All made in Ireland, these drinks will make you want to plan a summer picnic or garden party with your family and friends when the good weather hits
We can’t wait for sunny days outside with great cocktails and delicious food surrounded by our loved ones. From handcrafted gin to coffee beans with personality, these amazing and unique Irish Made Awards Drink Category winners and runner-ups are ones who will bring your beverage game to a next level. Use local ingredients and garnishes like mint, basil or watermelon and bright berries to create extra special drinks this summer.
We are delighted to welcome back Powerscourt Distillery who are proudly supporting our Drink Category once again. Powerscourt Distillery is a unique whiskey distillery located on the Powerscourt Estate. Home to Fercullen Irish Whiskey, the distillery and visitor centre opened to the public in May 2019.
Speaking about their involvement in the Irish Made Awards again this year, Caroline Gardiner Head of Marketing, Digital and Communication at Powerscourt Distillery said:
“Having recently initiated our own “Spirit of Wicklow” awards to celebrate the Extraordinary Spirit and uncompromising mindset of Wicklow and its people, seen every day in our communities, businesses, services, wonderful craftsmanship and culture and in our connection to our unique and beautiful landscape, we are honoured to participate in a nationwide celebration of the very best Ireland has to offer.
“At Powerscourt Distillery, we appreciate the unique and extraordinary spirit it takes to start to business and the belief, resilience and hard work to build a business, so we are delighted to support The Irish Made Awards again this year the celebrate this Extraordinary Spirit.”
Have you got a drinks business based here in Ireland? Be sure to enter the Irish Made Awards now! Deadline is 30 May 2024. For details on how to enter, see the Awards page, and FAQs here.
Meet the past Drink Category winners and runners-up of the Irish Made Awards:
Foxes Bow Whiskey: The 2023 winner of this category was Foxes Bow Whiskey – a Limerick-based company founded by Alice Carroll and Tony Foote who felt that there was a gap in the market for a great whiskey that represented modern day, contemporary Ireland. With a distinct lack of respect for rules and a severe impatience with the status quo, they claim that there’s is a whiskey for anyone – but won’t be to everyone’s taste!
The Irish Craft Soda: The 2023 runner up of the Drink category was The Irish Craft Soda – which prides itself on having zero hidden ‘nasties’ in its products. Made using four natural ingredients, this delicious, hand-made soda packs a fruity punch with no artificial colours, no artificial preservatives and no artificial flavours.
Kinsale Mead Co: The 2022 winner of the Drink category was Kinsale Mead Co was also our 2021 runner up! It’s Ireland’s first meadery in 200 years and was founded to resurrect the lost art of mead making using age-old recipes and natural ingredients. They ferment their range of meads in the Kinsale meadery, using a range of Irish fruit and honey. Products range from €22 to €35.
Craft Cocktails: The 2021 winner is Craft Cocktails. Their range of premium bottled cocktails is made in Dublin 7 using only 100% natural ingredients and some serious bartender know-how from the team at Dublin’s BAR 1661. Including classics like Pornstar Martinis, the collection now has 11 core cocktails in small and large sizes, as well as zero alcohol options.
Pic: Craft Cocktails’ bottled drinks
Dublin City Gin: Dublin City Gin is our 2020 Irish Made Awards drink winner. First launched in 2016, the dry gin is handcrafted with carefully selected botanicals, and an interesting recipe they prepare includes Organic Rhubarb grown along the Grand Canal in Dublin. Enjoy this wonderful premium gin over ice in your friends company.
Glendalough Gin: Our 2019 Irish Made Award winner, Glendalough Gin, was created by a group of friends from Wicklow who had a passion to revive the heritage of craft distilling in Ireland. Founded in 2011, Glendalough Distillery now produces whiskey and gin right in the middle of Wicklow Mountains, that are renowned for their natural, scenic beauty. Bring this gorgeous wild botanical gin to a garden party in the coming months.
Ballykilcavan Brewery: The 2022 runner up was Ballykilcavan Brewery. This brewery is based on the family farm in Stradbally in Co Laois, and unveiled a new visitor centre in a renovated 200-year-old mill on the property in spring of 2022. The beers include Bin Bawn Pale Ale, Blackwell Irish Stout and Millhouse IPA.
Cloud Picker : Our 2020 Irish Made Awards runner-up was established in 2013 by Frank Kavanagh and Peter Sztal. Cloud Picker coffee isn’t just roasted in Dublin, it’s chosen for its personality as they go beyond the usual places to find their various coffee beans. They ensure the beans are picked at the right time for their full flavour and they support small producers. Sustainability is also at the top of their core values and so their packaging is compostable. Try their coffee and you will be excited to get up in the morning for another cup!
Aiteal Irish Gin: Another runner-up in the 2020 Irish Made Awards was Aiteal Irish Gin by Lough Ree Distillery. Their business is all about connecting the gentle pace of rural Ireland with the confidence of new technology. Their Aiteal is distilled using only Irish Juniper and Irish Whey Spirit, making it a 100% Irish Gin. Serve with classic, Mediterranean or elderflower tonic and a wedge of lime this summer.
Always drink responsibly, see drinkaware.ie.
