A 6.9-Year-Old That Just Won ‘Best Single Malt in the World’
Craft Irish Whiskey’s The Donn has been named Single Malt Whiskey of the Year at the London Spirits Competition, earning 96 points and a coveted Double Gold. For drinkers, those numbers matter because this show is judged by seasoned industry insiders – master blenders and senior buyers from major global spirits groups – who score entries on quality, value, and real-world consumer appeal. The Donn’s latest win crowns a remarkable streak: it has now secured three consecutive “Best Whiskey in the World” titles across London, Asia and the USA, consistently outperforming far older rivals. At just 6.9 years old, it directly challenges the long-held belief that more years automatically equal better whisky. Instead, The Donn positions flavour, not age, as the ultimate benchmark, pushing Irish single malt firmly into the same conversation as the best single malt expressions from anywhere.
Inside The Donn: Progressive Casks, Modern Techniques
While many Irish single malts lean on long maturation in a single cask style, The Donn is built around an intricate, flavour-first cask journey. The spirit starts life in ex-bourbon barrels, picking up vanilla, coconut and soft spice, before moving through Tawny Port casks that introduce red fruit richness. It then meets deep-stave toasted virgin Hungarian oak, adding structure, spice and tannic grip, and finishes across multiple styles of Pedro Ximénez sherry, layering in dark sweetness and dried-fruit depth. Craft Irish Whiskey further tweaks the process with varying barrel sizes and controlled underfilling to boost oxygen interaction and adjust the wood-to-spirit ratio, effectively engineering complexity rather than waiting decades for it to appear. Compared with many modern Irish single malts, The Donn reads as more intensely layered and dessert-forward, yet still precise, showing how data-led maturation can rival – and sometimes surpass – traditional age-led releases.
How Competitions Decide the ‘Best Single Malt’
Awards like the London Spirits Competition matter because they are structured to reflect how real people actually drink. Entries are evaluated blind on quality in the glass, but also on value and consumer appeal – meaning a whisky must taste exceptional, feel worth its asking price, and be something judges believe drinkers would actively seek out. Scoring 96 points and securing Double Gold signals a near-unanimous verdict that The Donn succeeds across all three dimensions. What makes its run especially noteworthy is that these wins span different panels and regions, from London to major Asian and US ratings shows, suggesting broad alignment among experts on its calibre. For whisky fans, that consistency gives The Donn review headlines more weight than a single local medal, and highlights how younger, innovation-driven Irish single malts are now competing head-to-head with established age-statement icons.
Impact on Demand, Collectors and the Irish Single Malt Boom
Major wins at events such as the London Spirits Competition tend to trigger a familiar pattern: speculative buying, growing waiting lists, and heightened collector interest. While awards do not automatically make a bottle the best single malt for every palate, they do funnel global attention onto a brand. Craft Irish Whiskey was already positioned in the premium space; now, three consecutive “Best Whiskey in the World” titles transform The Donn into a marker of the broader Irish whiskey renaissance. Its success shows how Irish single malt has evolved from a gentle, approachable alternative into a category capable of technical experimentation and serious critical acclaim. As more producers explore sequential cask maturation, oxygenation-led flavour engineering and tuned barrel sizes, expect increased competition – and more Irish single malts standing shoulder to shoulder with the world’s benchmark drams.
Should You Hunt Down The Donn – And What If You Can’t?
For enthusiasts, The Donn is now a must-try benchmark for modern Irish single malt, particularly if you are curious about flavour-driven maturation that breaks from strict age worship. The combination of ex-bourbon, Tawny Port, Hungarian oak and multiple Pedro Ximénez casks promises a profile that should appeal to fans of rich, dessert-like single malts with serious structure. Availability will depend on your local specialist retailers and online spirits platforms; given the recent awards, expect rising demand and the possibility of tighter allocations over time. If you cannot secure a bottle, look for other Irish single malts that highlight cask experimentation – especially those using port, sherry or unusual oak types – as they often share a similar layering philosophy. Either way, The Donn’s ascent is a clear signal to pay closer attention to Irish single malt innovations in the years ahead.