Sign in My Account
Awards

McConnell’s Irish Whisky Puts Belfast In Global Whisky Spotlight With International Success

Posted By:
McConnell’s Distillery

16th Jun 2026

McConnell’s Irish Whisky continues its remarkable success story putting Belfast back on the global whisky map, securing four more awards at the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) and bringing its total number of international awards to 62 in just five years.

The Belfast-born whisky brand received a Gold award for its 20-Year-Old Single Malt, alongside Bronze awards for both its 5-Year-Old Signature Release and 5-Year-Old Cognac Cask Finish. The Signature Release also received a Silver award in the Whiskey & Ginger Ale category.

The latest success follows a landmark year for the brand, which earlier secured multiple awards at the Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition and saw its 20-Year-Old Single Malt named Best Irish Whisky Single Cask at the World Whiskies Awards.

With recognition across some of the world’s most respected spirits competitions, including the International Wine & Spirit Competition, World Whiskies Awards, San Francisco World Spirits Competition and Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition, McConnell’s Irish Whisky continues to put Belfast back on the global whisky map, reviving the city’s legacy as a centre of a whisky-making excellence.

The awards arrive during a significant year for the Belfast-born company as 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the McConnell’s brand. First established in Belfast in 1776, McConnell’s was revived in 2020 and is now exported to more than 40 markets worldwide.

John Kelly, CEO of McConnell’s Irish Whisky, said:

“To receive further recognition from the International Wine & Spirit Competition is a fantastic achievement and a testament to the quality, consistency and innovation of our whisky portfolio.”

“Winning 62 international awards in just five years demonstrates the dedication of our entire team and reinforces our ambition to re-establish Belfast as a globally recognised centre of whisky excellence.”

“A big part of that is bringing new people into the world of McConnell’s Irish Whisky, something that has been a key focus at our brand home, McConnell’s Distillery, located in the heart of Belfast. We’ve welcomed more than 40,000 visitors from both Northern Ireland and across the globe, giving them the opportunity to discover the story of McConnell’s and experience first-hand how we are helping drive the resurgence of Belfast whisky.”

“By expanding beyond traditional distillery tours to include experiences such as cocktail masterclasses and our new Belfast Cream Tea experience, we are opening the doors to new audiences and creating more opportunities for people to connect with McConnell’s and Belfast Whisky.”