Both start-ups and established brand owners from the wine and spirits industry were among the impressive list of winners at the second annual Global Drinks Intel ESG Awards in Cannes -– the only dedicated competition in the W&S business that recognises ESG efforts. Picking up the award for most ‘Sustainable Spirits Product of the Year’, beating off stiff competition from around the world, was The Boatyard Distillery in Co. Fermanagh.
The results were unveiled at the Global Drinks Intel ESG Awards 2024 ceremony during the TFWA World Exhibition & Conference in Cannes on Monday last week, 30th September. Now in its second year, the ESG Awards raise awareness and recognise the achievements of those alcoholic beverage companies and brands that are leading the way in environment, social and governance activities. Accepting the prestigious accolade on behalf of The Boatyard Distillery at the Global Drinks Intel ESG Awards in Cannes was The Boatyard Distillery founder Joe McGirr, who received a beautiful responsibly sourced oak trophy on stage at a glittering cocktail party held at the Palais Stéphanie Beach.
Joining The Boatyard Distillery were several other smaller brands and brand owners, including The Waterford Distillery, Bruichladdich Distillery and Sxollie Cider. Their innovative approaches to ESG caught the eye of Global Drinks Intel’s experienced panel of judges alongside other big international brands such as Avolta, Brockmans Gin, Champagne Telmont and Diageo.
Global Drinks Intel Chief Operating Officer & Marketing Director Kate Wake-Walker said: “For the second year, we were overwhelmed by the high number of entries to the Global Drinks Intel ESG Awards. We’ve always believed this initiative has an important role to play in the beverage alcohol industry – a belief supported by the strong level of engagement.
“Over the last 12 months, drinks brands have been working hard to strengthen and amplify their ESG efforts. We are very proud to support them with these awards. We’re already looking forward to hearing about our industry’s sustainability initiatives in 2025.”
Commenting on The Boatyard Distillery’s winning entry in the Sustainable Spirits Product of the Year category, the judges said: “This company is working hard to embed eco-friendly measures across its business in the most holistic way we’ve seen.”
Speaking on his return to Fermanagh, founder of The Boatyard Distillery Joe McGirr said he was delighted with this award. “To take our distillery from Fermanagh and be represented at a global awards ceremony in Cannes is something that, when we started out, I never actually dreamed would happen. We believe as a business that we should act sustainably and we feel privileged to gain such an accolade recognising this dedication and commitment.”
The awards were supported by: Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Brockmans Gin and Brockmans Orange Kiss, Radico Khaitan for Jaisalmer Gin and Rampur Indian Single Malt Whiskey, Henkell Freixenet for Mionetto Prosecco and Aperitivo and Brown-Forman for Jack Daniels Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey.
