Award-winning Irish whiskeys for St. Patrick’s Day

Toast the patron saint of Ireland this St. Patrick’s Day with one of The Spirits Masters award-winning Irish whiskeys.

Choose from The Irish Whiskey Masters medal winners to be sure of getting a quality Irish whiskey to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day

While Jameson is undoubtedly the golden child of Irish whiskey, there is much more choice available for fans looking for a tipple to toast St. Patrick with this 17 March.

Despite there being just a handful of operational distilleries producing Irish whiskey right now, the category features some diverse and phenomenal products available in several markets across the globe.

Irish whiskey is one of the fastest growing spirit categories on earth right now, but the majority of that growth is led by Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard’s Jameson, which soared by 4.1% in 2012. In its wake is a smattering of other Irish whiskey brands, from blends to Irish single pot stills and single malts, that are only now stepping out from behind Big Daddy Jameson’s shadow to snap up their share of the limelight.

The extraordinary quality of Irish whiskey is evident from the increased number of medals awarded at The Irish Whiskey Masters in 2013, a blind tasting in which a panel of impartial, expert judges analysed each entry on aroma, taste and finish.

To encourage partygoers and bartenders to expand their Irish whiskey repertoire this coming St. Patrick’s Day, we’ve compiled our pick of the Irish Whiskey Masters 2013 medal winners, over the following pages.

Teeling Small Batch Irish Whiskey

Irish Whiskey Masters 2013 medal: Gold

This small batch bottling is a relative newcomer to the Irish whiskey market, having been released in 2013, but in such a short space of time, Teeling has developed something of a name for itself. Teeling’s second release, a follow-up to Hybrid Edition 1, consists of whiskey that’s given a further maturation in ex-Flor de Cana Rum barrels, which impart an extra sweet and smooth flavour.

Judges’ comments: “Smooth, traditional Irish whiskey flavour with a rum kick”

Bushmills Blackbush

Irish Whiskey Masters 2013 medal: Master

This rich Irish blended whiskey contains a high proportion of triple-distilled single malt whiskey aged in oloroso Sherry casks for around 10 years before blending with grain whiskey. One of only two Master winners in its category at The Irish Whiskey Masters 2013, and with a price tag of just £22, Bushmills Blackbush (40% abv) is the perfect whiskey for newcomers to the category to toast St. Paddy with.

Judges’ comments: “Fabulous depth”

Tullamore Dew 12 Year Old

Irish Whiskey Masters 2013 medal: Master

A 12-year-old blended Irish whiskey from William Grant & Sons, which is nearing completion of its new Tullamore Dew distillery in County Offaly. A marriage of whiskey matured in Bourbon and oloroso Sherry casks, this tipple is sublimely sweet and exceptionally smooth.

Judges’ comments: “Well structured with some beautiful, sweet flavours”

Midleton Very Rare

Irish Whiskey Masters 2013 medal: Master

The flagship blend from Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard’s Irish whiskey distillery (and home of Jameson), is a small batch blend that – as its name suggests – proves tricky to obtain due to its universal acclaim. With only 50 casks released each year, Midleton Very Rare is a blend of whiskey matured in American oak casks for between 12-25 years that’s bottled at 40% abv.

Judges’ comments: “Smooth, and full of depth”

Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve

Irish Whiskey Masters 2013 medal: Master

For the pinnacle of its Irish whiskey range, Irish Distillers has assembled the very finest liquid in its stable to create the highly sought after Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve. A marriage of aged Jameson with an old pot still whiskey matured in second-fill Bourbon casks, this beautiful blend has ripe fruit notes of melon, bananas and plums with hints treacle, cinnamon, liquorice and spice. This release is more of a connoisseurs’ whiskey, with a price tag of around £240 per 700ml.

Judges’ comments: “Just glorious”

Bushmills 16 Year Old

Irish Whiskey Masters 2013 medal: Gold

One of the few Irish single malts available, Bushmills ages this 16-year-old in three different cask types: Bourbon, port and Sherry. The result is a sweet, rich tipple full of dried fruit and Christmas cake flavours with a hint of honey. At £50, Bushmills 16 Year Old is certainly a great gift or purchase for a special occasion.

Judges’ comments: “Irish single malt has its own character; it’s not like single malt anywhere else”

Redbreast 12 Year Old Caskstrength

Irish Whiskey Masters 2013 medal: Master

A wonderfully rich and powerful release from the Midleton Distillery, which with an abv of 58.6%, has the ability to deliver robust flavours, and knock your socks off. Irish Distillers is now selling the second batch bottling of its multi-award-winning whiskey. Don’t let the inflated price point of £70 per 700ml put you off, this is a whiskey to make St. Patrick proud.

Judges’ comments: “Firm and well put together”

Midleton Barry Crockett Legacy

Irish Whiskey Masters 2013 medal: Master

Created in 2011 in honour of previous Midleton master distiller Barry Crockett, this expression is certainly a unique release, having been aged in both Bourbon and new American oak barrels. As it’s on a limited release of around 2,500 bottles per year, those interested in partying with Barry Crockett this St. Patrick’s Day better be quick to secure their bottle.

Judges’ comments: “A complex whiskey with lots of flavour”

Yellow Spot

Irish Whiskey Masters 2013 medal: Gold

Irish Distillers’ single pot still Irish whiskeys always achieve high scores from the judges at the Irish Whiskey Masters, year after year, and Yellow Spot is no exception. Released in 2012, the expression is the second single pot still release in the distiller’s “Spot” series. Aged for 12 years in American oak, Spanish sherry butts and Spanish Malaga casks and bottled at 46% abv, the release is full of woody, spicy notes and is a great example of the Irish single pot still style of whiskey.

Judges’ comments: “Dried fruit, sultanas and vanilla flavours: a joy to taste”

Busmills Irish Honey

Irish Whiskey Masters 2013 medal: Master

The last few years have seen a flux of new honeyed whiskies enter the market, mostly from the Bourbon industry, but Bushmills Irish Honey is certainly one of the best. One of the only flavoured whiskies in the world to actually taste like honey, this expression is perfect served as an ice-cold shot or stirred into a hot toddy, depending onwhat the weather’s doing on 17 March.

Judges’ comments: “A honeyed whiskey that actually tastes like honey”