Irish Whiskey Society Irish Whiskey of the Year

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

I think this is something we should get going. However we may do it peoperly this year but maybe lets have a fun and informal poll for last year 2009.

Please join in the fun and vote in the polls for the best Irish whiskey of 2009 for you.

We can then collate results and do an overall poll from the best 2 or 3 from each section.

I will put the over all poll in this thread eventually

Please try and use you 3 votes in each section.

Thanks

[TheWhiskeyBro]

I guess we don't have enough votes for an overall poll yet... trying linking it to Facebook might generate more responses...

[Whiskey Pilgrim]

Kaixo Chico´s,
The best Irish whiskey....hmm a bit unfair
why not best cat,
ie best Pure Pot Still,Best Single malt,Best single Grain, best Delux Blend,Best blend,best Vintage,best Cask Strenght,Best Independant Experession bottle.
good luck

[JohnM]

I think some categories are too small, I'd say. Next year's award and the year after would be the same. Redbreast or Green Spot every year for pure pot still. Greenore every year for single grain...

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

Think we should consider this again ... 2009 ended up being a non runner as I totally forgot to run with it

How about we run with a new competition for this year. Try and get something together for our final tasting in November. Therefore I'd suggest voting cards done up for October tasting and we can also do an online vote and collate both together.

We just need to if we should have categories etc.

[DavidH]

So what whiskeys would be in the running for 2010?

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

So what whiskeys would be in the running for 2010?

A dificult one to call I suppose so lets get the thinking caps on.

For this year I would go the way of what is currrently available ... obviously not everything is available in different markets but we can start with Ireland and if anybody can source other market bottles that are used in tastings these could maybe considered.

If we have a NAS blend category the likes of Jameson would be in it every year. The way I look at it ... if Jameson wins year after year it is up to others to topple that crown

[jcskinner]

I want to bump this thread because I'd like to see us do something about it before the end of the year.
I propose we draw up a bit of a questionnaire and distribute them at the AGM, collate the results and press release it in December, when the society is otherwise in hibernation/planning.

[IainB]

I think the only way to do this is to come up with a few categories, then get members to make nominations. You could the make a short list based on how many nominations there are in each category, say the five or ten highest, then have an open vote. It would be relatively easy to do from that viewpoint. The only hard bit I forsee is agreeing the categories / parameters.

[jcskinner]

We've made some progress on that score among the committee. There's more to be done though.

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

Okay it's been a slow burner but 2011 lends itself perfectly to an IWS Irish Whiskey of the Year.

This year has been the most prolific year to date with over 30 Irish whiskeys either being released or rebranded.

I am going to concentrate on the ones that are available in Ireland but there are a few others that have cropped in other markets so feel free to give them special mention.

Anybody that would like to part take please vote for your top 3 whiskies of 2011 from the following list.

Irish Whiskey Releases for 2011
Conemara 18yo Amontillado Single cask Celtic Whiskey Shop
Connemara 'Bog Oak' Irish Whiskey
Clontarf Single Malt Irish Whiskey (Rebranded)
Clontarf Classic Blend Irish Whiskey (Rebranded)
Clontarf Black Label Irish Whiskey (Rebranded)
Greenore 18yo
Green Spot (Rebranded)
Irishman Cask Strength 2011 Edition
Jameson St Patricks Day 2011 (Regular Jameson)
Kilbeggan 18YO
Knappogue Castle Twin Wood 16 YO
Michael Collins Irish Whiskey A Blend (rebranded)
Michael Collins Irish Whiskey Single Malt Aged 10 Years
Midleton Barry Crockett Legacy Single Pot Still
Midleton Single Cask SPS The Irish Whiskey Collection Cask 48709
Midleton Single Cask SPS The Irish Whiskey Collection Cask 48710
Midleton Single Cask SPS Celtic Whiskey Shop - Cask 71578
Midleton Very Rare 2011
Palace Bar 9yo Single Malt
Powers John’s Lane Single Pot Still
Cooley New Spirit Poitin
Redbreast 12yo Single Pot Still (Rebranded)
Redbreast 12yo Cask Strength Single Pot Still
Redbreast 15yo Single Pot Still (Rebranded)
Slieve Foy 8yo Single Malt (M&S ROI in 2011)
Tyrconnell 11YO Single Cask (Celtic Whiskey Shop)
Tyrconnell 11YO Sherry Single Cask (WhiskyLive Exclusive)
Writers Tears Cask Strength

[DavidH]

Powers John's Lane
Connemara Bog Oak
Tyrconnell 11YO Sherry Single Cask

Do I have to put them in order?

[PgD]

It would be interesting to know how many each voter has tried from the list when picking the top 3.
I don't really feel qualified since I've only tried 4 from the list.

[JohnM]

Yeah, it would be pretty pointless if someone had only tasted three or four of them.

[DavidH]

We had that discussion last year too. This year I'm just going to roll with it Think of it as a rehearsal for something more rigorous in future years.

[Good Whiskey Hunting]

Redbreast Cask strength
Green Spot
Power's John's.
Oh i don't just like Pot Still's but this year has been a treat.

[JohnM]

I've tasted only about 11...

Barry Crockett Legacy
Redbreast Cask Strength 12
Powers John's Lane.

[TheWhiskeyBro]

I've tasted 18 (sad I know)

Powers Johns Lane (my release of the year)
Greenore 19yo SC for the DAA (late 2010 - but tasted it in Jan & May for the first time)
Connemara 18yo Amontillado Cask (and I'm not a big Connemara fan)

[DavidH]

If value for money counts here (and I think it should) then it's quite an easy choice, IMHO.

[IainB]

I've tried about 17 of the list and my 3 would be
Powers john's lane
Redbreast CS
Commemara 18 amontillado

I see this being a 2 horse race. Will it be PR with transfers?

[IainB]

So what about 2012? I expect yellow spot will feature strongly but I think it was a much quieter year for new releases.

What have we got for 2012 - nothing new from bushmills that I can recall ( apart from something with honey???), yellow spot, some single casks, VR2012, and Jameson select (or was that 2011), and whatever Cooleys came out of which I can only remember a few right now - sorry guys but there are those much better informed on this than I.
So what is the list? (Iwc or TWB please help!)

[Good Whiskey Hunting]

I really enjoyed the Jameson select reserve, the Yellow Spot was a great addition but the crowning achievement in Irish Whiskey this year has to go the our own SPS society bottling. Well done to all involved.

[Dec]

2014 Whiskey of the Year.

I was just checking out the Whiskey Live for Dublin website and noticed
"On Thursday 23rd October the Irish Whiskey Awards will take place at Kilbeggan distillery.
These awards are voted for by members of both the Celtic Whiskey Club and the Irish Whiskey Society."

I've missed the last two tastings due to work, so just wondering ...... where can I cast my vote ?
Oh and try book that day off work of course hahahahaha

[Good Whiskey Hunting]

The Redbreast 21 got the nod this year for the Irish Whiskey Awards, voting was different this year as it was blind tastings. Sadly I didn't taste all the samples and therefore didn't vote. I'm sure these issues will be sorted in time.