Rivesci win Gold and Silver at Blas na hEireann 2025!

Arriving to Dingle this year for the Blas Awards, we were full of fun and gusto, knowing that it was our final few days as reigning Supreme Champions for our Smoked Chilli Oil and also our first year having 4 products in the Finals, we were bursting with pride!

You feel like you're chomping at the bit, keeping your eyes peeled for friends, arms outstretched and laughter a plenty. The Irish food and drinks industry is just the best!

We eased our way into the Friday by having a panel discussion at the Blas Backyard, organised by Vivienne Gleeson, with Dee Laffan, Eunice Power, Tom Flavin and Kate O' Donnell from O'Donnells Crisps. The conversation, aptly named 'Strength in Numbers' was all about collaborations and how we working together can really shine a spotlight and help to rise up a younger brand, like ourselves. Did we tell you that we collaborated with O'Donnells this year for their Hot Honey Fusion flavour crisps? :)

At 4:30pm came our category announcement, would we be so lucky to get an award in a category we have won gold in for the past two years?! And then, the moment we were nauseous for, there you have it, 'our baby' Cashew Chilli Crush was announced as the Gold Winner and Smokey Tang took Silver. We cried, possibly screamed and were simply so elated!

As a small food producer moments like this are years in the making! We just couldn't believe it. To have the two best chilli oils in Ireland is such a testament to our passion for flavour, provenance and constant commitment to quality.

Sharing this win with our team means the world to us. From the early days of working from our food caravan to now having a team of 9 in our production facility and coffee shop in Clonmel just shows that sheer grit, determination and having a 'let's give it a go' attitude can really make ones dreams a reality.

To top it all off, our dear friends Georgia and Daniel from Bon Chocolatiers were announced as Supreme Champions 2025 and in a moment of pure brilliance and the stars aligning we were able to personally give them the good news over the phone as they were en route home from hospital with their new baby daughter Fía and obviously unable to be in Dingle. Passing the baton to friends is the ultimate prize and buzz, it made everything so simply special!

Sincere and heartfelt thanks to Artie, Fallon, Ali and all of the team involved in making Blas what it is. To the judges, mentors, sponsors, site builders, Producers Champions, the people of Dingle - you are all epic!

And remember that no matter what, Dingle is always a good idea!