The winning products, people, and places have been announced in the World Whiskies Awards Ireland 2026. The awards were announced at a ceremony held at the InterContinental Dublin on 26 February 2026. The event brought together leading figures from across the Irish whiskey industry 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 Teeling Whiskey’s Alex Chasko as Master Distiller of the Year, Midleton Distillery as Distiller of the Year, and the team from Killowen Distillery as Production Team of the Year.
During the ceremony, the latest inductee was welcomed into the Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame. David Quinn, whose 40-year-plus career at Irish Distillers has seen him hold roles including master distiller for Bushmills and technical director of Irish Distillers, became Inductee No 108 of the Hall of Fame.
Bradley Weir, chair of judges for the World Whiskies Awards, 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, and I know my fellow judges will agree that the industry in Ireland can be extremely proud of itself. Speaking of judges, I want to also dedicate a moment to thank them for their continued hard work and expertise, as well as the rest of the awards team.”
Sponsors and partners of the World Whiskies Awards Ireland 2026 include: Glencairn Crystal, Amorim Top Series, McLaren Presentation, IPL Packaging, and Smurfit Westrock.
Winners of the World Whiskies Awards Ireland will go on to compete for the title of World’s Best in their category. The Icons of Whisky Ireland will also compete for the title of Global Icon, offering people and places of whisky to be recognised on a global stage. The results of the global competition will be announced at the World Whiskies Awards 2026 Global Dinner on 25 March 2026. The results from the Scotland, America, and Rest of World award rounds have already been announced.
Icons of Whisky Ireland 2026
Irish Whiskey Brand Ambassador of the Year
Winner
Beibhinn O’Reilly, Teeling Whiskey Company
Highly Commended
Andrew Healy, Ireland Craft Beverages
Brand Innovator of The Year
Winner
Jameson
Highly Commended
Killowen Distillery
Campaign Innovator of The Year
Winner
Micil Distillery
Highly Commended
Teeling Whiskey Distillery
Communicator of the Year
Winner
Barry Chandler, Stories & Sips
Highly Commended
Gary Byrne, Ireland Whiskey Tours
Cooper
Winner
Ger Buckley, Irish Distillers
Craft Distiller or Blender
Winner
Damien Rafferty, Titanic Distillers
Highly Commended
Jimín Ó Griallais, Micil Distillery
Craft Producer of the Year
Winner
Killowen Distillery
Highly Commended
Micil Distillery
Distiller of the Year
Winner
Midleton Distillery
Distillery Manager of the Year
Winner
Jaime Jordan, Irish Distillers
Highly Commended
Sabrina Glynn, Micil Distillery
Independent Bottler of the Year
Winner
Two Stacks Irish Whiskey
Marketing Team of the Year
Winner
Jameson Ireland Marketing Team, Irish Distillers
Highly Commended
Marketing Team, Teeling Whiskey Company
Master Distiller/Master Blender of the Year
Winner
Alex Chasko, Teeling Whiskey Company
Production Team
Winner
Production Team, Killowen Distillery
Highly Commended
Production Team, Titanic Distillers
Sales Team
Winner
Irish Market Company Retails Sales Team, Irish Distillers
Highly Commended
Sales Team, Micil Distillery
Sustainable Distillery of the Year
Winner
Teeling Whiskey Distillery
Visitor Attraction Manager of the Year
Winner
Siobhán Winston, Titanic Distillers
Highly Commended
Jessica Conneely, Micil Distillery
Visitor Attraction of the Year
Winner
Tullamore DEW Visitor Experience
Highly Commended
Midleton Distillery Experience
Visitor Attraction Team
Winner
Tullamore DEW Visitor Experience Team
Highly Commended
Roe & Co Distillery Team, Smarts Communicate
World Whiskies Awards Ireland 2026 — Best Irish winners
Best Irish Blended
Jameson
18 Years Old
Best Irish Blended Limited Release
Hinch Irish Whiskey
15 Years Old Sherry Cask Finish
Best Irish Blended Malt
The Whistler
The Good, The Bad and The Smoky
Best Irish Grain
Fercullen
15
Best Irish New Make & Young Spirit
Copeland Distillery
Double Distilled Chocolate Malt
Best Irish Pot Still
Spots Whiskey
Red Spot
Best Irish Rye
Powers
Irish Rye
Best Irish Single Cask Single Malt
McConnell’s Irish Whisky
20 Years Old Old Cromac Collection
Best Irish Single Malt
Dunville’s Irish Whiskey
PX 24 Years Old Single Malt
Best Irish Small Batch Single Malt
Hinch Irish Whiskey
Single Malt
