In its third year now having become its own category, the Icons if Whisky Ireland mark that time of the year when Whisky Magazine celebrates and honours the whiskey resurgence of this nation. This has been driven by those people and places nominated in the shortlist for these awards. Those taking the coveted top spots have been chosen for showing particular dedication and drive, taking not just their companies, but the industry too to another level.

Winners in each category will now go head-to-head with their contemporaries from across the globe for the overall title. Full results from the Whisky Magazine Awards Ireland will be published in Whisky Magazine Issue 164, available from Friday 6 December 2019. Tickets can be purchased for the global finale of the Icons of Whisky Awards 2020, the Whisky Magazine Awards London, March 26 2020. 

Additionally, to these winners and highly commended people and places, we are honoured to confer a Hall of Fame award on Tullamore DEW’s own global ambassador John Quinn for his expertise and passion. The Hall of Fame is proudly sponsored Amorim Top Series.

These were presented on Thursday, 21 November 2019 at the The Iveagh Garden Hotel.

Distiller of the Year, sponsored by Glencairn

Irish Distillers   

Highly Commended

Great Northern Distillery

Craft Producer of the Year, sponsored by Wade Ceramics

Dingle Distillery          

Highly Commended

Clonakilty Distillery

Brand Innovator of the Year, sponsored by Westrock

Irish Distillers 

Highly Commended

Chapel Gate Whiskey

Visitor Attraction of the Year, sponsored by Christies

Bushmills

Highly Commended

Jameson Experience Bow Street

Master Distiller/Blender of the Year, sponsored by Steklarna Hrastnik

Billy Leighton, Midleton Distillery       

Highly Commended

Alex Chasko, Teeling

Distillery Manager of the Year, sponsored by Larkfire

Darryl McNally, The Liberties  

Highly Commended

Lyndsey Harkins, Connacht Whiskey

Irish Whisky Ambassador of the Year

Avril Hogan, Dingle Distillery  

Highly Commended

Ger Garland, Irish Distillers

Visitor Attraction Manager of the Year

Lisa Jameson, Teeling

Highly Commended

Claire Hickey, Powerscourt

Bar Group of the Year 

Chawke Pub Group     

Highly Commended

The Porterhouse Group

Bar of the Year

37 Dawson Street, Dublin       

Highly Commended

9 Below, Dublin

Bar Manager of the Year         

Jim Rafferty, the Dylan Whisky Bar    

Highly Commended

Kevin Hurley, Balfes

Bartender of the Year 

Aaron Fleming, Celtic Whiskey Bar    

Highly Commended

Chris Hennessy, Dylans Whisky Bar

Hotel Bar of the Year  

The Tack Room, Adare Manor

Highly Commended

Ashford Castle, Cong

Communicator the Year          

Fionnan O’Connor, @AGlassApart      

Highly Commended

Bill Linnane, The Irish Independent

Campaign Innovator   

Clonakilty        

Highly Commended

Dublin Liberties

Communications Agency of the Year 

Burrell PR       

Highly Commended

Edelman

Advertising Agency of the Year          

TBWA, Dublin 

Highly Commended

The Public House

Design Agency of the Year     

MK Designs     

Highly Commended

Red & Grey

Designer of the Year   

Mark Keating, MK Designs      

Highly Commended

Stephen Heffernan

Multiple Outlets Retailer of the Year   

Mitchell & Sons Wine Merchants        

Highly Commended

O’Briens Wine Beer & Spirits

Online Retailer of the Year      

Celtic Whiskey Shop  

Highly Commended

Irishmalts.com

Single Outlet Retailer of the Year       

Celtic Whiskey Shop, Dublin  

Highly Commended

James Fox Cigar & Whiskey Store, Dublin

Whisky Buyer of the Year       

Ally Alpine      

Highly Commended

John Cooney

Supermarket of the Year         

Aldi     

Highly Commended

Dunnes Stores

Travel Retailer of the Year      

Aer Rianta International          

Highly Commended

Cork Airport