Rademon Estate Distillery in Crossgar, County Down, recently won its first international quality award for a single malt whiskey launched late last year.
The whiskey from the family-owned distillery, which gained a gold award in the International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC2022), was among a host of original spirits from Northern Ireland distilleries to win the prestigious IWS competition. It is an annual celebration of the world’s best spirits.
Indeed, IWSC 2022 was the most successful ever for Northern Ireland distilleries. The latest success for Rademon, best known for its multi-award winning Shortcross Gin – the first local craft gin in over a century – comes as the small distillery launches a unique gin experience for visitors and tourists.
David Boyd Armstrong, the master distiller at Rademon, formed the distillery with wife Fiona in 2014 to widespread acclaim and success in global markets. The gin is now in sale in over 30 international markets.
Shortcross single malt whiskey gained its first recognition as ‘Best New Whiskey’ in the Irish Whiskey Awards last year. Shortcross, a Food NI member, also gained gold for its novel Angel’s Edition gin.
“We are thrilled to receive this recognition so soon after the launch of our whiskey,” says David. “It will help to increase awareness internationally about the quality of our whiskey,” he adds.
Another recent launch, McConnell’s five-year-old whiskey, marketed by Belfast Distillery, which is planning to produce the spirit in the old Crumlin Road Gaol, also gained a gold medal at IWSC.
There was a first gold too for Mourne Dew’s single malt whiskey from Warrenpoint using a unique vacuum distilling process developed by master distiller Donal Farrell. Mourne Dew is also a member of promotion body Food NI.
The most successful whiskey producer, inevitably, was Old Bushmills Distillery, Northern Ireland’s best known and most successful exporter of whiskey, which won three golds and a silver.
The historic distillery, now owned by Mexico’s Jose Cuervo tequila producer since 2014, gained gold for its Black Bush blend and its 16-year-old and 21-year-old single malts at ISC. In addition, the company, regarded as the world’s oldest licensed distillery, was awarded silver for its 12-year-old single malt.
Bushmills whiskeys were entered by Proximo, the New York based marketing agency behind the recent initiatives by the famed distillery which was once the only one in Northern Ireland and one of just three on the island of Ireland.
Furthermore, Proximo entered The Sexton, another whiskey from original spirit distilled at Bushmills. The Sexton, which also won a gold medal at IWSC, is currently the biggest selling single malt whiskey in the US.
Interestingly, The Sexton was created by master distiller Alex Thomas for Proximo. Alex, who gained her knowledge and expertise at Old Bushmills, is now the master distiller at the historic whiskey distillery.
The company, a Food NI member, is now among the world’s most successful whiskey distillers. Old Bushmills and The Sexton were also recently named among the 10 Best Irish Whiskeys by the influential Good Housekeeping Institute. The County Antrim distillery’s 10-year-old single malt was named at number five as the ‘Best with a Splash of Water’ in the prestigious list.
The list, compiled by an expert panel, featured The Sexton Irish Single Malt at number four and the ‘Best for Burnt Sugars’.
Another Food NI member, Jawbox Gin, also received golds for its classic gin and export strength gin. There was gold too for Boatyard Double Gin in Enniskillen, another Food NI member; gold for Limavady single barrel whiskey; and golds for Niche Drinks Tesco Finest Irish Cream Liqueur, Gingerbread Latte Irish Cream Liqueur and Tesco Finest Caramel Liqueur and Marks and Spencer Traditional Irish Cream Liqueur, all produced in Derry.
Copeland Distillery, in Donaghadee, won the overall world’s best gin title, gold for its vodka, and silver for another gin. Copeland also won silvers for its poitin and rum. Ninth Wave Gin from Hinch in Ballynahinch also won a silver.
Having celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2019, the IWSC remains as relevant today as it did when wine chemist Anton Massel founded the original format back in 1969
When Massel created the International Wine and Spirit Competition, his aim – as it remains to this day – was to reward excellence in drinks worldwide, ensuring recognition for the very best wines and spirits.
The IWSC has set the international benchmark for quality, standing out in the crowded world of drinks awards with hundreds of global experts – including buyers, producers, distillers, sommeliers, distributors and influencers – judging wines and spirits throughout the year.
In the San Francisco Spirits Competition, Limavady single barrel whiskey won gold and Titanic in Belfast silver for its whiskey, which will soon be distilled at the historic Pumphouse in Titanic Quarter.
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