In the space of two weeks, The Donn, Craft Irish Whiskey’s single malt, has been awarded Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC) and Gold Outstanding at the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC). Both results scored 98 points. Both were judged completely blind.

For a whiskey that is just under seven years old, the achievement raises a question worth answering properly: how does a young Irish single malt compete with, and beat, spirits that have spent decades maturing in cask?

Two Competitions, Two Continents, One Result

The San Francisco World Spirits Competition and the International Wine & Spirit Competition are both judged independently, by different panels, using different scoring criteria, on different continents.

At IWSC, The Donn ranked joint second among more than 1,300 whiskies judged worldwide, with only one whisky in the entire competition scoring higher. It was also the only whiskey in its category to receive Gold Outstanding.

This is also not a first. The Donn has now been recognised at the highest level for three consecutive years, with wins spanning North America, Asia, and Europe – including Single Malt Whiskey of the Year titles at USA Spirits Ratings (2024), Asia Spirits Ratings (2025), and the London Spirits Competition (2026).

Why Age Isn’t the Whole Story

Irish whiskey, like most aged spirits, has traditionally treated age as a proxy for quality. Older is assumed to mean smoother, more complex, more refined. The Donn challenges that assumption directly, not by ignoring maturation, but by approaching it differently.

Rather than relying on time in a single cask type, The Donn is built through a progressive cask journey, where each stage is a deliberate decision rather than a default.

The whiskey begins in ex-bourbon casks, then moves through Tawny Port, deep-stave toasted virgin Hungarian oak, and multiple styles of Pedro Ximénez sherry. Each transition introduces a new layer of flavour – sweetness, structure, spice, depth – building on what came before it.

This is further shaped by varying barrel sizes and controlled fill levels, which alter the ratio of wood to spirit and the whiskey’s exposure to oxygen. The result is a maturation process designed to accelerate complexity and integration, rather than simply waiting for years to pass.

“Every cask, every fill level, every decision was made to shape flavour, not follow convention,” says Jay Bradley, Founder and Master Blender at Craft Irish Whiskey. “When independent judging panels on three continents repeatedly reach similar conclusions under blind-tasting conditions, it reinforces the whiskey’s quality and consistency.”

What the Judges Tasted

At IWSC, judges described The Donn as opening with a zesty, fruity aroma of cola and spice, developing into a rich palate of treacle, raspberry, and wood, with apple, red velvet cake, ginger, and chocolate emerging on a sweet, lingering finish.

At SFWSC, judges described The Donn as a richly layered single malt Irish whiskey, opening with inviting aromas of soft crème brûlée and dark dried fruits. The palate was noted as round and decadent, with notes of chocolate, orange, dried cranberry, caramelised sugar, and toasted nuts, accented by a touch of vinous sweetness. The finish was described as bold, long, and beautifully balanced, where the influence of multiple cask types unfolds in waves of lingering complexity and depth.

A Different Way to Think About Maturation

For a category where age statements still dominate shelf talk and marketing, The Donn’s results offer a useful counterpoint that quality in whiskey doesn’t have to be a function of time alone.

If you are interested in The Donn you can enquire / join the wait list here: https://craftirishwhiskey.com/the-donn-2023/