Kinsale Mead Co. wins Guaranteed Irish Food Academy Supplier of the Year and represents Ireland judging the European Mead Competition

Kinsale Mead Co. wins Guaranteed Irish Food Academy Supplier of the Year and represents Ireland judging the European Mead Competition

Kate and Denis Dempsey of Kinsale Mead Co. had an extra skip in their step this St Patrick’s Weekend after winning Food Academy Supplier of the Year from the Guaranteed Irish Business Awards for their range of Irish Meads.  

Kate and Denis are grateful for the support locally and nationally, particularly their long term supporter, Supervalu, who sponsored the award and where you can find some of their award-winning meads on the shelf. They have been honing their mead making craft for 5 years now and continue to gather a loyal and vocal fan base, including some top chefs, foodies and mixologists.  

“We work hard to create the best Irish Meads in our family run meadery in Kinsale,” says Kate Dempsey, who was at the Shelbourne in Dublin to pick up the award. “We are inspired by our Celtic history as well as the amazing honeys and berries we select. And of course, we have to thank the hardworking honeybees too.” 

“This win for Kinsale Mead is a celebration of our Irish heritage and craft,” said Brid O’Connell, CEO of Guaranteed Irish. 

Kate has just returned from Warsaw, where she represented Ireland as a judge in the European Mead Competition. Kate is probably the only qualified Mead judge in Ireland! Mead is a growing drink category in many countries and the range of styles and flavours was evidenced by the 630 meads entered from 36 different countries. Kate was delighted to bring home a medal for their Hazy Summer Mead in a tough competition.