Bushmills - the best Irish whiskey?

[jcskinner]

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/busin ... 53518.html

I agree.
Please discuss.

[DavidH]

Not just the best Irish whiskey, but the best Irish whiskey in the world! To assess this achievement I need to know what Irish whiskeys from other countries were entered.

These competitions are an awful cod. Pay money, get a rake of "medals" in return.

[JohnM]

Irish Distillers will win a similar award and so will Cooley. Everyone will be the best at some stage during the year.

Not sure there is a best Irish whiskey - just different styles that appeal to different people.

[DavidH]

"All must have prizes!"

Incidentally, the Best Irish Whiskey according to this competition is Bushmills 1608. You could make a good argument for Bushmills having the best range of Irish whiskey but 1608 is nowhere close to being the best Irish whiskey, even compared to the others in the competition.

[JohnM]

Kilbeggan 15 (which I like a lot) won the best whisk(e)y in the world at some competition recently.

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

Just goes to show how peoples tastes differ ....

"..... but 1608 is nowhere close to being the best Irish whiskey, even compared to the others in the competition.

I must admit it is one of my favourite Bushmills ...

Kilbeggan 15 (which I like a lot) won the best whisk(e)y in the world at some competition recently.

As opposed to this which I don't see the hype and this has won high praise in other competitions, I don't dislike it I just don't see it as special .



The problem with alot of these competitions is that it is not comprehensive.

Take the Bushmills 16yo getting Gold ... It is probably in the Irish single Malt 13-17yo category. Of which Bushmills 16yo could well have been the only entry.

I think the 1608 gets alot of fans due to the noteable extra dimention that the 46% strength adds over it's stable mates which are only 40%.

[varizoltan]

Tyrconnell 17.5 years the best

[jcskinner]

2010 San Francisco World Spirits Competition: http://www.sfspiritscomp.com/pdfs/2010S ... yClass.pdf

Maybe everything entered got a medal. But not everything got gold or near it.

Blended Irish Whiskey
Best Irish Whiskey, Double Gold Medal, Bushmills 1608 Irish Whiskey Limited Edition, Ireland [46%] $100.
Importer: Diageo North America - Norwalk, CT www.diageo.com
Double Gold Medal, Bushmills Black Bush Irish Whiskey, Ireland [40%] $32. Importer: Diageo North America -
Norwalk, CT www.diageo.com
Gold Medal, Jameson 18 Year Old Irish Whiskey, Ireland [40%] $99. Importer: Pernod Ricard USA - Purchase, NY
www.pernod-ricard-usa.com
Gold Medal, Midleton Very Rare Irish Whiskey, Ireland [40%] $145. Importer: Pernod Ricard USA - Purchase, NY
www.pernod-ricard-usa.com
Gold Medal, Bushmills Original Irish Whiskey, Ireland [40%] $22. Importer: Diageo North America - Norwalk, CT
www.diageo.com
Silver Medal, Jameson Irish Whiskey, Triple Distilled, Ireland [40%] $28. Importer: Pernod Ricard USA - Purchase,
NY www.pernod-ricard-usa.com
Silver Medal, Jameson Gold Irish Whiskey, Ireland [40%] $60. Importer: Pernod Ricard USA - Purchase, NY www.
pernod-ricard-usa.com
Silver Medal, Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve Irish Whiskey, Ireland [40%] $250. Importer: Pernod Ricard USA -
Purchase, NY www.pernod-ricard-usa.com
Silver Medal, Powers Gold Label Irish Whiskey, Ireland [40%] $25. Importer: Pernod Ricard USA - Purchase, NY
www.pernod-ricard-usa.com
Silver Medal, Powers 12 Year Old Irish Whiskey, Ireland [40%] $35. Importer: Pernod Ricard USA - Purchase, NY
www.pernod-ricard-usa.com
Silver Medal, Paddy's Irish Whiskey, Ireland [40%] $29. Importer: Pernod Ricard USA - Purchase, NY www.
pernod-ricard-usa.com
Silver Medal, Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey, Ireland [40%] $20. Importer: Sazerac www.geminispiritswine.com
Silver Medal, Kilbeggan 15 Year Old Irish Whiskey, Ireland [40%] $100. Importer: Sazerac www.geminispiritswine.
com
Bronze Medal, Slane Castle Irish Whiskey, Ireland [40%] Need Price, Importer: Capstone Int'l - St. Petersburg, FL
www.capstone-international.com
Bronze Medal, Kellan Irish Whiskey, Ireland [40%] $20. Importer: BerNiko - Hallandale Beach, FL www.berniko.
com
Bronze Medal, Jameson 12 Year Old Irish Whiskey, Ireland [40%] $49. Importer: Pernod Ricard USA - Purchase,
NY www.pernod-ricard-usa.com

Single Malt Irish Whiskey
Double Gold Medal, Connemara Peated Single Malt Irish Whiskey, Cask Strength, Connemara, Ireland [57.9%]
$60. Importer: Sazerac www.geminispiritswine.com; www.connemarawhiskey.com
Gold Medal, Connemara 12 Year Old Peated Single Malt Irish Whiskey, Ireland [40%] $94. Importer: Sazerac
www.geminispiritswine.com; www.connemarawhiskey.com
Gold Medal, The Tyrconnell 10 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey, Madeira Finish, Ireland [46%] $72. Importer:
Sazerac www.geminispiritswine.com; www.tyrconnellwhiskey.com
Gold Medal, The Tyrconnell Single Malt Irish Whiskey, Port Finish, Ireland [46%] $72. Importer: Sazerac www.
geminispiritswine.com; www.tyrconnellwhiskey.com
Gold Medal, Bushmills 10 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey, Ireland [40%] $40. Importer: Diageo North America -
Norwalk, CT www.diageo.com
Gold Medal, Bushmills 16 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey, Ireland [40%] $65. Importer: Diageo North America -
Norwalk, CT www.diageo.com
Gold Medal, Bushmills 21 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey, Ireland [40%] $120. Importer: Diageo North America
- Norwalk, CT www.diageo.com
Silver Medal, Knappogue Castle Single Malt Irish Whiskey, 1995 Very Special Reserve, Ireland [40%] $99.
Importer: Castle Brands - NY, NY www.castlebrandsinc.com
Silver Medal, Connemara Peated Single Malt Irish Whiskey, Connemara, Ireland [40%] $40. Importer: Sazerac
www.geminispiritswine.com; www.connemarawhiskey.com
Silver Medal, The Tyrconnell Single Malt Irish Whiskey, Ireland [40%] $33. Importer: Sazerac www.
geminispiritswine.com; www.tyrconnellwhiskey.com
Silver Medal, The Tyrconnell Single Malt Irish Whiskey, Sherry Finish, Ireland [46%] $72. Importer: Sazerac www.
geminispiritswine.com; www.tyrconnellwhiskey.com
Silver Medal, Tullamore Dew 10 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey, Ireland [40%] $40. Importer: Skyy Spirits - SF,
CA www.skyy.com

Pure Pot Still Irish Whiskey
Double Gold Medal, Redbreast 12 Year Old Irish Whiskey, Ireland [40%] $60. Importer: Pernod Ricard USA -
Purchase, NY www.pernod-ricard-usa.com

[John]

I'm almost speechless - have I just read about an assessment system that puts Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve on a par with Paddy Irish Whiskey?? You have got to be kidding me

And the Jameson 12yo is ranked the same as Slane Castle Mother of Jebus what on earth happened there?

I wonder why Greenspot wasn't entered into the PPS section of the competition - is it not available in the US?

To echo Zoltan's comment, I really like the Tyrconnell 17yo and feel it could well rival the Bushmills 21yo though the 21yo has greater depth because of the finishing involved.

Black Bush and especially the Anniversary Malt (I assume that's the one they've ranked?) are really nice drinks and I'm not at all surprised it took a double gold.

J.

[DavidH]

I wonder why Greenspot wasn't entered into the PPS section of the competition - is it not available in the US?

No, it's not.

I'll give the organisers props for having a distinct PPS category. Redbreast could easily have ended up as a "blend".

[John]

I'll give the organisers props for having a distinct PPS category. Redbreast could easily have ended up as a "blend".

It was categorised as a blend when the results were announced initially, until the error was specifically pointed out to them.

I think they are overly-complicating the review system.

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

The entry system is a bit hit and miss.

I don't think IDL enter these competitions at all but importers can enter them. So on this basis you may never have a full compliment of Irish whiskies also the Irish WHiskey industry in general is not great at representing itself to these competitions as the have a habit of only going with what is their main stay whiskies as opposed to entering single cask versions too. I can see why they wouldn't but it might raise the exposure of Irish Whiskey excellence if they did.

[jcskinner]

I'm very aware of the flaws of such competitions.
But the SF competition is pretty well run and very comprehensive in its coverage of all spirits. That's why I was surprised at the Redbreast SNAFU previously.
I think these results are reasonable and concur with some of my own tasting conclusions: I too have found Jameson RVR totally overrated, and Paddy and Slane both underrated generally.
We all have our own pantheon of course, but I think their choice of double gold winners is a good guide to what's best in Irish whiskey. And I certainly wouldn't disagree with them stating that they found all of Bushmills' output to be top notch.

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

Yes Jim I would agree with you it is certainly one of the better competitions. And yes Paddy is not the gut rot that some people think it is.

Just to explain to others

A list of Medal can be meaningless unless put into context as there is a bit more to it than just the Gold medal.

They used to have them all listed in their categories before and it was a bit clearer as to what was getting a gold medal for what. You can be sure Paddy was not in the same category as Jameson RVR. So just because all have gold medals does not mean they are being measured against each other.

This is something people get confused about with Jim Murray too when he gives an Ardbeg 97points and Jameson nas 97 points. He does not measure them against each other but measures them in categories. The ardbeg is the best in one class and the Jameson is the best in another class. I don't agree with him on either but I know where he is comming from.

[DavidH]

They used to have them all listed in their categories before and it was a bit clearer as to what was getting a gold medal for what. You can be sure Paddy was not in the same category as Jameson RVR.

Just out of curiosity, what kind of categories are you talking about that would separate Paddy and RVR. Price, perhaps?

[JohnM]

I think we're lucky to have three great distilleries in Ireland. Personally, Midleton would be my favourite, but that's not to say it's the best - it's hard to judge as they all produce such different stuff. Bushmills doesn't suit my tastes quite as much as Midleton or Cooley, although they have some nice stuff for sure.

Last year in the same competition Bushmills 1608 only got bronze.

I like this competition, as the spirits are tasted blind (I think). I'm not sure if they separate premium whiskey from standard whiskey in the tastings, but couldn't be sure. I think they may just taste Irish blends together, Irish malts together, etc.

It would be interesting to see what people's favourite Irish distillery is, though. Maybe a poll?

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

They used to have them all listed in their categories before and it was a bit clearer as to what was getting a gold medal for what. You can be sure Paddy was not in the same category as Jameson RVR.

Just out of curiosity, what kind of categories are you talking about that would separate Paddy and RVR. Price, perhaps?

Off the top of my head I could not remember but there used to be a lot of different Irish categories(as with scotch and the rest) which makes it easier for Irish Whiskies to win gold but if there was only one whiskey in a category it is not guarenteed a gold as golds are given out for quality.

However in saying that they may have changed it looking at the way they posted the results.

However you used to have catergories like.

Blended Irish Whiskey nas (No age statement)
Blended Irish Whiskey Under 10years
Blended Irish Whiskey 10-12 yo
Blended Irish Whiskey 13-17yo
Blended Irish Whiskey 18yo and over
Blended Irish Whiskey premium.

These may not be the exact categories but would be a fair reflection on how the categories work and give you an idea as to how many categories they would use on Irish Blended Whiskey alone. So as you can see you may only have Jameson 12yo & Powers 12yo in the 10-12yo category. It is the same for Single malts. There are some many categories that it make it very hard for a distillery not to have a few wins.

But the reason Irish whiskey wins all these golds is because the quality is high in the first place and there are plenty of categories to thin out the competition.

[JohnM]

If they do categorise them like that, then Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve is in the same category as Paddy.

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

If they do categorise them like that, then Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve is in the same category as Paddy.

Not neccessairly I think there is a premium category and possibly a super premium category too but whether that goes with the Irish Whiskey section but I wouold imagine Midleton VR & Jameson RVR would be in a category of their own along with possibly Kilbeggan 15yo. SO basically a category of 3.

I remember they had all the categories listed a few yaers ago and there were maximum a handful of Irish whiskies in any one category. Possibly not listing the categories and they may have changed it all around as I honestly don't know if they've changed the criteria or not.

However all the winners of each category goes up against each other to find an over all winner which is the Bushmills 1608 which is probably the best accolade of them all. This will obviously devide people

[JohnM]

You're right - I should have read more carefully.

I can't see anywhere on the website about tasting categories, apart from the award categories. I think they should publish this.

I think they taste them blind, which means there can be no arguing with the result. But it just shows how variable tastings are when 1608 wins a bronze one year and a double gold the next.

I'd love to see more stuff from Bushmills - more older whiskeys. The Millennium 1975 was great, or the ones I've had, apart maybe from one.

[jcskinner]

I think everyone would love to see more older Bush.
Although, given the price point of the 21 yo, I'd be fearful of what they might charge for say a 25 yo or 30 yo.
With the expanded capacity, I hope that they are laying down more casks for the long haul.
Even if they lack the stocks for a regular bottling, I think there would be a lot of interest in an older single cask Bush.