Hall of Fame

John Cashman is head of brand and new product development at Ireland’s Powerscourt Distillery. He began his 27-year whiskey career with Irish Distillers, through the company’s Jameson graduate scheme. In 2006, John joined Cooley Distillery as the country manager for Ireland, later becoming its global brand ambassador. Following the acquisition of Cooley by Beam Suntory (now known as Suntory Global Spirits), John led the Beam Suntory Irish whiskey global graduate scheme, mentoring more than 30 graduates throughout the programme, many of whom remain active in the global spirits industry to this day. John’s ambassadorial duties at Beam Suntory expanded to include Scotch, bourbon, and Canadian and Japanese whiskies, alongside his responsibilities for the Irish portfolio. Working closely with Cooley master distiller Noel Sweeney, John played a pivotal role in liquid development. In January 2022, John was appointed head of brand and new product development at Powerscourt Distillery, where he took charge of new product development and led a complete reimagination of the Fercullen portfolio, brand positioning, and future-proofing the product mix. John lives on his family farm outside Rathdrum in County Wicklow with his wife Lara and their three children, Layla, Johnny, and Tom. As vice chairman of Wicklow Naturally, the county's food and drink network, John champions local producers and promotes the region's rich heritage. He is also the former chair of the Irish Whiskey Association Trade and Promotions committee.