This prestigious title is accompanied by an additional triumph: The Donn also earned Gold in the Whisky category, a recognition that underscores its exceptional craftsmanship and the meticulous detail that goes into every bottle. As a Single Malt born from a dedication to both tradition and innovation, The Donn continues to distinguish itself as a whiskey that resonates with judges, collectors, and connoisseurs alike.

A Celebration of Craft and Excellence

The Asia Spirits Ratings are renowned for their rigorous judging criteria, evaluating spirits across three key pillars: quality, value, and presentation. This holistic approach ensures that only the finest expressions—those that deliver excellence at every touchpoint—earn top marks.

A Golden Moment for The Taoscán

We are equally delighted to announce that The Taoscán, was also awarded Gold at the 2025 Asia Spirits Ratings. This dual recognition reinforces our position among the world’s leading whiskey producers and highlights the breadth and consistency of our range.

The Taoscán, the world’s first Tawny Port and Chestnut finished whiskey, exemplifies the spirit of exploration that defines Craft Irish Whiskey. Its Gold medal confirms that our commitment to pushing boundaries continues to be recognised and celebrated on the international stage.

A Growing Legacy of Global Recognition

In recent years, Craft Irish Whiskey has steadily earned acclaim from some of the world’s most respected competitions, organisations, and experts.

Being acknowledged by the Asia Spirits Ratings carries particular significance. As one of the fastest-growing and most influential spirits markets in the world, Asia represents a dynamic intersection of tradition, innovation, and discerning taste. To have our whiskeys recognised so prominently within this region signals not only our international reach but also the universal appeal of our approach to craft.

We look forward to sharing more remarkable moments with you as our story continues—and as our whiskeys earn their place among the world’s finest, one award at a time.

The Rarest, Triple-Distilled, Single Malt Irish Whiskey and First Fabergé Celtic Egg featuring Rough Uncut Emerald Surprise sells for $2 million.

2 September 2022: On 19th March 2021, a new world record was achieved for the most expensive whiskey collectors’ set, following the global unveiling of the highly anticipated ‘The Emerald Isle Collection’ by The Craft Irish Whiskey Co., in partnership with Fabergé. Eighteen months later, that record is still held by The Emerald Isle, despite the releases and sales of a number of exceptional whiskeys.

The inaugural launch of the highly limited boxes of The Emerald Isle set a world record at $2million USD, making The Emerald Isle not only the most expensive Irish whiskey in the world, but also the most expensive whiskey in the world. The final bid and private sale of the first Emerald Isle box to be released was secured jointly on St. Patrick’s Day (17th March 2021) by Houston-based Fabergé collectors, James and Korrine Whipkey, and a second group of private investors led by Scott H. Weissman. As part of this sale, all proceeds were donated to the Correa Family Foundation, a charity supporting children affected by cancer. The remaining six Emerald Isle experiences boxes were released at auctions and events in key cities throughout 2021.

Speaking at the time, Jay Bradley, Founder, The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. commented: “We are absolutely thrilled to have set a world record, for the second time in three months, for the most expensive bottle of whiskey, with the launch of ‘The Emerald Isle Collection’. At The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. we share the same brand vision as Fabergé – to strive to create timeless beauty and a lasting legacy, faithful to heritage, which also embraces new methods. Collaborating with Fabergé has been a tremendous experience and together we have created an extraordinary bespoke set that truly celebrates Ireland, its craftsmanship and unique heritage.

“I am also delighted and proud to be able to donate the full proceeds of this sale to the Correa Family Foundation, a cause which is very close to my heart as my own daughter was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma, a rare form of cancer when she was just five-months-old. Thanks to the charities like the Correa Family Foundation, she is now a healthy 19-year-old and I am honoured to be able to support the foundation through this contribution.”

Ian Duignan, Managing Director of The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. said “The sale marks another milestone on our journey to become the world’s leading ultra-luxury whiskey. The pioneering partnership with Fabergé has allowed us to commission the first Celtic Fabergé Egg the world has ever seen, paying homage to the Isle of Ireland by creating the most expensive whiskey in Ireland.”

The generous donation to the Correa Family Foundation supported underserved childhood cancer patients. The charity helps cover daily expenses including food, transportation and rent for over 15,000 children with cancer. It also continues to sponsor over 1,000 patients and their siblings with financial support and gifts during Holidays and Christmas.

Carlos Correa, Major League Baseball star and founder of the Correa Family Foundation said: “I’m very thankful to The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. and Jay Bradley for being generous enough to donate the first release of The Emerald Isle to our foundation. This is a huge contribution to the Correa Family Foundation and will change thousands of lives. Seeing a sick child battle cancer and what it does to their families in normal times is heartbreaking, and something that Jay and his family have experienced first-hand, but going through it during a global pandemic is truly unimaginable.” 

‘The Emerald Isle Collection’ is The Craft Irish Whiskey Co.’s second release, following the launch of The Devil’s Keep – a triple-distilled, 29-year-old single malt whiskey – which also set a world record for most expensive inaugural release when it sold at auction in November 2020 for $60,000 USD (approximately £46,000/€51,000 Euros). Comprising a seven-piece custom-made whiskey set that celebrates the ‘Seven Wonders of Ireland’, ‘The Emerald Isle Collection’ took the crown as the oldest triple-distilled Irish whiskey in the world and the world’s most expensive whiskey, records it still holds to this day, a year and a half later.

The Emerald Isle’s ultra-rare single malt whiskey was taken from a single barrel, a small 40l Pedro Ximénez cask that was only half filled. Deep treacle in colour, it offers butter toffee and chocolate fudge on the nose, followed by hints of brine and tobacco. A powerful combination of old leather-bound books and a hint of tobacco smoke on the palate are delivered with a silky smooth mouthfeel, interwoven with some cherry drop notes, ripe banana and caramel. Christmas cake spices on the back palate flow into a wonderfully long and decadent finish with hints of creamy meringue and vanilla cigar smoke, spice and sweetened leather.

Beautifully presented in a dark walnut experience box, each set features a bottle of ultra-rare, single cask, 30-year-old, triple-distilled single malt Irish whiskey, accompanied by two unique and exclusive creations from Fabergé – the first-of-its-kind Fabergé Celtic Egg and bespoke 1/1 Fabergé watch. Each collection also includes a humidor with two limited edition and sold out, ultra-rare Cohiba Siglo VI Gran Reserva (2009) cigars. Top-rated scoring 100/100, it is the holy grail of cigar collectibles and has increased by over 1,200% in value in the last decade. It also features a gold-plated cigar cutter, gold plated water pipette, pure obsidian whiskey stones, a hip flask with a sample of The Emerald Isle whiskey, which is the rarest Irish whiskey in existence, and a carafe filled with Irish spring water from the same region where the whiskey was made.

‘The Emerald Isle Collection’ fuses Fabergé’s unique heritage with rich Irish tradition and mythology, as well as the distinctive flavours of an ultra-rare whiskey, in a highly collectable and unique special-edition, legacy bottle. It is little known that Ireland invented whiskey in the 15th century and dominated the sector for centuries until an unfortunate fall due to both world wars, embargoes and their fight for independence. With the launch of The Craft Irish Whiskey Co.’s collection, Irish whiskey is being restored to its former glory as the world’s most iconic whiskey.

Each experience box has been inspired by the shape of an emerald, representing the natural beauty of Ireland, and features an illustration of one of the ‘wonders’ of Ireland and its geographical coordinates. Inside each box is the pièce de resistance, the handcrafted whiskey bottle containing the ‘liquid gold’ – a collector’s item in its own right, with a design inspired by the Imperial Fabergé Hen Egg from 1885. All bottles of whiskey are accompanied by a bespoke Fabergé Celtic Egg. Each egg is handcrafted from 18k yellow gold and features Fabergé’s legendary guilloché enamel in a pastel green; the green, white and gold colours of the egg symbolising the Irish flag. Inside, a unique surprise awaits in the form of a rough, uncut Gemfields Zambian emerald.  This represents a feature that is truly historical, as it is the first time Fabergé has ever featured an uncut gemstone as the egg’s surprise. The uncut gem can be customised by Fabergé into an exquisite one-of-a-kind piece of Fabergé jewellery.

In addition to the whiskey and one-of-a-kind Fabergé Celtic Egg, each box features another ultimate collector’s item – a bespoke 1/1 Fabergé Altruist 18k rose gold watch. Each individual piece has a unique dial, inspired by the landscape of one of the ‘Seven Wonders of Ireland’.

This exceptional collection of future heirlooms reimagined the potential of Irish whiskey as a luxury collectable. As the most expensive whiskey ever sold, The Emerald Isle entered the history books and created an extraordinary legacy for The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. and Jay Bradley. The company’s innovative crafting methods and obsession with the perfect whiskey tasting experience have revolutionised the world of whiskey forever. Creating a whiskey collection that has not only become the most expensive Irish whiskey in the world, but the most expensive whiskey of any style, including Scotch, placed it firmly in the record books, and the history books. 

For further information, please contact Bethan Lawrence: bethan@craftirishwhiskey.com

by Brad Japhe, Forbes Writer

Americans are consuming more super-premium spirits than ever before. According to data from the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, higher end bottlings accounted for nearly 82% of the industry’s revenue increase between 2020 and 2021. With drinkers willing to spend more on  everything from tequila to Tennessee whiskey in exchange for a superior sipping experience,  proper glassware is a must-have. If you’re looking to level up your tipple tasting, look no further.

“The shape of the glass is vitally important to the experience of breathing in and tasting a spirit,” explains Dave Smith, head distiller and blender at St. George Spirits in Alameda, California. “I draw an analogy to light shining through a prism: If we describe a spirit as a beam of light, then our glass is the prism that refracts that light into a spectrum of wavelengths that are visible. In this case, the shape of the glass has that same ability to create a spectrum of lovely aromas, or instead overly focus the alcohol and wipe out the best and most nuanced characteristics present.”

The difference between success and failure is a result of careful consideration for the particular style of liquor you’re pouring. And modern glassmakers have leaned into specialization with category-specific offerings. Among the most ubiquitous examples is the Glencairn whisky glass, first introduced in 2001. Scotch master blenders helped conceive its now-iconic design with a bulbous base curving inward towards thin lips to concentrate subtleties of scent. In practice, the squatty, pear-shaped vessel works well with most barrel-aged spirits, and sells for about $8 per unit on Amazon. 

Not to be outdone, the Irish eventually unveiled an alternative, purpose-built for their island’s native whiskey. The Tuath (pronounced ‘two-ah’) hit the market in 2017 and echoes the Glencairn’s basic ovoid body, but with several key points of separation: it stands atop a truncated stem as opposed to a knob, the tube is slightly elongated, and its lips actually flare outward — all in service of diminishing the impact of ethanol vapors, which drinkers frequently describe as an unwanted burning sensation.

But for Jay Bradley, founder and CEO of The Craft Irish Whiskey Co., the tuath didn’t go far enough. “Up to 80% of the flavors we perceive come from the nose,” he explains. “All the beautiful vanillas, caramels and phenolic compounds of a great whiskey can be disguised or pushed aside by ethanol. To design the perfect whiskey glass, we conducted nearly two years worth of scientific research to figure out how to remove as much of that burn as possible.” 

The result was the Érimón, which features a conical shaped depression at the bottom of its bulb. When swirling the glass, this point creates a vortex that spins ethanol molecules down and out to the sides. This functionality is further enhanced by its build of soda lime as opposed to more traditional borosilicate or crystal. Bradley claims this material is more effective at absorbing those pungent, unpleasant particles. 

Another notable entry in the spirits glassware game these days is Riedel. The Austrian manufacturer known more for their work in wine now sells tumblers purpose-built for the botanical aromatics of gin and tonics. Its thin and gracefultequila tulips facilitate the smooth flow of liquid onto the tongue, which purportedly restrains the acidity of agave spirit and improves overall mouthfeel. Meanwhile, Norlan is making waves in the space by brandishing angular, Nordic-inspired numbers customized by whether you want to enjoy your spirit neat, on the rocks, or in highball form. 

Yet for some, the aesthetic value of these vessels might just be the most important function of all. “The first bite is always with the eyes,” says Ali Reynolds, whisky ambassador for Johnnie Walker Scotch. “The shape of glass does one thing well: build an experience. We should never be in the business of telling people how to enjoy their favorite or chosen libation.”

How any glass sits in the hand can (no pun intended) weigh heavily on how it is perceived on the palate; there’s certainly a tactile and even emotional experience to consider. “I particularly love Richard Brendon’s Diamond Cut range because the cut glass really showcases the facets of the spirit,” says Rebecca Jago, managing director of Last Drop Distillers. “As with anything else, spirit lovers like to choose a glass with as much care as [the drink] they are putting in it, and the reasons for doing so could be as emotionally motivated as they are practical. For example, I really enjoy the routine of washing and polishing a glass by hand with a linen cloth. It all adds to the ritual and enjoyment.”

In other words, glassware ultimately ought to be an extension of the ends you’re after. To wit, the hourglass-like Experience Neat glass has been a mainstay for spirits judging over the past decade, but they’re decidedly clunky for casual sipping at home. “I think it’s really important to distinguish between the two,” adds Jago. “I don’t know anyone who drinks their 6 o’clock dram from a Glencairn, or indeed any of the other ‘tasting’ glasses.”

Reynolds, for his part, is more likely to be sipping Talisker 12 out of an oyster shell at that time of evening. The combination of brine from the bivalve and maritime salinity from the malt make for more memorable of a medley than anything to be forged in the glass. But to each their own, he contends. “From opulent crystal to oyster shell — cheers to one and all!”

Running from the 23rd-31st July, Belfast Whiskey Week is Ireland’s largest whiskey festival and the world’s largest festival of Irish Whiskey. So naturally, Jay Bradley and the Craft Whiskey Boys couldn’t pass up the chance to host a number of events, tastings and discussions to showcase the exciting resurgence of Irish Whiskey. Alongside three headline events with the Craft Whiskey Boys and The Craft Irish Whiskey Co., Belfast Whiskey Week will feature a virtual marketplace and a product display of The Emerald Isle, The Devil’s Keep, and The Brollach. Now is your chance to get up close to the most expensive whiskey in the world – The Emerald Isle. Containing a first-of-its-kind Celtic Egg from Fabergé, this marks the first time the egg will have been on view in Ireland.

Sunday 25th July: ‘The Craft Whiskey Boys do Belfast Whiskey Week’

Kicking things off in the usual Craft Whiskey Boys style, Jay, Mo and Solly will be doing what they do best….drinking whiskey. Accompanied by an MC and with virtual contributions from the brands, they’ll taste and score six whiskeys. Expect plenty of laughs and Craft Whiskey Boys banter along the way.

Monday 26th July: ‘Belfast Week Festival Bottling Pack Masterclass’

The following day, Jay will join a round table discussion and tasting hosted by Paul Kane. They’ll be joined by Micky Plummer (Mackmyra Distillery), Matt Healey (Boann Distillery), Brendan Carty (Killowen Distillery), Jarlath Watson (Echlinville Distillery) and Joe McGowan (Pernod Richard). 

This is your chance to see the experts tasting and discussing a range of whiskeys in detail, finding out what gets their tastebuds singing, and what they look for in a standout whiskey.

Monday 26th July: ‘The Bonus Box > In Conversation with Jay Bradley’

If you ever wanted to know more about what drives the founder of The Craft Irish Whiskey Co., this is your chance. Over the course of three hours, Paul Kane will be finding out all about Jay Bradley, his story and how The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. came to be. They’ll be discussing his passion for Irish whiskey and how a desire to see its reputation reinstated once more as the finest in the world has led to the creation of our award-winning, record-breaking whiskeys.

They’ll be sharing a taoscán or two of whiskey as Paul gets the lowdown on the man and the brand behind a multiple award-winning inaugural release and the most expensive whiskey in the world. 

Do you have tickets for this largely sold-out event? Get in touch and let us know if you’ll be joining us at Belfast Whiskey Week.

£46,000 is the price that the first bottle of The Craft Irish Whiskey Co.’s inaugural release, ‘The Devil’s Keep‘, sold for at auction in November 2020, a figure that has broken historical records as the most expensive inaugural whiskey release. The explanation as to why this whiskey is so special can be seen in its history; starting its journey in County Antrim, the 48% ABV whiskey is moved to American oak casks, formerly used to hold bourbon, creating flavour notes of caramel and smokey oak leaves, before being transferred to rare French oak barrels, originally used to contain Tawny Port.

This whiskey is truly a product devoted to passion, craft and Ireland. Jay Bradley, entrepreneur and founder of The Craft Irish Whiskey Co., and sister company, Whiskey and Wealth Club, has a clear mission; re-establishing Irish whiskey as an ultra-luxurious product with the popularity that it deserves, whilst simultaneously building a legacy. The impact of this is already being felt worldwide, with The Craft Irish Whiskey Co.’s second release, ‘The Emerald Isle‘, in partnership with Fabergé, breaking another world record, with the first set sold becoming the most expensive whiskey ever sold. It is clear to see that The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. has an extraordinary future ahead of it. 

Both companies thrived under the difficult circumstances created by the pandemic, with a new breed of diverse investor emerging; a diverse and risk-aware group according to the Whiskey & Wealth Club’s annual Cask Whiskey Buyer Report, whose love for whiskey is shared by Jay himself. Irish whiskey is a market that is growing at a spectacular rate, up 300% in the past decade, according to the detailed report. The report also produced a plethora of other interesting findings, worth the read of any investor considering alternative options such as that of whiskey. 

Scott Sciberras, co-founder and chief executive of cask whiskey investment company Whiskey & Wealth Club, explains in this article why investment in whiskey is a safer investment than that of Bitcoin and other cryptos. If you are looking for fast returns, perhaps Bitcoin investment is for you. However, whiskey investment can offer something extraordinary that cryptos cannot. Having proven itself to be a strong and successful investment, the benefits of investing in Irish whiskey are endless.

If the idea of being involved in the world of ultra-rare, luxury, and iconic Irish whiskey excites you, look no further than The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. Limited releases of luxury whiskey bottles individually chosen by entrepreneur and whiskey connoisseur Jay Bradley have launched with extraordinary success. The first release, ‘The Devil’s Keep’, broke world whiskey records when it became the most expensive inaugural release of all time, while the second release, ‘The Emerald Isle‘ Collection, created in partnership with Fabergé, became the most expensive whiskey ever sold. So while investing in Irish whiskey is far safer, it is also so much more.

It is both a science and an art with an extensive history and rewarding returns. This opportunity to combine a love of whiskey with investment has been an extraordinary success with clients.

SuperYachts.com have praised The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. for bringing The Devil’s Keep to market and ushering in a new Golden Age of Irish Whiskey. The 29-year-old bottles of The Devil’s Keep fills a gap in the market for ultra-luxury Irish whiskey. With just 333 bottles now available, with the release of a further 666 planned for the last quarter of 2021.

“We’re thrilled to be celebrating Ireland’s whiskey resurgence by launching The Devil’s Keep, which has been a crusade sparing no expense to source the finest ingredients, and the most sublime flavours – it truly is the culmination of our devotion, passion and craft.” Jay Bradley, Founder of The Craft Irish Whiskey Co.

If you’re looking for your next investment opportunity, reading this article will help you decide that investment in Irish whiskey could be the best possible choice. An expert in all things whiskey, Jay Bradley has become a rare talent in forecasting the value and quality of whiskey, a skill which he has put to use through the founding of sister companies Whiskey & Wealth Club, cask investment company, and The Craft Irish Whiskey Co., producers of ultra-rare luxury Irish whiskey.

To learn more about the secrets behind the science and art of whiskey, read this article to understand what it is that makes Irish whiskey so extraordinary.

Billionaire dives into what is it about our single malt Irish Whiskey that justifies the exorbitant price tag? Priced at £10,000, is the most expensive first release in the history of whiskey. But is it worth it?

Our founder, Jay Bradley, explains: “It’s the holy trinity of distillation that creates the unparalleled rich vanilla, wild honey and toasted maple syrup flavour profiles…” and how it is “always pure, never blended and the freshest Irish water and finest barely are used in the creation of The Devil’s Keep, which is made only on pot stills by the most skilled craftsmen.”

The price-tag seems less extortionate when you consider that last year a bottle of Single Malt Macallan 1926 sold for £1.5 million, demonstrating the value afforded by some investors to the alternative asset.

According to Knight Frank’s 2019 Luxury Investment Index, rare whiskey has outperformed other luxury assets. Between 2009 and 2019, the value of rare whiskeys increased by 564 percent, placing it as the number one passion investment above coins, cars, art, wine, watches and diamonds in the same timeframe. By 2019, Scotch whisky’s total export value reached £4.9 billion, according to HMRC export data.

With COVID-19, investors are looking to hedge against inflation and the uncertainties of the financial markets, as well as, perhaps, seeking out a good stiff drink.