National Off-Licence of the Year 2008

15 January 2008: The Vintry, Rathgar, Dublin 6 has won the coveted title of National Off-Licence of the Year at the prestigious Diageo/National Off-Licence Association “Awards 2008”, having faced stringent judging criteria and tough competition from leading independent off-licences nationwide.

The Vintry emerged as the overall winner out of 25 finalists from around the country and was presented with the award by Tom Fleming, Diageo and Reggie Walsh, National Off-Licence Association at a special black-tie event in the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin.

Other Dublin finalists included Deveney’s Off –Licence –Dundrum, Dublin 16, Donnybrook Fair Off-Licence – Morehampton Road, Dublin 4, Gibney’s – Malahide, Co. Dublin, James Redmond & Sons Ltd. – Ranelagh, Dublin 6, Jus De Vine - Portmarnock, Co. Dublin, McCabe’s Off-Licence – Mount Merrion Avenue, Blackrock, McHugh’s Off-Licence – Kilbarrack Road, Dublin 5, McHugh’s Off-Licence - Malahide Road , Dublin 5, Sheils Off- Licence – Lower Dorset Street, Dublin 1,
and Uncorked – Rosemount Shopping Centre, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14.

In addition to the overall winner, four Regional Awards were presented to Dicey’s Bottle Store, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal (Connaught/Ulster Regional Winner); World Wide Wines, Waterford (Munster Regional Winner); Holland’s Fine Wines, Bray, Co. Wicklow (Leinster Regional Winner) and Gibney’s, Malahide, Co. Dublin (Dublin Regional Winner).

Three Specialist Awards were also presented to:
McHugh’s Off-Licence, Kilbarrack Road, Dublin 5- Specialist Winner, Spirits
McHugh’s Off-Licence, Malahide Road, Dublin 5- Specialist Winner, Beer
Jus De Vine, Portmarnock, Co. Dublin - Specialist Winner, Wines


The Diageo / National Off-Licence Association Awards were set up eleven years ago to reward standards of excellence in the independent off-licence sector and to promote excellence in retail standards.

The competition is open to the membership of the National Off-Licence Association, which represents the leading independent off-licences nationwide. As the standard of competition increases each year so does the judging criteria used by the Awards’ esteemed judging panel to ensure that the highest possible standards are reflected. Judging began in July 2007, a tough but rewarding journey for all of this year’s award winners.

Marks are awarded for overall appearance, customer service, hygiene and product range. The final stage of the judging also comprised a blind-tasting test conducted by Lynne Coyle of Gilbeys and was attended by three independent judges, Martin G. Molony, Fíona M. Keane and John Wilson, who were appointed by Diageo and the National Off-Licence Association.