Icons of Whisky 2022: Ireland regional winners revealed

The Whisky Magazine Icons of Whisky awards have announced the Ireland regional winners in the 2022 competition at a ceremony in Dublin - marking a return to in-person events after almost two years.

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

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

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

26 November 2021 - Bethany Whymark