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Brendan
Buckley, International Marketing
Director at Irish Distillers has been
inducted into the Whisky Magazine Hall
of Fame for his personal contribution to
the growth of the Irish whiskey category
on the global stage.
Brendan Buckley, International
Marketing Director at Irish Distillers,
has been inducted into the Whisky
Magazine Hall of Fame – a permanent
tribute honouring individuals who have
made a lasting contribution to the world
of whiskey. He was presented with the
distinguished honour in recognition of
his personal contribution to the growth
of the Irish whiskey category on the
global stage at the 2021 Whiskey
Magazine Awards this evening.
Buckley joined Irish Distillers in 2001
and since then has been instrumental in
the development of its leading portfolio
of Irish whiskey brands as well as
innovation across the business. His
marketing leadership and approach to
brand building has played a key role in
the development of Jameson into a global
top 10 spirit brand and to place it
among the top 5 whiskeys in the world.
While Jameson might garner the
international headlines, one of
Buckley’s most notable achievements has
been born from his passion for Irish
whiskey and his crusade to revive
Ireland’s unique whiskey style – single
pot still Irish whiskey. Working with
the Masters in Midleton Distillery, over
the past decade Brendan has spearheaded
the rejuvenation of this category and of
brands such as Redbreast, The Spot Range
and Midleton Very Rare. Positioning
these brands amongst the very top
echelon of world whiskeys, today they
are firmly placed alongside the finest
Scotch, bourbon and Japanese whiskeys.
Further evidence of the renaissance of
this whiskey style can be seen in the
number of new Irish distilleries who
produce, or who plan to produce single
pot still Irish whiskey.
In partnership with his colleagues in
Midleton, Brendan has overseen the
development of new expressions such as
Redbreast Lustau Edition, Redbreast 27
Year Old, Midleton Very Rare Barry
Crockett Legacy, Midleton Very Rare Dair
Ghaelach and the rebirth of the historic
Spot Range. In the past six months, he
oversaw the re-introduction of Blue
Spot, re-uniting the legendary Spot
Family for the first time in over half a
century. Additionally, Brendan inspired
the introduction of the pioneering
Method and Madness brand which has
sought to push the boundaries of Irish
whiskey through the generations of
expertise of the Midleton Masters in
conjunction with the inquisitive minds
of Midleton’s apprentice whiskey makers.
"I am truly honoured and humbled to join
the Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame,”
comments Buckley. “It has been a
pleasure to play a part in helping Irish
whiskey regain its rightful place among
the world’s leading spirits, and to see
Jameson recognized and loved the world
over. Having the opportunity to revive
single pot still Irish whiskey and
breathe new life into brands such as
Redbreast or to create new brands such
as Method and Madness, has also been a
professional and personal achievement
for which I consider myself very lucky.
I want to thank the devoted production,
marketing and innovation teams at Irish
Distillers, both past and present, whose
dedication to craft and brilliance has
contributed to the expansion of the
category. While I look back on the past
decades with immense pride, I am also
extremely excited about what the future
of Irish whiskey holds."
Conor McQuaid, Chief Executive Officer
and Chairman at Irish Distillers, adds:
“It is an absolute pleasure to offer my
congratulations to Brendan upon his
induction to the Whisky Magazine Hall of
Fame. This honour demonstrates his role
in strengthening the Irish Distillers’
portfolio, through ground-breaking
marketing and innovation over the years.
From his stewardship of Jameson toward
being a global icon to the resurrection
of the single pot still category which
has changed the Irish whiskey landscape,
to the birth of the experimental Method
and Madness brand, Brendan’s marketing
vision continues to shape the Irish
whiskey category’s reputation for
excellence.”
The 2021 Whisky Magazine Awards, which
also recognise the most exquisite
whiskeys from across the globe, saw
Redbreast 21 Year Old being crowned
World’s Best Pot Still Irish Whiskey.
The accolade is a testament to the
consistency in quality of single pot
still Irish whiskey craftmanship at
Midleton Distillery and further
strengthens Redbreast’s position as the
most decorated pot still Irish whiskey
in the world.
You will find Irish Distillers portfolio
of Irish whiskey's available
from
specialist online whisky retailers
such as
The Whisky Exchange and
Master of
Malt
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