December 21, 2021 — Malthound

183 individual medals from the world’s leading taste and design competitions in 2021!

Irish Distillers is celebrating yet another outstanding awards season after being honoured with 183 individual medals from the world’s leading taste and design competitions in 2021!

The impressive haul of medals, an increase of 11 medals versus 2020, includes several of the top accolades in the Irish Whiskey Category for the distillers’ diverse portfolio.

Midleton Very Rare Dair Ghaleach Knockrath Forest

Testament to the quality and craftsmanship of the world’s best loved Irish whiskey, Jameson Irish Whiskey, which enjoyed sales of 8.6 million cases globally in 2020/2021, was awarded a Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and Gold at the International Spirits Challenge.

Jameson Black Barrel, achieved recognition across the board, taking home Gold Outstanding (98 points) at the International Wine and Spirit Competition and winning the overall trophy for Best Irish Whiskey at the International Spirits Challenge, while Jameson Bow Street 18 Years achieved a Platinum Medal (96 points) at the Beverage Tasting Institute.

Redbreast continued its legacy as the world’s most decorated single pot still Irish whiskey, securing 29 medals of Gold and above, including a Platinum Medal and a top score of 100, for Redbreast 27 Year Old from the Beverage Tasting Institute. Redbreast also won the coveted Chairman’s Trophy (98 points) for its much-acclaimed 12 Year Old Cask Strength. Elsewhere, the Redbreast range collected six Master medals at The Irish Whiskey Masters, while Redbreast 21 Year Old was crowned the World’s Best Pot Still at the World Whisky Awards.

Jameson Black Barrel

Further reinforcing Midleton Very Rare’s standing as the pinnacle of Irish whiskey, Midleton Very Rare Dair Ghaleach Knockrath Forest was awarded a Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and named the Best Pure Pot Still Irish Whiskey. The range’s only permanent expression, Midleton Very Rare Barry Crockett Legacy, also achieved high praise including Gold Outstanding (98 points) at the International Wine & Spirits Competition.

The innovative and exemplary whiskeys produced by hand at Midleton’s Micro Distillery were also recognised with the METHOD AND MADNESS collection winning five Double Golds at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and two Master Medals at the Irish Whiskey Masters – the highest accolade at the competition.

Jameson

The iconic Powers collection, which celebrated its 230th anniversary this year, was recognised by a multitude of award bodies for both its distinctive distillate flavour and bold design. Powers Three Swallow and Powers John’s Lane both achieved Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, while John’s Lane also took home a Design & Packaging Master following the brand’s bold redesign, which was described by judges as eye-catching and prominent.

Last but not least, the return of Blue Spot to the historic Spot Family was warmly received by judges across the globe, winning five Gold medals and above and a prestigious spot in the Ultimate Spirits Challenge Top 100 Spirits list. The other expressions in the range were equally decorated, including a Double Gold for Green Spot at the San Francisco Spirits Competition, Gold for Red Spot at the International Spirits Challenge and a Master for Yellow Spot at the Irish Whiskey Masters.

Master Distiller Kevin O’Gorman

It has been another tremendous season across the portfolio, and we are beyond proud to see so many of our whiskeys securing several of the top accolades in the Irish Whiskey Category.

The Jameson family continues to excite and delight whiskey fans across the globe with its smooth taste and signature DNA, while our prestige portfolio continues to solidify Irish Whiskey’s standing as a luxury spirit on the world stage.

These awards demonstrate the dynamism of the category – from reimagined heritage brands such as The Spot Range and Powers – to innovative whiskeys from Redbreast, to METHOD AND MADNESS with distillate experimentation such as Rye and Malt and our Midleton Very Rare Dair Ghaleach series, which showcase wood experimentation and maturation.

These achievements are a testament to my colleagues at Midleton Distillery who work tirelessly to apply their knowledge and passion to produce whiskeys of unrivalled quality.
– Kevin O’Gorman: Master Distiller at Irish Distillers

Ledaig / 28 Year Old Gordon & MacPhail CC.
£275.00

New Arrivals

Ledaig / 28 Year Old Gordon & MacPhail CC.
£275.00
Country: Scotland
Region: IsleofMull
Age:
Strength: 54.1%.

Summary:

COUNTRY/REGION: Scotland/Isle of Mull.

CATEGORY: Single Malt.

DISTILLERY: Tobermory.

BOTTLER: Gordon & MacPhail.

BOTTLING SERIE: Connoisseurs Choice – Cask Strength.

DISTILLED: 1993

BOTTLED: 2021

AGE: 28 Year Old

CASK TYPE: Connoisseurs Choice – Cask Strength.

CASK NUMBER: 703

BOTTLES FILLED: 517

ABV: 54.1% Vol.

COLOUR: Amber.

NOSE: SHERRY aromas give way to MEDJOOL DATES and RED APPLE. FESTIVE SPICES come to the fore alongside SEVILLE ORANGE ZEST and sweet SMOKE.

TASTE: STEWED RED BERRIES combine with fresh GINGER SPICE and subtle ANISEED. TOASTED ALMOND undertones develop accompanied by MINT.

FINISH: A full and long finish with lingering SPICE, FRUIT and BONFIRE EMBERS.

Bunnahabhain / 12 Year Old cask Strength.
£75.00
Country: Scotland
Region: Islay
Age:
Strength: 55.1%

Summary:

COUNTRY/REGION: Scotland/Islay.

CATEGORY: Single Malt.

DISTILLERY: Bunnahabhain.

BOTTLER: Distillery Bottling.

BOTTLED: 2021

AGE: 12 Year Old.

ABV: 55.1%

Introducing Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old Cask Strength, a limited-edition whisky inspired by visitor tastings in the distillery’s iconic Warehouse 9.

Matured on the remote, north-eastern coastline of Islay, and produced using pure spring water from the Margadale Spring, the 12 Year Old Cask Strength is an undiluted celebration of the distillery’s hugely popular Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old expression.

For years, visitors making the pilgrimage to Bunnahabhain distillery have been enjoying drams straight from the cask in the famous, Warehouse 9, so now consumers from all over the world will be able to recreate this privilege at home.

Brendan McCarron, Master Distiller on the inspiration behind Cask Strength.

“When people embark on a journey to Islay and try Bunnahabhain whiskies straight from the cask, it creates so much joy. But we understand that not everyone is able to make the trip. With this limited edition 12 Year Old Cask Strength, we can give people around the world the chance to experience it themselves.”

“Not all whiskies work at cask strength and many whiskies don’t stand up to full maturation in sherry casks. Bottling our 12 Year Old at cask strength intensifies the core characteristics of spice, cracked black pepper, cinnamon but not at the expense of our spirit’s character. In fact, it enhances it. The mouthfeel and texture of the whisky increases and it shows off the balance of the spirit and the wood, but in a more concentrated form. This really represents Bunnahabhain in a bottle.”

COLOUR: Deep russet gold

NOSE: Dark berries, citrus and toasted oak which gradually transitions to sweet vanilla and a hint of cinnamon spice.

PALATE: Creamy chocolate, sherry-soaked fruit and a balanced nuttiness give way to cloves, nutmeg and a subtle sea salt spray.

FINISH: A lingering sweet finish with cherries and a touch of wood spice.

Compass Box / No Name #3.
£95.00
Country: Scotland
Region: Blended
Age:
Strength: 48.9%.

Summary:

COUNTRY/REGION: Scotland/Various.

CATEGORY: Blended Malt

WHISKY COMPOSITION: Laphroaig, Bowmore, Mortlach, Clynelish and Highland Malt Blend.

BOTTLER: Compass Box.

BOTTLING SERIE: Limited Edition.

BOTTLED: 07.2021

NUMBER OF BOTTLES: 10,794

ABV: 48.9% Vol.

Vibrant and expansive, wild yet graceful peatiness

The series studying heavily-peated malt whisky reaches a somewhat OTT crescendo with this, the third and final No Name. Since 2017, Compass Box have used the same recipe structure to explore different smoky double acts. Whether it was the crème-brûlée-on-freshly-laid-tarmac effect of the inaugural release or the bonfire-in-a-cherry-orchard style of No Name, No. 2, fans of the series have been treated to radically different expressions of smoke

No Name, No. 3 marks a further point on the spectrum of peat. It is older, wilder and weirder than the previous No Names. Seaweedy and barbecue-scented single malt from the Laphroaig Distillery takes top billing, with malt whisky from the Bowmore Distillery lending compelling hints of mango and pineapple at the very limits of ripeness.

Seashells and sage; pineapple and allspice; smoke that moves in oily waves. This is the perfect whisky for introducing a little drama to proceedings – and a fitting conclusion to the peaty trilogy.

The third instalment in Compass Box’s gothic exploration of smoke, or the whiskies that shall not be named, builds upon their bewitching sequence of distillery duets. Pairing Ardbeg with Caol Ila, then Caol Ila with Talisker, blender James Saxon invited Laphroaig and Bowmore to dance for No. 3, underpinned by the familiar Compass Box foundation malts. There’s a charming balance of sweetness and peat, as the hardy coastal smokiness of Laphroaig is quelled by the ripe tropical fruitiness of Bowmore. The mouthfeel is satisfyingly creamy, with orange fondant, chocolate, honey, and apricot flavours tightly bound together by tendrils of smoke – 93 Points and Voted the ninth best Whisky in the World, Jonny McCormick, The Whisky Advocate Magazine.