Tullamore Dew wins "Best Irish Whiskey" award

Tullamore Dew has rounded off a year that has seen its new visitor centre opened and plans for a new distillery in Tullamore unveiled with a "Best Irish Whiskey of the Year" award. The whiskey won the accolade for its ten year old single malt at the third annual New York International Spirits Competition (NYISC). The same whiskey was awarded in a number of other competitions in 2012, including the Spirits Masters Awards, the International Wine and Spirit Competition and the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The brand's twelve year old special reserve meanwhile came up trumps in the International Spirits Challenges as well as the World Whiskey Awards this year. Tullamore Dew's ten year old single malt competed at the NYISC with close to 400 of the world's finest distilled spirits from over 34 countries. A hand-selected panel of A-list trade-only judges including buyers, retail storeowners, restaurant and bar owners, distributors and importers plumped for the Tullamore whiskey, at the competition founded by spirits writer Adam Levy. Speaking after the result global brand director for Tullamore Dew Shane Hoyne said he's delighted the whiskey is being recognised. "We are extremely honoured that Tullamore Dew is being recognised by our colleagues and peers for its unique smooth taste and gentle complexity," he said. "It has been an important year for Tullamore Dew and a homecoming for the brand," he added, "with the re-opening of the visitor centre and the announcement of the new Irish whiskey distillery in Tullamore. This international accolade reaffirms why Tullamore Dew is one of the most well loved Irish whiskeys around the world." Tullamore Dew is currently one of the fastest growing Irish whiskey brands, almost doubling worldwide sales to just under 700,000 cases since 2005. It is the largest selling Irish whiskey in many markets in northern and central Europe, while in several countries including Denmark, Czech Republic and Latvia it is the largest selling whiskey of any type.