The 2021 Irish Whiskey Awards

Entries are now OPEN for this year's Irish Whiskey Awards — which are now in their eighth year — at the Powerscourt Distillery in Co.Wicklow on 14th October 2021 (all being well)! Whilst it is still unclear with what the restrictions will be for the Summer and Autumn, we would like to go-ahead with the awards in some shape or form and to raise much needed funds for our charity partner, Mary's Meals. 

 

If it is not possible to have an awards evening then the ceremony will take place virtually and we would hope that the 2022 awards would take place at Powerscourt. We will try to confirm this as early as possible but as I'm sure you can appreciate that we might not know this until closer to the time. Tastings will be posted out to whiskey club participants as opposed to in-person tastings. 

 

The closing dates for all entries is Friday 7th May and for details on how to enter, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Please SEND bottles to our bar in Killarney and NOT the Dublin store. For each entry we will require 3 x 70cl bottles for judging and if the product wins an award we will also require an additional 3 x 70cl for the awards night. Please note that each product can only be entered in the one category and the categories this year are as follows; 

 

Irish Single Pot Still Whiskey (11 Years & Younger, inc Non Age Statement)

Irish Single Pot Still Whiskey (12 Years & Older)

Irish Single Malt Whiskey (11 Years & Younger, inc Non Age Statement)

Irish Single Malt Whiskey (12 - 15 Years)

Irish Single Malt Whiskey (16 Years & Older)

Irish Blended Whiskey (Non-Age Statement)

Irish Blended Whiskey (Age Statement)

Irish Blended Whiskey (Limited Release)

Irish Single Cask Whiskey

Irish Cask Strength Whiskey

Irish Single Grain Whiskey

NEW Irish Whiskey — only distilleries open 3-6 years can enter and it must be distilled on site.

 

 

Irish Whiskey of the Year (Overall Winner) — please note that you cannot enter this category, this whiskey will be awarded to the whiskey with the highest overall score.

 

Unfortunately, we will not be running the white spirits, liqueurs, beer and bar categories this year. This is due to limited resources and the difficulty of decanting/preserving these liquids. We also felt that with the bars being closed for most of last year, that it would be unfair for participants to rank bars higher who have been open than those that we forced to stay closed. We will look to resume this in 2022 and our sincerest apologies for the inconvenience caused.

 

Judging of the awards will take place early Summer to a select number of members (available on a first come, first serve basis) in the Celtic Whiskey Club (Irish and Overseas members), Irish Whiskey Society — Dublin & Dingle, Cork Whiskey Society, Kilkenny Whiskey Guild, Waterford Whiskey Society and Belfast Whiskey Club.

 

Entry Form

Judging Stock (3 x 70cl bottles or 5 x 50cl bottles)

High Resolution Image

 

Celtic Whiskey Bar & Larder

93 New Street

Killarney

Co.Kerry

 

SOCIAL MEDIA
Twitter: @whiskeyawardsIE

#IWA21 - This will be this year's hashtag for the awards, please get involved. 

 

We will notify you early September to purchase tickets for this year's awards. Tickets are always very limited for this event and will be sold from Celtic Whiskey Shop on a first come, first serve basis. 

 

If you require any further information, please contact either This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.