Ceredigion’s Dà Mhìle Distillery has won the award for “Best of Organic Spirits” at the Best of Organic Market (BOOM) Awards 2025 – the UK’s only organic awards.
The distillery’s Organic Single Malt Welsh Whisky beat the other finalists, Nc’Nean’s Organic Single Malt Scotch Whisky and Soapbox Spirits’s Pothecary “Original” Organic British Blended Gin to be crowned the winner in the finalist ceremony on July 10th at The Paintworks, Bristol.
The awards, run by leading organic certifier Soil Association Certification in partnership with headline sponsor Ocado, honour the brands, organisations and people behind the UK’s organic industry.
To win, Dà Mhìle’s whisky was one of 400 products that were blind taste tested by an all-star panel of judges which included 2024 BBC Masterchef winner Brin Pirathapan, Chef and Broadcaster Romy Gill, Food Writers and Chefs Xanthe Clay and Jenny Chandler, Food and Drink Expert and TV Presenter Andy Clarke, The Great British Bake Off Star and TV Presenter Briony May Williams and Food Writer and Blogger Shonette Laffy.
Welsh whisky has only been given Protective Geographical Indication (PGI) Status since 2023, to guarantee and promote its authenticity, a protection previously awarded to Scotch and Irish whiskies. To be labelled “Welsh” the product must use 100% Welsh barley, 100% Welsh water and be produced in Wales during all stages, from mashing, fermentation and distilling to maturation and bottling.
There are now seven distilleries producing whisky in Wales but while there is another distillery in the region producing an organic single malt, Dà Mhìle is the only one with an entirely organic certified production.
“Being recognised as the UK’s best organic spirit is a brilliant achievement not just for putting Dà Mhìle on the map, but for Welsh Whisky as a whole,” says John-James Savage-Onstwedder, Owner and Director of Dà Mhìle Distillery.
“My father, John Savage-Ontswedder commissioned the first certified organic whisky in the world back in 1992 so his hard work needs to also be recognised for this achievement. There was no such product on the market at the time- “Dà Mhìle” is actually Scots Gaelic for “two thousand”, reflecting how the original product was commissioned to celebrate and toast the new Millenium.
“Fast forward to today and we are one of only two Welsh whisky distilleries who have produced an organic certified, single malt product. We have been fermenting, distilling and maturing the product here in Wales since 2012 and we’re excited that the judges could taste our high quality ingredients.”
“This product is a great example of British whisky making,” says Andy Clarke, one of the judges who tasted the drink. “Its insanely good. From the smell you get notes of panettone, candied fruit, almost like you’re mixing a Christmas cake with orange zest and nuts. Its warming, its lush!”
“There was so much going on in this Welsh whisky,” says Jenny Chandler, another of the judges. “Its wonderfully smooth.”
The finalists are being announced at a time when the UK’s organic market has not only shown exceptional growth, but is significantly outperforming non-organic. The market grew 7.3% in 2024 with total sales of £3.7bn, double what they were just 10 years ago (2014 – £1.86bn) according to Soil Association Certification’s Organic Market Report.
Organic has seen continual growth because it answers consumers’ demands for health and sustainability, particularly with younger Gen Z consumers. Seven out of 10 shoppers now say that they intentionally buy organic food and drink (Organic Research Centre, 2024).
Soil Association Certification Commercial & Marketing Director, Georgia Phillips says:
“We are delighted to reveal that Dà Mhìle is one of the winners of the 2025 BOOM Awards. The judging process was rigorous, and the finalists and winners deserve glowing recognition for being selected as the best that the UK organic market has to offer.
“The future is bright for the organic sector, with organic farming directly meeting consumer demands for products that address carbon emissions and biodiversity whilst also supporting our health.”
Dà Mhìle Organic Single Malt Welsh Whisky is available to buy online directly from their website or at Castell Howell, Blas Ar Fwyd, Vintage Roots, Master of Malt as well as various retailers nationwide.
