The Donn Wins Single Malt Whiskey of the Year at 2026 London Spirits Competition
The Donn by Craft Irish Whiskey has been named Single Malt Whiskey of the Year at the 2026 London Spirits Competition, scoring 96 points and receiving Double Gold — the third consecutive “Best Whiskey in the World” title for a whiskey that is still only 6.9 years old.
The previous two recognitions came at the Asia Spirits competition in 2025 and the USA Spirits Ratings in 2024. Taken together, the run amounts to a direct challenge to one of the industry’s most durable assumptions: that age is the primary driver of quality.
The Donn’s maturation strategy is built around a progressive cask journey rather than extended time in a single vessel. The spirit begins in ex-bourbon barrels, then moves through Tawny Port casks, deep-stave toasted virgin Hungarian oak, and multiple styles of Pedro Ximénez sherry. Barrel sizes vary throughout, and controlled underfilling techniques are applied to increase oxygen interaction and alter the wood-to-spirit ratio — a level of process management rarely seen in conventional production.
Founder and Master Blender Jay Bradley, who describes guiding the whiskey from distillation through bottling, framed the triple recognition as confirmation of a philosophy built on deliberate flavour construction rather than industry convention. The London Spirits Competition is judged by senior buyers and master blenders from Bacardi, Diageo, and Pernod Ricard, assessing on quality, value, and consumer appeal — meaning the panel represents the commercial mainstream that The Donn is now consistently outranking.