The 2025 World Whiskies Awards Ireland has announced its top age statement Irish whiskeys, recognizing the best in class across a range of categories. These winners, each awarded a ‘Best’ title, represent the finest examples of Irish whiskey craftsmanship, from rich single malts to complex blends.
With their national titles secured, these exceptional whiskeys will now move on to the global stage, where they will compete against the best from other regions later this month. In this article, I’m focusing on the age statement winners—whiskeys that showcase the impact of careful maturation, expert cask selection, and traditional distilling techniques. Here’s a closer look at the standout bottles that claimed top honors in Ireland this year. You can read all about the best blended Irish whiskeys here.
Fercullen 15 Year Old
Category: Best Irish Grain
Age: 13 to 20 Years
Tasting Notes: Vanilla, fudge, honeyed almonds, dried apricots, mango, buttery popcorn, orange and lime marmalade, oak
BUY NOW: $87
Fercullen 15 Year Old is a premium blended Irish whiskey produced by Powerscourt Distillery in County Wicklow. The distillery, nestled within the historic Powerscourt Estate, has quickly established itself as a significant player in the Irish whiskey landscape. While many modern Irish distilleries rely on sourced whiskey in their early years, Powerscourt has gradually transitioned to showcasing its own spirit, with a focus on quality maturation and carefully selected cask finishes.
The 15-year-old expression is crafted from a mash of corn and malt, matured initially in first-fill ex-bourbon barrels to build a foundation of vanilla sweetness and oak depth. A portion of the whiskey is then finished in second-fill Madeira casks, adding an extra dimension of complexity. Bottled at 41.5% ABV, non-chill filtered, and naturally coloured, Fercullen 15 Year Old represents a refined step up for whiskey enthusiasts looking to explore aged Irish whiskey with a balance of tradition and innovation.
Redbreast 27 Year Old
Category: Best Irish Pot Still
Age: 21 Years & Over
Tasting Notes: Tropical fruits, nuts, rich dried fruit, vanilla, toasted oak, oak, spice
BUY NOW: $594
Redbreast 27 Year Old is a premium single pot still Irish whiskey, representing the pinnacle of the Redbreast range. Crafted by Irish Distillers at the Midleton Distillery in County Cork, this expression showcases the brand’s dedication to traditional whiskey-making techniques and exceptional maturation processes.
This 27-year-old whiskey is meticulously produced from a mash bill of malted and unmalted barley, triple-distilled in traditional copper pot stills—a hallmark of Irish whiskey craftsmanship. The spirit is then matured for 27 years in a combination of bourbon, sherry, and ruby port casks. The inclusion of ruby port casks adds an additional layer of complexity and depth to the whiskey, enriching its flavor profile.
Bottled at cask strength, 54.6% ABV, Redbreast 27 Year Old is non-chill filtered, preserving its natural character and robust flavors.
Fercullen Cask Select
Category: Best Irish Single Cask Single Grain
Age: 13 to 20 Years
Tasting Notes: Dark chocolate, chilli, lime, grapefruit, hazelnut, soda bread, chocolate ganache, fruit loaf, buttery popcorn
BUY NOW: $98
Fercullen Cask Select: 13 Year Old Single Grain is a limited-edition release from Powerscourt Distillery, finished in Imperial Stout-infused casks from O Brother Brewing. In early 2022, five Fercullen single malt barrels were sent to the brewery to mature their ‘Opus One’ Imperial Stout before being returned to Powerscourt and filled with 13-year-old single grain whiskey.
Initially released at 48.5% ABV after five months, the final three barrels were batched and finished for 17 months before being bottled at cask strength, 56.6% ABV. This distillery-exclusive release is limited to just 800 bottles, offering a rare glimpse into the influence of stout-seasoned casks on Irish whiskey.
Hyde Single Cask Single Malt 20 Year Old
Category: Best Irish Single Cask Single Malt
Age: 13 to 20 Years
Tasting Notes: Velvet honey, rich dried fruit, fresh apple, redcurrant, vanilla, toffee spice, dark chocolate
BUY NOW: $560
Hyde 20 Year Old Single Cask is a well-aged Irish single malt that has spent 18 years in a flame-charred ex-bourbon cask from Kentucky before being finished for two years in an Oloroso sherry cask from Jerez. This careful maturation process brings together the vanilla and caramel influence of American oak with the dried fruit and nutty character of sherry-seasoned wood.
Bottled as a single cask release, this whiskey reflects Hyde’s focus on sourcing quality casks to create depth and complexity. At 20 years old, it sits firmly in the premium Irish whiskey category, offering a well-balanced example of long maturation in carefully selected barrels. Only 287 bottles were produced.
Hyde Irish Whiskey, established by brothers Alan and Conor Hyde in 2014, is an independent bottler with a storied history. The Hyde family has a long history in the Irish drinks industry, operating a tavern in West Cork from 1640 to 1962, where they sold traditional Irish whiskey and draught stout straight from wooden casks.
Teeling Whiskey Notre Dame Edition Rivesaltes 24 Years Old
Category: Best Irish Single Malt
Age: 21 Years & Over
Tasting Notes: Tropical fruits, citrus, cotton candy, toffee, nuts, honey, butterscotch, strawberry, sweet fruits, pepper, cinnamon, caramel
BUY NOW: $499.99
Teeling Whiskey’s Notre Dame Edition Rivesaltes 24 Year Old is the first release in the Phoenix Legends series, a limited-edition collection celebrating the 100th anniversary of Notre Dame Football’s first National Championship. Aged for 21 years in ex-bourbon barrels before spending three years in Rivesaltes wine casks from the South of France, this whiskey showcases Teeling’s innovative approach to cask finishing.
The partnership between Teeling and Notre Dame Athletics is rooted in “shared values and mutual respect,” according to Stephen Teeling, sales and marketing director. This collaboration not only connects with Notre Dame’s extensive fan base but also strengthens Teeling’s presence in the U.S. market.
Master distiller Alex Chasko highlighted the impact of the Rivesaltes cask, stating, “We knew this one had to be special, and the unique tropical fruit, butterscotch, and spice notes that the Rivesaltes cask gave to this single malt made the decision very easy for us in the end.” Bottled at 92 proof, this release offers a distinctive profile, combining the depth of long maturation with the influence of fortified wine cask finishing.
Dunville’s Cigar Malt 13 Year Old
Category: Best Irish Small Batch Single Malt
Age: 13 to 20 Years
Tasting Notes: Vanilla, salted toffee, custard, blackberry, bread and butter pudding, dark-roasted coffee bean, allspice
BUY NOW: The Whisky Club Exclusive
Dunville’s Cigar Malt 13 Year Old is an exclusive release for members of The Whisky Club, featuring a bold, sherry-rich profile crafted from some of Dunville’s most prized casks. This limited-edition bottling was matured in overaged Pedro Ximénez and Palo Cortado sherry casks—the same type of casks that helped Dunville’s win World’s Best Irish Single Malt three years in a row.
Blended from a mix of 18-year-old, 14-year-old, and 13-year-old whiskey, the Cigar Malt is designed for those who appreciate deep cask influence and robust character. Shane Braniff, who leads Dunville’s revival, emphasized the brand’s ambition, stating, “When we revived Dunville’s, we did so with a promise to restore the spirit of Belfast to its rightful place among the premier whiskeys of the world.”
Read the full article at The Best Age Statement Irish Whiskeys According To The World Whiskies Awards Ireland 2025