectly well. Good alcohol balance and enjoyable.”
Seven Gold medals were also awarded in this round – with all but one going to Irish Distillers’ whiskeys. Teeling Single Pot Still Single Cask Chestnut PX was liked for flavours of “intense cacao and coffee, fruits and an almost balsamic-like note that feels just right”. A Silver medal, also to Irish Distillers, completed the round.
As the final few flights approached, the standard remained strong – resulting in a trio of Master awards in the Single Pot Still – Ultra-Premium (£91+) heat. Once again, Irish Distillers dominated, collecting all three Master awards – plus the accompanying five Golds. The Master medallists were: “good weight, balance and well-rounded” Redbreast Cuatro Barriles Edition; “appealing and complex” Red Spot, and “silky and harmonious” Redbreast 10 Years Old Distillery Edition. “A gorgeous flight, ranging from very good to the pinnacle of whiskey heaven,” enthused Taylor.
Ahascragh New Make was entered into an eponymous flight, securing a respectable Silver medal. And in the closing Flavoured Irish Whiskey Drink round, Dubliner Fiery Irish took home a Silver medal.
Standout product
It took until almost the end of the tasting to discover The Irish Whiskey Taste Master 2025, but after retasting the Master winners, the judges agreed the standout product was the “exceptional” single pot still whiskey Redbreast Cuatro Barriles Edition.
If the standard seen across this year’s categories continues, and producers keep releasing well-executed cask-finishing variants, there’s surely a bright future ahead for Irish whiskey overall. And if it pays off, hopefully reports will show another year of solid growth for Ireland’s distillers.
Hat-trick of Master medals for Teeling
Securing a Master medal is no easy feat. Repeating it threefold in one contest even more so. But Teeling has seen huge success in this year’s blind tasting.
First among its three Master winners is Teeling Wonders of Wood Series 3 Swedish Oak. The third edition in the Wonders of Wood series is a single pot still whiskey made from 50% malted barley and 50% unmalted barley. The liquid is distilled and matured at Teeling’s distillery in Dublin, and aged entirely in Swedish oak casks. It is bottled at 50% ABV without chill filtration and is available for €80 (US$90) on the Teeling website. The judges said this showed “complexity with deep oak character”.
Teeling Very Rare Cask 32 Years Old Rivesaltes Cask retails for €2,950 on the brand’s website. But given the age and exclusivity of this whiskey – only 198 bottles were created – it’s clearer to see why. The single malt sits at 51.4% ABV, also bottled without chill filtration. Tasting notes enjoyed by the judges included “Wine Gums, layers of dried fruit, pastries, and Christmas spices”.
A lot goes into maturing Master-winning Teeling Single Malt. The whiskey is matured and finished in five casks: virgin American oak, Ruby Port, Carcavelos white Port, Madeira, and Bourbon. Non-chill-filtered, the single malt clocks in at 46% ABV and retails for around €55. Expect flavours of “toffee, vanilla, dried fruit and a creamy and soft finish”.
| Company | Product | Medal |
| Blended Standard | ||
| Kirker Greer Spirits | Kirker Shamrock Irish Whiskey | Gold |
| Irish Distillers | Jameson Triple Triple Chestnut Edition | Gold |
| Irish Distillers | Jameson Irish Whiskey | Silver |
| Irish Distillers | Powers Gold Label | Silver |
| Sazerac Company | Paddy Irish Whiskey | Silver |
| Sazerac Company | Michael Collins | Silver |
Blended Premium |
||
| Lightbox Brands | Lazy Ace Irish Whiskey – Rye Cask Finish | Gold |
| The Molly Malone Whiskey Company | Molly Malone Small Batch Irish Whiskey | Gold |
| Belfast Distillery Company | McConnell’s Irish Whisky 5 Years Old | Gold |
| Belfast Distillery Company | McConnell’s Irish Whisky Sherry Cask Finish | Gold |
| Irish Distillers | Jameson Black Barrel | Gold |
| Irish Distillers | Jameson Caskmates IPA Edition | Gold |
| Irish Distillers | Jameson Triple Triple Marsala Edition | Gold |
| Irish Distillers | Jameson Caskmates Stout Edition | Gold |
| Irish Distillers | Jameson Crested | Silver |
| Irish Distillers | Jameson Triple Triple Malaga Edition | Silver |
| Teeling Whiskey Company | Teeling Small Batch | Silver |
| Grace O’Malley Spirits | Grace O’Malley Maritime Cask | Silver |
| Kinsale Spirit Company | Red Earl Irish Whiskey | Silver |
| Kinsale Spirit Company | Wild Atlantic Way IPA Irish Whiskey | Silver |
| Mount Leinster Distillers | The Bird | Silver |
| Skellig Six18 Distillery | Skellig Small Batch Irish Whiskey PX Sherry Cask Finish | Silver |
Blended – Super-Premium |
||
| Irish Distillers | Powers Irish Rye | Gold |
| Teeling Whiskey Company | Teeling Sommelier Selection Rioja Wine Cask | Gold |
| Teeling Whiskey Company | Teeling Distillery Exclusive Shiraz Cask | Gold |
| Ahascragh Distillers | Clan Colla Irish Whiskey 9 Years Old Bordeaux Finish | Gold |
| Ahascragh Distillers | Clan Colla Irish Whiskey 13 Years Old Oloroso Finish | Gold |
| William Grant & Sons | Tullamore Dew 12 Years Old Special Reserve | Gold |
| Belfast Distillery Company | McConnell’s Irish Whisky Cognac Cask Finish | Silver |
Blended – Ultra-Premium |
||
| Teeling Whiskey Company | Teeling Explorer’s Series 15 Year Old Japanese Edition | Gold |
| Irish Distillers | Jameson 18 Years | Gold |
| Irish Distillers | Midleton Very Rare 2025 | Gold |
| Irish Distillers | Jameson Bow Street 18 Years | Gold |
| Atom Brands | Saints & Sinners & Rebels & Rogues | Gold |
| Atom Brands | 21 Years Old Irish Whiskey | Gold |
Single Malt Premium |
||
| Teeling Whiskey Company | Teeling Single Malt | Master |
| Teeling Whiskey Company | Teeling Blackpitts Single Malt | Gold |
| Irish Distillers | Knappogue Castle 12 Years Old | Gold |
| The Copeland Distillery | Merchants’ Quay, Palo Cortado Finish | Gold |
| Dingle Distillery | Dingle Single Malt | Gold |
| González Byass | Nomad Irish | Silver |
Single Malt – Super-Premium |
||
| Quintessential Brands Group | Dublin Liberties Copper Alley | Master |
| Irish Distillers | Knappogue Castle 16 Years Old | Gold |
| Irish Distillers | Knappogue Castle 14 Years Old | Gold |
| Irish Distillers | Method and Madness Single Malt | Gold |
| Sliabh Liag Distillers | Ardara Single Malt Irish Whiskey | Gold |
| Tipperary Boutique Distillery | Homegrown Barley – Sherry Finish | Gold |
| The Copeland Distillery | Release 25.1 | Gold |
| Teeling Whiskey Company | Teeling Crystal Single Malt | Silver |
| Teeling Whiskey Company | Teeling Blackpitts Cask Strength Single Malt | Silver |
Single Malt – Ultra-Premium |
||
| Teeling Whiskey Company | Teeling Very Rare Cask 32 Years Old Rivesaltes Cask | Master |
| Teeling Whiskey Company | Teeling Rising Reserve Series 4 White Wine | Gold |
| Quintessential Brands Group | Dublin Liberties Keeper’s Coin Irish Whiskey | Gold |
| Quintessential Brands Group | Dublin Liberties Murder Lane Irish Whiskey | Gold |
| Irish Distillers | Knappogue Castle 21 Years Old | Gold |
| Glendalough Distillery | Glendalough Single Malt Mizunara Cask Finish | Silver |
Single Grain – Premium |
||
| Teeling Whiskey | Teeling Single Grain | Gold |
| The Copeland Distillery | Merchants’ Quay 5 Years Old Single Grain | Gold |
| Garden County Distillery | Garden County 5 Year Old Oloroso Cask | Silver |
Single Grain – Super-Premium |
||
| Irish Distillers | Method and Madness Single Grain | Gold |
| Glendalough Distillery | Glendalough Double Barrel Cask Strength | Gold |
Single Grain – Ultra-Premium |
||
| Teeling Whiskey Company | Teeling 15 Years Old Vintage Single Grain | Gold |
Single Pot Still – Premium |
||
| Teeling Whiskey Company | Teeling Wonders of Wood Series 3 Swedish Oak | Master |
| Teeling Whiskey Company | Teeling Single Pot Still | Gold |
| Irish Distillers | Redbreast 12 Years Old | Gold |
| Irish Distillers | Jameson Single Pot Still | Gold |
| Irish Distillers | Powers Three Swallow Release | Gold |
| Irish Distillers | Green Spot | Gold |
| Glendalough Distillery | Glendalough Peated Pot Still Irish Whiskey | Gold |
Single Pot Still – Super-Premium |
||
| Irish Distillers | Redbreast PX Edition | Master |
| Irish Distillers | Blue Spot | Master |
| Irish Distillers | Redbreast Lustau Edition | Master |
| Teeling Whiskey Company | Teeling Single Pot Still Single Cask Chestnut PX | Gold |
| Irish Distillers | Powers John’s Lane Cask Strength | Gold |
| Irish Distillers | Green Spot Léoville Barton | Gold |
| Irish Distillers | Method and Madness Single Pot Still | Gold |
| Irish Distillers | Powers John’s Lane | Gold |
| Irish Distillers | Yellow Spot | Gold |
| Irish Distillers | Redbreast 12 Cask Strength | Gold |
| Irish Distillers | Green Spot Chateau Montelena | Silver |
Single Pot Still – Ultra-Premium |
||
| Irish Distillers | Redbreast Cuatro Barriles Edition | Master & Taste Master |
| Irish Distillers | Red Spot | Master |
| Irish Distillers | Redbreast 10 Years Old Distillery Edition | Master |
| Irish Distillers | Redbreast 15 Years Old | Gold |
| Irish Distillers | Redbreast 18 Years Old | Gold |
| Irish Distillers | Redbreast 21 Years Old | Gold |
| Irish Distillers | Redbreast 27 Years Old | Gold |
| Irish Distillers | Midleton Very Rare Barry Crockett Legacy | Gold |
New Make |
||
| Ahascragh Distillers | Ahascragh | Silver |
Flavoured Irish Whiskey Drink |
||
| Quintessential Brands Group | Dubliner Fiery Irish | Silver |
Related news
Irish whiskey exports surpass €1bn
