Six Northern Ireland distillers triumph at World Whiskies Awards Ireland 2026
The quality, innovation and flavours of six Northern Ireland producers were
recognised at the Ireland round of the prestigious World Whiskies Awards and Icons
of Whisky in Dublin
The globally rated awards, once again, showcase the outstanding achievements of
local distilleries in one of the world’s most dynamic sectors.
Winning awards for the industry in Northern Ireland were distilleries which have been
racking up sales in markets as diverse as the US and India, two of the world’s
biggest market for Ireland’s golden spirit. The local winners were: Dunville’s from
Echlinville in Kircubbin; Copeland in Donaghadee; Hinch in Ballynahinch; Killowen in
Rostrevor; McConnell’s at Belfast Distillery; Titanic, also based in Belfast; and Two
Stacks in Newry.
Once home to a single whiskey distillery, Old Bushmills in Co Antrim, the world’s
oldest, for over a century, Northern Ireland now boasts around 12 producing spirits
for upwards of 30 global markets and regularly picking up national and international
awards for outstanding whiskies. As a result of this growth, distilling in now among
the most dynamic export-led sectors.
Assisting the expansion of global exports, including whiskey and other spirits, in
terms of sales and employment is an important commitment in the new Northern
Ireland Food Framework and Action Plan’s from the Department of Agriculture, the
Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) sharp focus on economic growth throughout
the region
The winning products, people, and places were announced in the World Whiskies
Awards Ireland 2026. The globally monitored awards were announced at a
ceremony at the end of last month. The event brought together leading figures from
across the Irish whiskey industry, including several from Northern Ireland, to
celebrate the year’s successes.
The awards announced the country winners in the Ireland tasting round of the World
Whiskies Awards 2026, celebrating excellence in categories across Irish whiskey,
including single malt, pot still, and grain. The Icons of Whisky Ireland 2026 honours
the people and places of Ireland’s whiskey community. Among those named icons
this year were the team from Killowen Distillery, which is located as is often referred
to as Ireland’s smallest distillery in the Mournes as Production Team of the Year.
Formed in 2016 by experienced architect Brendan Carty, who also built the distillery
and equipped it with unique distilling kit, Killowen was also named Brand Innovator of
the Year 2016; and Craft Producer of the Year 2016.
A jubilant Brendan Carty, who distils a range of whiskeys, vodka, gin, Irish cream
liqueur, and poitin, the traditional Irish spirit, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have
won so many important awards from such a distinguished panel of industry experts.
The awards are another massive endorsement of the premium quality of all our
products which are winning business increasingly in highly competitive international
markets. It’s also a massive boost for our small team at Killowen.”
Craft Distiller or Blender was won by Damien Rafferty, master blender at Titanic
Distillers in Belfast. The distillery in the historic setting of the Titanic was also named
mmmmm, was highly commended in Production Team, and won Visitor Attraction
Manager of the Year.
Two Stacks in Newry won the Independent Bottler of the Year for its portfolio of
successful products and Dram in a Can.
Best Irish Blended Limited Release went to Hinch Irish Whiskey in Ballynahinch for a
15 Years Old Sherry Cask Finish. The historic Belfast Distillery, which is located in a
wing of the old Crumlin Road Gaol on Belfast’s Crumlin Road and recently began
exporting to India, was name Best Irish Single Cask Single Malt for its McConnell’s
Irish Whisky 20 Years Old Cromac Collection. Founded in 1776, McConnell’s is
planning to celebrate its 250 th anniversary later in the year.
The Best Irish Single Malt was Dunville’s Irish Whiskey PX 24 Years Old Single Malt.
Distilled at Echlinville, near Kircubbin in Co Down, an enterprise run by business
partners Shane Braniff and Jarath Watson. They revived Dunville’s, a whiskey that
once dominated Irish whiskey sales in the US but closed in the 1930s, in 2012/23.
Dunville’s, which is on sale globally, is now Ireland’s only ‘farm to bottle’ whiskey
distillery and is now one of Ireland’s most successful whiskeys.
Ballynahinch’s Hinch Irish Whiskey, a business set up in 2016 by packaging
entrepreneur Terry Cross was named as Best Irish Small Batch Single Malt.
Chair of judges for the World Whiskies Awards Bradley Weir said: “It has been
invigorating to taste such a high standard of Irish whiskey — which should come as
no surprise given the continued excellence of Ireland’s distillers. The quality of the
liquid is exciting.”
Image
Cross: Dr Terry Cross, founder and chairman of Hinch Irish Whiskey in 2016,
the distillery near Ballynahinch which was named Best Small Batch Single Malt
in the awards.