Irish Whiskey Association appoints master blender Helen Mulholland as Chair

The Irish Whiskey Association is proud to announce that Helen Mulholland, master blender with Sazerac Ireland, is now to lead the representative body for the all-island Irish whiskey industry. Ms Mulholland has served as the Association’s vice-chair since 2022 and succeeds former chair James Doherty, managing director of Sliabh Liag Distillers.

Her appointment is the latest in a line of distinctions for Ms Mulholland, who already has the accolade of being the first woman master blender in Irish whiskey history, a title she achieved while working at Bushmills Distillery for nearly 30 years. In this pivotal role, she shaped an impressive luxury portfolio of single malts and premium blends through her meticulous selection of casks, creating diverse flavour profiles and aromas that set a new benchmark for quality in Irish whiskey.

Now leading Sazerac’s Sligo distillery team, Ms Mulholland oversees the global portfolio of Irish whiskeys, including Paddy and Michael Collins, while spearheading innovation in new product development.

Ms Mulholland is also the first woman to have been inducted into the globally influential Whisky Magazine International Hall of Fame, and in 2020 she was the first woman recipient of a Drinks Ireland-Irish Whiskey Association Chairman’s Award for her outstanding contribution to the development of the Irish whiskey industry and category.

She is also a member of The Last Drop Distillers Assembly, an international forum of industry experts and knowledge leaders.

In her first statement as chair of the Irish Whiskey Association, Ms Mulholland said: “Being invited to chair the Irish Whiskey Association is a huge honour, and I am excited to represent the industry. Throughout my time in the industry, global volumes of Irish whiskey produced have increased sevenfold and the number of distilleries on the island of Ireland has grown from three to close to 50 today. My priority as chair at the Association will be to protect the integrity of the Irish whiskey category, as well as continuing its global promotion. Irish whiskey is a prime example of our all-island economy that brings with it a unique value that should be celebrated, particularly in 2025.”

Director of the Irish Whiskey Association, Eoin Ó Catháin, said: “Helen Mulholland is one of the world’s most accomplished whiskey master blenders, with a career defined by groundbreaking achievements and exceptional craftsmanship. We are delighted to appoint her as our new chairperson. Over the course of Helen’s decade-spanning and ground-breaking career, the Irish whiskey industry has flourished and seen major evolution. We are delighted to see our premium product’s consumer base broaden in recent years, with those choosing to enjoy Irish whiskey now far more diverse, with a wider age profile, and found all over the world. The Irish Whiskey Association celebrates and embraces this inclusion as a key driver of business success and growth within the Irish whiskey industry.”

Ms Mulholland will serve as chairperson of the Irish Whiskey Association for a period of two years.