Awards for Food NI members in Irish Whiskey Awards
Food NI member Hinch Distillery in Ballynahinch, Co Down hosted the annual Irish
Whiskey Awards 2024. The distillery and other Food NI members also won a host of
awards in the competition, the most prestigious in Ireland this year.
In addition to major awards for Hinch, there was significant recognition from the
influential judging panel for Food NI members Two Stacks from Newry and Rademon
Estate Distillery of Crossgar.
The awards reflect the growing strength of whiskey distilling in Northern Ireland,
where there are now around 12 distilleries. Over the past 15 years distilling has
grown from just one, Old Bushmills in Co Antrim.
The awards for Food NI members are as follows:
Cream Liqueur Gold: Two Stacks Double Irish Cream, Newry, Co Down
Single Malt 11 Years and Under (Over €60) Winner:
Gold: Two Stacks x Bankers Bar 7 Year Old Single Malt PX Sherry Finish from
Newry
Blend Non-Age Statement (Over €50) Winner: Shortcross Distiller’s Duo from
Rademon Estate Distillery in Crossgar
Blended Whiskey Age Statement Gold: Hinch 15 Year Old Oloroso Sherry Cask
Finish Batch 1 from Ballynahinch
Peated Whiskey Gold: Winner Shortcross 5 Year Old Peated from Rademon
Estate in Crossgar
Gold: The Chancer Irish Whiskey Bonding Company from Rademon Estate in
Crossgar
Judging of this year’s awards took place earlier this July and August where
organisers, Celtic Whiskey of Celtic Whiskey Shop Dawson Street, hosted several
blind tastings in Dublin’s Doyle’s Corner, and have been coordinating other tastings
throughout Ireland with members of the Irish Whiskey Society — Dublin and Dingle,
Cork Whiskey Society, Waterford Whiskey Society, Kilkenny Whiskey Guild, Ennis
Whiskey Club, 1875 Whiskey Club, Carlow Whiskey Society, Belfast Whiskey Club,
Louth Whiskey Society, Skerries Whiskey Society and the Aviator’s Whiskey Society.
The Irish craft spirits and liqueurs were blind tasted by a panel of mixologists and
bartenders in September, hosted by Bar 1661 in Dublin.
