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Is Teeling the world’s most awarded Irish whiskey?

Never shy at coming forward, Teeling Distillery has developed into a whiskey maker of international standing

When Teeling Distillery opened its doors on Dublin’s Newmarket Square 13 years ago, it looked out on a hugely neglected part of the city. Last month, with its second consecutive win as the World’s Best Visitor Attraction at the World Whiskies Awards, the team that markets this dynamic young company must have felt very proud.

Its home in Dublin’s Liberties Quarter today is an entirely different place now. The cobblestones outside still hold the legacy of centuries of trading, but the landmark buildings, apartments and public spaces that have taken up residence in Teeling’s wake have forged a whole new slice of the city. The Teeling family may have got there first, but everyone else has followed.

STARTING POINT

This has been the Teeling approach since the beginning. The whisky maker moves fast and early and has quickly conjured an identity that stands head-to-head with the oldest whiskey makers in the land. Long before it grabbed the head-turning award of the World’s Best Single Malt in 2019, it was already racking up awards. Since then, it has added World’s Best Single Pot Still in 2022 and has had the World’s Best Single Grain locked in since 2014. 

Over the past decade, and from every judging panel it encountered, the awards kept flowing in, across its diverse range. When its marketing team did the numbers, it all added up to a surprising total: this young family firm had become the most awarded Irish whiskey distillery in the world. It’s an angle that played well and undoubtedly helped the marketing team take home the title for World’s Best Marketing Team at this year’s World Whiskies Awards, too. 

CASK FINISHES

Teeling has championed cask finishes since they opened their then-craft operation in 2012, an approach that has built a pathway to building a market-leading whiskey brand and attracting significant investment. Bacardi now owns a majority stake in the company, around 79%, while the distillery’s family founders retain a minority stake. 

Bacardi’s first public plan is reported to be significantly developing Teeling’s international footprint and managing all distribution of the young brand around the world. Prepare to see Teeling anywhere that whiskey is sold.

In the meantime, start your own Teeling journey with the Rising Reserve, a 46%, 21-year-old single malt, matured in ex-bourbon and finished in marsala casks. The second in its Vintage Reserve Collection, which comprises extra-mature releases that represent Teelings' ambition, this release drives citrus, honeysuckle and spice into the whiskey maker’s premium (and award-winning) single malt.

Click here to view all our Teeling collection