Cooley Distillery, Irelands only independent Irish whiskey distillery, has won a record 9 Gold Medals at the 2008 International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC).
This was the first time that an Irish whiskey distiller managed to collect 9 IWSC Gold Medals, including 8 “Best in Class”. IWSC medals, awarded on a strict points system, are the most prestigious honours bestowed to the drinks industry as they recognise the elite in the world of wine and spirits.
Cooley’s golden run continues from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition where the Louth based distiller won 6 double gold medals earlier this year.
“2008 has been our most successful year to date. Winning 21 Gold Medals, between the IWSC and San Francisco World Spirits Competition, in the year of our 21st birthday, shows how our distillery and our whiskey has truly come of age” said Jack Teeling, Marketing Director for Cooley Distillery.
Cooley Distillery has collected more Awards over the last twelve years than any other Irish whiskey distillery with over 140 International Awards to its name.
List of Gold Medals at the 2008 IWSC
Gold Medal & Best in Class, Kilbeggan 15 Year Old Blended Irish Whiskey
Gold Medal & Best in Class, Connemara Peated Single Malt
Gold Medal & Best in Class, Connemara 12 Year Old Peated Single Malt
Gold Medal & Best in Class, Tyrconnell 10 Year Old Sherry Finish Single Malt
Gold Medal & Best in Class, Tyrconnell 15 Year Old Single Cask Single Malt
Gold Medal & Best in Class, Greenore 8 Year Old Single Grain
Gold Medal & Best in Class, Lockes 8 Year Old Single Malt
Gold Medal, Lockes Blended Irish Whiskey
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Kevin Erskine, the writer behind The Scotch blog announced the winners of the 2007 Drammies today.
The Scotch blog, always ‘tongue in cheek’ delivers a competition to match that reputation. The Drammies isn’t for the brands that pay up the big cash it’s for the brands of the peoples (even though they of course match sometimes).
As Kevin puts it: “The Drammies were created to be, above all, a “People’s Choice” award and to try to disregard the influence that the industry has over the spirits writers and periodicals that generally grant the awards that get touted.”
Among the Winners my personal favorites are:
Distiller/Blender/Independent Bottler of the Year – Bruichladdich.
These guys does hell of a work when it comes to deliver a great product. The fact that they’re Islay and still manages to not get caught in the fire…or shall we say the smoke after the fire…shows that they got a style of their own. My closet is filled with 3 bottles from the links series, a The XVII and another The Fifteen.
Most Innovative New Product – Compass Box Canto Series
Oh how I love the Canto. Apart from that I’ve had 7 different Compass Box’es flown over. (They are hard to get hold of in Sweden). Among the other ones the Peat Monster and Hedonism (Nailed best new product) are my personal favorites.
Best New Product (Non-whisky i.e., book, resource, web site, etc) – Dr Whisky
Congratulations Dr Whisky! You deserve it. Damn your site rocks. I wish I had the time and ehh…body to do what you do.
The one I don’t agree with among the winners is the ‘Glenmorangie Brand overhaul’. At first I did though. Then I bought The Original, a bottle of Lasanta and a Nectar Do’r at Heathrow a couple of weeks ago. And even though I’ve only popped the Nectar I must say my point of view turned 180° (funny…they’re the agency behind the rebranding) after sipping some of that juice.
Visit The Scotch Blog for all the information!
Thanks for a great competition Kevin!
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If you speak Dutch, then why not head over to the homepage of the Belgian Whiskyfestival and place your vote.
The BWA2008 have the following categories.
- Whiskypionier
- Whisky Ambassador of the Year
- Whisky Club of the Year
- Whisky Shop of the Year
- Whisky Bar/Restaurant of the Year
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