After another year of challenges, members of the whisky industry gathered at the Iveagh Garden Hotel on 25 November to celebrate its best people and places, in the first regional ceremony in the 2022 Icons of Whisky.
Both the winners and highly commended entrants in each of the awards' categories were announced at the ceremony - the first in-person event for the Icons since early 2020.
Waterford Distillery took the coveted Distiller of the Year title, while Teeling Whiskey Company scooped the Sustainable Distillery of the Year award. The 2022 competition also sees a Chef of the Year title awarded for the first time, in a recognition of the growing bond between the fine dining and whisky industries.
Christopher Coates, Whisky Magazine editor, said: "This year's results are a testament to the great work that's been done by Irish whiskey makers over the past year. It's truly delightful to see the Irish whiskey industry growing at a rapid pace and drinkers' interest in Irish whiskey increasing exponentially. I'm certain this positive trend will continue and that competition in our Icons of Whisky categories will remain fierce for decades to come."
Run by the team at Whisky Magazine, the Icons of Whisky awards aim to celebrate the best and brightest people and places in the sector - not just the distilleries and the teams that work in them, but also the individuals and businesses, from bartenders to retailers, that work to support and promote them and their products.
The full list of winners and highly commended people and places from the Ireland regional awards can be found below as well as at www.iconsofwhisky.com.
Icons of Whisky Ireland 2022 Winners and Highly Commended
Distiller
Winner
Waterford Distillery
Craft Producer
Winner
Dingle Distillery
Highly Commended
Blackwater Distillery
Sustainable Distillery
Winner
Teeling Whiskey Company
Highly Commended
Midleton Distillery
Brand Innovator
Winner
Boann Distillery
Highly Commended
Roe & Co Irish Whiskey
Campaign Innovator
Winner
Dingle Distillery
Visitor Attraction
Winner
Jameson Distillery Bow Street
Highly Commended
Clonakilty Distillery Visitor Experience
Distillery Manager
Winner
Paul Wickham, Midleton Distillery
Master Distiller / Master Blender
Winner
Kevin O’Gorman, Midleton Distillery
Highly Commended
Paul Corbett, Clonakilty Distillery
Irish Whiskey Brand Ambassador
Winner
Robert Caldwell, Teeling Whiskey Distillery
Highly Commended
Gerard Corbett, Clonakilty Distillery
Visitor Attraction Manager
Winner
Ewan Paterson, Clonakilty Distillery
Single Outlet Retailer
Winner
Celtic Whiskey Shop
Multiple Outlet Retailer
Winner
Aer Rianta International (ARI), The Loop
Online Retailer
Winner
Celtic Whiskey Shop
Travel Retailer
Winner
Aer Rianta International (ARI), The Loop - The Irish Whiskey Collection
Supermarket
Winner
SuperValu
Own Brand Supermarket
Winner
Lidl Ireland
Whisky Buyer
Winner
Tracey Jordan, Aer Rianta International (ARI)
Highly Commended
Ally Alpine, Celtic Whiskey Shop
NEW TO 2022: Chef
Winner
Jason Nolan, Celtic Whiskey Bar & Larder
Bar Manager
Winner
Padraic Rafter, Paris Texas Bar
Highly Commended
Jim Gordon, Revolution Whiskey Bar
Bartender
Winner
Alex White, Revolution Whiskey Bar
Highly Commended
Evan O’Connor, Celtic Whiskey Bar & Larder
Whisky Bar
Winner
Celtic Whiskey Bar & Larder
Highly Commended
Revolution Whiskey Bar
Whisky Hotel Bar
Winner
The Tack Room at Adare Manor
Highly Commended
Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links, The Jameson Bar
Communicator
Winner
Matt Healy, Potstilled.com