Cooley Named European Distiller of the Year

Cooley Named European Distiller of the Year - Again

Cooley Distillery named European Distiller of the Year for 2nd Consecutive Year



Cooley Distillery, Ireland’s only independent Whiskey distiller, has been named European Distiller of the Year for the second year running at the 2009 International Wine and Spirit Competition Awards banquet in London last night.



In 2008, Cooley Distillery won the World and European Distillery of the Year awards becoming the first Irish distiller to do so. This year, Cooley Distillery eclipsed its 2008 IWSC medal haul with a record 10 gold medals and nine Best in Class awards securing the European Distiller of the Year award in the process.



To top the night off for the Louth based distillery, its Kilbeggan 15-year-old collected the prestigious Brown Forman Trophy for Worldwide Whiskey of the Year. The Brown Forman Trophy is awarded to the best Whiskey in the world produced outside of Scotland.



The Kilbeggan 15-year-old, which was launched in March 2007, has now won back to back IWSC gold medals and has been recognised as the best in its class for two years running. The Brown-Forman Award cements Kilbeggan as one of the world’s best Whiskeys.



The awards were accepted on the night by Noel Sweeney, Master Blender and Jack Teeling, Sales & Marketing Director of Cooley Distillery, at the 40th IWSC Awards ceremony at the Guildhall in London.


Jack Teeling, commented,


“To win European Distiller of the Year award in back to back years is a unique achievement. This award is testament to the innovation and dedication of the entire Cooley staff. Their continued hard work and our focus on quality has allowed us to produce an extensive portfolio of world class Whiskeys as evidenced by winning Worldwide Whiskey of the Year for our Kilbeggan 15-year-old.



Irish whiskey is traditionally renowned for its quality. We are playing a key role in the renaissance of the category.”