REDBREAST SOARS IN GLOBAL SPIRITS TASTINGS
Redbreast 12 Year Old Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey, which is crafted at Midleton Distillery by Irish Distillers – the producer of some of the world’s most enjoyed whiskeys – has taken home the World Whisky Trophy at the prestigious International Wine and Spirit Competition, one of the world’s most influential spirits competitions, now in it’s 50th year.
The competition awarded Redbreast 12 Year Old with its highest honour across Irish, American and Japanese whiskeys after scoring an impressive 98 points, continuing its legacy as the most decorated single pot still Irish whiskey in the world. The respected competition also honoured Midleton Very Rare Barry Crockett Legacy and Jameson Cooper’s Croze with 98 points, which was underpinned by Irish Distillers winning the majority of Gold Outstanding honours within the Irish whiskey category.
Success at the IWSC parallels stand-out performances for the Midleton portfolio at the Beverage Testing Institute, with Jameson Bow Street 18 Years Cask Strength and Redbreast 21 Year Old receiving platinum medals, the BTI’s most prestigious award, for scoring 96 points respectively. In addition, Irish Distillers scooped 27 Medals out of the 67 medals on offer at The Irish Whiskey Masters, with sixteen Gold Medals and seven Masters awarded across the range. The Redbreast portfolio was presented with coveted Master and Gold medals, with Redbreast 21 Year Old commended by the judges for ‘showing something different to the rest of the pack.’
Commenting on the accolades, Billy Leighton, Redbreast Master Blender at Midleton Distillery said: “We are thrilled to see more fantastic results at such prestigious global spirits tasting competitions. It is great to see the Redbreast range flourish as it continues to excite consumers with its exemplary single pot still Irish whiskey style. These awards are truly a testament to the craftsmen at Midleton Distillery who assist me in blending the finest Irish whiskeys in the world, and we look forward to seeing what the future holds!”
Notes
About the International Wine and Spirits Competition
Now in its 50th year, the IWSC is one of the most influential spirits competitions in the world with producers entering the awards, confident that they will be judged by the premier experts in any given region and style. With dedicated tasting premises around the world, the awards are widely recognised as one of the most reliable indicators of excellence in spirits globally.
About the Beverage Testing Institute
Founded in 1981, The Beverage Testing Institute is a leading competition with the goal of producing fair, impartial reviews for consumers. A certified member of the American Society of Testing and Materials, BTI is an independent product rating and review initiative which provides valid results and education for consumers and the trade.
About The Irish Whiskey Masters
Organised by the prestigious spirits-based publication, The Spirits Business, the Irish Whiskey Masters is one of the leading annual Irish whiskey awards, seeking to find and reward the finest brands on the world stage. A panel of leading spirits and on-trade specialists discover the finest spirits through a blind tasting, with excellence recognised in category, region, age, design & packaging.
Full results from the Beverage Testing Institute:
- Jameson Bow Street 18 Years Old Cask Strength – 96 Platinum Medal
- Redbreast 21 Year Old Single Pot Still – 96 Platinum Medal
- Midleton Very Rare 2018 Irish Whiskey – 93 Points – Gold Medal
- Midleton Dair Ghaelach Bluebell Forest – 93 Points – Gold Medal
- Redbreast 12 Year Old Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey – 93 Points – Gold Medal
- Redbreast 15 Year Old Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey – 93 Points – Gold Medal
- Jameson Crested Irish Whiskey – 92 Points – Gold Medal
- Red Spot 15 Year Old Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey – 92 Points – Gold Medal
- Powers 12 Year Old John’s Lane Irish Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey – 92 Points – Gold Medal
- Powers Three Swallow Release Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey – 92 Points – Gold Medal
- Green Spot Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey – 91 Points – Gold Medal
- Jameson 18 Year Old Irish Whiskey – 91 Points – Gold Medal
- Jameson Signature Irish Whiskey – 91 Points – Gold Medal
- Jameson Blended Irish Whiskey – 90 Gold Medal
- Redbreast Lustau Edition Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey – 89 Points – Silver Medal
- Redbreast 12 Year Old Cask Strength Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey – 89 Points – Silver Medal
- Powers Gold Label Blended Irish Whiskey – 89 Points – Silver Medal
- Jameson Caskmates IPA Edition – 89 Points – Silver Medal
- Jameson Black Barrel Irish Whiskey – 89 Points – Silver Medal
- Jameson Caskmates Stout Edition Irish Whiskey – 88 Points – Silver Medal
- Jameson Cooper’s Croze Irish Whiskey – 87 Points – Silver Medal
- Jameson Distiller’s Safe Irish Whiskey – 87 Points – Silver Medal
- Jameson Blender’s Dog Irish Whiskey – 87 Points – Silver Medal
Full results from the International Wine and Spirit Competition:
- Jameson Cooper’s Croze – Gold Outstanding 98 Points
- Jameson 18 Years Old – Silver Medal
- Jameson Black Barrel – Silver Medal
- Jameson Caskmates IPA Edition – Bronze Medal
- Jameson Caskmates Stout Edition – Bronze
- Jameson Crested – Bronze
- Jameson Distiller’s Safe – Bronze
- Jameson Irish Whiskey – Bronze
- Jameson Signature – Bronze
- Method & Madness Single Pot Still – Silver
- Midleton Barry Crockett Legacy – Gold Outstanding 98 Points
- Midleton Very Rare 2018 – Silver
- Midleton Very Rare Dair Ghaelach Bluebell Forest – Silver
- Powers John’s Lane 12 Year Old – Gold
- Powers Three Swallow Release – Gold
- Red Spot Single Pot Still – Gold
- Powers Gold Label – Bronze
- Redbreast 12 Single Pot Still – Gold Outstanding 98 Points – Worldwide Whisky Trophy 2019
- Redbreast 15 Year Old – Gold
- Redbreast 12 Year Old Cask Strength – Silver
- Redbreast 21 Year Old – Silver
- Redbreast Lustau Edition – Silver
Full results from The Irish Whiskey Masters:
- Irish Distillers Jameson Irish Whiskey – Silver
- Irish Distillers Jameson Caskmates Stout Edition – Silver
- Irish Distillers Jameson Caskmates IPA Edition – Gold
- Irish Distillers Jameson Signature – Gold
- Irish Distillers Jameson Crested – Gold
- Irish Distillers Jameson Black Barrel – Master
- Irish Distillers Jameson Cooper’s Croze – Gold
- Irish Distillers Jameson Distiller’s Safe – Silver
- Irish Distillers Jameson Blender’s Dog – Silver
- Irish Distillers Jameson 18 Years – Gold
- Irish Distillers Midleton Very Rare 2018 – Gold
- Irish Distillers Jameson Bow Street 18 Years Cask Strength (Batch 2) – Master
- Irish Distillers Midleton Dair Ghaelach Bluebell Forest – Gold
- Irish Distillers METHOD AND MADNESS Single Malt – Gold
- Irish Distillers Powers Three Swallow Release – Master
- Irish Distillers Powers Johns Lane 12 Years Old – Gold
- Irish Distillers Redbreast 12 Year Old – Master
- Irish Distillers Green Spot Chateau Montelena – Gold
- Irish Distillers METHOD AND MADNESS Single Grain – Gold
- Irish Distillers Redbreast Lustau Edition – Gold
- Irish Distillers Green Spot Chateau Leoville Barton – Gold
- Irish Distillers Yellow Spot – Gold
- Irish Distillers Redbreast 15 Year Old – Gold
- Irish Distillers Redbreast 12 Year Old Cask Strength – Master
- Irish Distillers Red Spot – Gold
- Irish Distillers Midleton Barry Crockett Legacy – Master
- Irish Distillers Redbreast 21 Year Old – Master
About Irish Distillers
Irish Distillers is Ireland’s leading supplier of spirits and wines and producer of some of the world’s most well-known and successful Irish whiskeys. Led by Jameson, our brands are driving the global renaissance of Irish whiskey. Jameson is the world’s fastest-growing Irish whiskey, experiencing 29 years of consecutive growth and hitting sales of 7.3m cases in 2018. Our brands are exported to 130+ markets, with over 80 of those experiencing double- or triple-digit growth.
Irish Distillers was formed in 1966, when a merger took place between John Power & Son, John Jameson & Son and Cork Distilleries Company. In 1988 Irish Distillers joined Pernod Ricard, gaining access to unprecedented levels of investment and an extensive global distribution network. Since 2012, we have invested over €250m to double our production and bottling capacity to meet global demand for our products.
We employ over 600 people across our operations in Cork and Dublin.
About Pernod Ricard
Pernod Ricard is the world’s n°2 in wines and spirits with consolidated Sales of €8,987 million in FY18. Created in 1975 by the merger of Ricard and Pernod, the Group has undergone sustained development, based on both organic growth and acquisitions: Seagram (2001), Allied Domecq (2005) and Vin&Sprit (2008). Pernod Ricard holds one of the most prestigious brand portfolios in the sector: Absolut Vodka, Ricard pastis, Ballantine’s, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute and The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Martell cognac, Havana Club rum, Beefeater gin, Malibu liqueur, Mumm and Perrier-Jouët champagnes, as well Jacob’s Creek, Brancott Estate, Campo Viejo and Kenwood wines. Pernod Ricard employs a workforce of approximately 18,900 people and operates through a decentralised organisation, with 6 “Brand Companies” and 86 “Market Companies” established in each key market. Pernod Ricard is strongly committed to a sustainable development policy and encourages responsible consumption. Pernod Ricard’s strategy and ambition are based on 3 key values that guide its expansion: entrepreneurial spirit, mutual trust and a strong sense of ethics.
Pernod Ricard is listed on Euronext (Ticker: RI; ISIN code: FR0000120693) and is part of the CAC 40 index.
