Belfast Whiskey Week Exclusive Bottling

Killowen Barántúil – Cask KD169 | Mixed Mashbill – PX Sherry Finish | 3 Years Old

Happy 4th of July to our friends in the United States of America!

HAPPY CANADA DAY, eh?

Heaven Hill Named Most Awarded U.S. Distillery for Second Consecutive Year at 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition

BARDSTOWN, Ky. (June, 2025) – For the second year in a row, Heaven Hill Brands has been named the Most Awarded U.S. Distillery at the prestigious 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, earning a staggering more than 90 medals across its portfolio—including 15 Double Gold and 15 Gold awards. The distillery also had seven products advance to the “Best of Class” finals, with winners to be announced at the Competition’s Top Shelf Convention in November. This recognition reaffirms Heaven Hill’s position as a leader in American whiskey and spirits, with exceptional performance across a wide array of categories.

Best of Class Finalists:

Seven Heaven Hill products were named Best of Class Finalists, highlighting the distillery’s range and mastery of craft across styles:

• Best of Class Straight Bourbon Finalist: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C924
• Best of Class Wheated Bourbon Finalist: Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Traditional Barrel Series Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon
• Best of Class Wheat Whiskey Finalists:
  • Bernheim Straight Wheat Whiskey
  • Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 19-Year-Old Wheat Whiskey
• Best of Class Cream Liqueur Finalists:
  • Carolans Salted Caramel Irish Cream
  • Evan Williams Egg Nog
• Best of Class Small Batch Bourbon 11 Years & Older Finalist: Widow Jane Lucky 13 Bourbon

Platinum Medal Winners:

Four standout Heaven Hill products were awarded the rare Platinum Medal, an honor reserved for entries receiving Double Gold three years in a row:

• Carolans Irish Cream
• Elijah Craig 18-Year-Old Bourbon
• Widow Jane 10-Year-Old Bourbon

The achievement marks an additional notable event in a banner year for Heaven Hill, as the company prepares to celebrate two major milestones: the highly anticipated opening of the Heaven Hill Springs Distillery in September 2025, and the company’s 90th anniversary on December 13, 2025.

“These awards are a true reflection of the craft, innovation, and legacy that define Heaven Hill Brands,” said Kate Latts, Co-President and third-generation family member. “To be recognized again as the ‘Most Awarded U.S. Distillery’ is not just an honor, it’s a validation of our commitment to making spirits that resonate with consumers and connoisseurs alike.”

The San Francisco World Spirits Competition, founded in 2000, is one of the world’s most respected and rigorous judging events. Over 6,000 spirits were blind tasted by a panel of industry experts to ensure fair, unbiased evaluation based solely on quality. For more information, visit www.thetastingalliance.com.

ABOUT HEAVEN HILL BRANDS: Founded in 1935, Bardstown, KY-based Heaven Hill Brands (www.heavenhill.com) is one of the nation’s largest independent, family-owned and led spirits producers and marketers, as well as the world’s second-largest holder of Kentucky Bourbon. Heaven Hill has been named a Best Managed Company in both 2024 and 2025 by Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal. Heaven Hill’s diversified portfolio of brands includes Heaven Hill, Evan Williams, Elijah Craig, Widow Jane, Larceny, Old Fitzgerald, and Henry McKenna Bourbons; Rittenhouse Rye and FEW Whiskey; Deep Eddy Vodka; Admiral Nelson’s Rum; Black Velvet Canadian Whisky; Lunazul and Ocho Tequila; HPNOTIQ Liqueur; and Carolans Irish Cream Liqueur.

Brilliant News – Killowen Wins Big x3

We’re proud to share that Killowen Distillery has won three major honours at the recent Icons of Drink Awards from the World Drinks Awards.

Distillery Manager of the Year
Shenda O’Hare

Brand Ambassador of the Year
Sinead Tohill

Production Team of the Year
Killowen Distillery

These awards are a genuine reflection of the hard work, craft, and passion that our team brings every day. Recognition like this doesn’t happen by chance — it’s earned through dedication, consistency, and a shared commitment to doing things the right way.

Thank you to the World Drinks Awards for this recognition. We’ll keep pushing forward.

Sláinte

The Killowen Distillery Team

Legends return to Maltstock 2025

Some of our relaxed whisky friends have been with us from the start. Many of them will try their utmost to be with us time and time again. Why? Well, simply put: The like to be relaxed in September! Here’s a couple of them for you! Haste ye down quickly to find out who we are writing about. And then haste ye to our shop to get relaxed, as you can still join them and us!

Annette, Bob, Klaas, Stan and Teun

Billy Abbott – The Whisky Exchange

Look at him! Relaxing in the caring hands of another legend flyer sponsor at the Maltstock Campfire a couple of Maltstocks ago. This simply is his natural habitat. For those of you who don’t know Billy yet… Besides being a lovely guy and being relaxed he represents The Whisky Exchange, is a writer, a spirits competition judge, whisky critic and a true whisky nerd in the best sense of the word! Billy will be hosting a masterclass on the Maltstock Friday. He will be mainly relaxing the rest of the weekend.

Kenny Mcdonald – Dram Mór

In the sun, with a relaxed beer he is probably at his best. Some of us are looking forward to simply relax at Maltstock, others are already vigorously planning which masterclasses to try and visit, which Drinks with sessions to go to… Kenny is definitely of the latter kind. Dram Mór was established in 2019 by husband and wife team Kenny and Viktorija Macdonald and is now predominantly an independent bottler, bottling great quality spirits, at usually relaxed prices. You can find Kenny this year at our Drinks with sessions and co-hosting the infamous Maltstock Campfire.

Buy your Maltstock ticket NOW!

BLENDED WHISKY OFFERS

This June, we’ve got great offers on blended whiskes, from classics like Johnnie Walker’s premium Blue Label bottling at £15 off to £4.20 off the exceptional and accessibly priced Nikka from the Barrel, one of Japan’s best-loved blends.

Elsewhere, you can take a tour of the Scottish coastline with the Caisteal Chamuis 12 Year Old Blended Malt at £9, created with whiskies from a number of undisclosed Island distilleries – or save an eyebrow-raising £80 on something truly special with the The Whisky Exchange 37 Year Old Blended Malt.

SHOP NOW

We’re honored to share that Courage & Conviction Signature Malt has won Best Whisky and Best in Show at the First Landing Cup—a blind-judged competition celebrating the best spirits made in Virginia.

Raise a glass to Virginia’s finest!

SHOP THE WINNER