Showing posts with label whiskey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label whiskey. Show all posts

Sunday, August 23, 2020

Wayward Spirits Announce Release of Batch 2 of ‘The Liberator Malt Whiskey in Tawny Port Finish’

Batch 2 of ‘The Liberator Malt Whiskey in Tawny Port Finish’ is now released.


‘The Liberator Small Batch: Double Port Finish’ Blend to be released this Autumn.
The ‘Lakeview Estate Single Estate Pot Still’ celebrates it’s 18 month birthday.

Wayward Irish Spirits is pleased to release Batch 2 of their Irish Malt Whiskey in Tawny Port Finish from The Liberator range of Bonded Whiskeys.  Matured initially in first fill American ex-Bourbon casks and then finished for 9-12 months in fresh ex Tawny Port casks, the Tawny Port finish contributes intensity, richness and complexity to the whiskey: figs, apple and pear on the nose, a rich taste of cocoa, clove and blackcurrant, and a warming long finish. 

Founder Maurice O’Connell says: “Despite the challenges of Covid-19, we’re thrilled with the response to the Inaugural Release earlier this year which is now almost sold out and are now releasing Batch 2. This is a limited release of 1,000 numbered bottles. Batch 2 has everything the Inaugural Release had but those extra 5 months have added to the roundness and balance. It is a vatting of single malts sourced from different distilleries: 22% is 2006 Cooley Single Malt, the balance is mostly 5 years with some 4 year Great Northern Distillery Single Malt. Bottled at 46% ABV, gently cut over 5-6 weeks, natural colour and not chill filtered, the RRP is €65”.  

The Liberator Small Batch: Double Port Finish will be released this Autumn. Maurice explains “We have been working during the lockdown on a blended Whiskey. Our first release has an unusually high malt content (42%), has been finished in Tawny and Ruby port casks and is a light and approachable but characterful Whiskey with a likely RRP of €49. There will also be a small Cask Strength release in half bottles in response to enthusiastic demand from the Whiskey community”. 

He adds “With pubs and bars closed, it’s been a challenge for people to taste and get to know our Whiskeys so we’ll be releasing miniature versions and have also started a partnering program with hotels”.

The Liberator Irish Whiskey celebrates the legacy of Daniel O’Connell, born in Kerry in 1775. The original campaigner for civil rights, heedless of race, gender or creed and often hailed as the greatest ever Irishman. Maurice adds “My forebear Daniel O’Connell’s independent spirit and sometimes wayward approach inspires how we craft whiskey at our family’s historic Lakeview Estate on the shores of Lough Leane in Killarney.”  

Alongside The Liberator (bonded Whiskey), the Lakeview Estate grows its own barley and laid down its first casks in early 2019. Maurice explains “We are proud to be celebrating the 18 month birthday of our Single Estate Pot Still spirit and are working towards grain-to-glass distilling here in 2024”. 

Just 1,000 numbered bottles of the Batch 2 of The Liberator Irish Whiskey Malt in Tawny Port Finish are available from 21st August from leading suppliers including The Celtic Whiskey Shop and James Fox in Dublin, Fine Wines in Limerick, Carryout in Killarney and online through www.IrishMalts.com. Suggested retail price €65. Barry & Fitzwilliam have The Liberator for wider release in Ireland. 

Press release

Thursday, July 16, 2020

Irish whiskey distilleries reopening with a host of new visitor offerings

Irish whiskey distilleries reopening with a host of new visitor offerings
Taste the difference at Roe & Co


  • IrishWhiskey360° campaign urges domestic tourists to ‘get back into the spirit’ by visiting local distilleries -

Bespoke whiskey and food tastings, intimate cocktail-making classes and collaborations with local restaurants are just some of what’s on offer from Irish whiskey distilleries and visitor centres as they re-open in the wake of Covid-19 restrictions.

Commenting on their reopening, William Lavelle, head of Drinks Ireland|Irish Whiskey said many distilleries and brand homes have introduced new visitor offerings and more intimate tourist experiences in the wake of Covid-19.  Drinks Ireland|Irish Whiskey have today launched their IrishWhiskey360° “Get Back Into The Spirit” campaign to promote Irish whiskey tourism.

“Smaller tour sizes, private tastings, new cocktail and food pairings, and collaborations with local businesses are just some of the ways our members are adapting their offerings as they reopen,” he said. “Safety is obviously a key focus for all our visitor centres – they have reduced their tour sizes and introduced all the necessary requirements to ensure social distancing can be adhered to.

“Irish whiskey visitor centres are not just for whiskey fans – they offer a cultural and historical experience, where visitors can learn about how whiskey is made, the history of the local area, taste  whiskey and sample local cuisine. Whether you’re a couple looking for a fun date experience, or a group of friends looking to catch up after a difficult few months, I would urge people to get back into the spirit of discovery and friendship, and support local brands, by including an Irish whiskey visitor centre in your summer plans.”

Some of the distilleries and visitor centres that are reopening with new offerings include:

  • Clonakilty DistilleryCo. Cork, which is offering smaller, later tours on Friday and Saturday evenings to allow visitors to follow their tour with a meal in neighbouring restaurant, the Whale’s Tail.
  • Kilbeggan Distillery, Co. Westmeath, which is running smaller, more intimate tours, and have developed a new ‘Bottle Your Own’ experience, where visitors can bottle their own 10 year-old single malt cask exclusive to Kilbeggan Distillery.
  • Roe & Co. Distillery in Dublin, where groups of up to six people can experience a cocktail-making workshop, and visitors will have the opportunity to discover the five pillars of flavours in whiskey.
  • Tullamore Dew, Co. Offaly, which will be offering intimate-sized tours, and whiskey and food pairings.
Gin School at Clonakilty Distillery

Other distilleries that opened or due to open shortly include:

  • Teeling Whiskey Distillery, Newmarket, Dublin.
  • Powerscourt Distillery, Co. Wicklow.
  • Jameson Distillery, Bow Street, Dublin.
  • Jameson Distillery, Midleton. Co. Cork.
  • Pearse Lyons Distillery, James’s Street, Dublin.
  • Skellig Six18, Cahersiveen, Co. Kerry.

The Irish whiskey industry had a successful 2019 with 143 million bottles (nearly 12 million cases) of Irish whiskey sold globally, a doubling of sales since 2010, along with a record one million people visiting Irish whiskey distilleries and visitor centres.

Further information on the Irish whiskey distilleries and visitor centres that are now open is available at: www.irishwhiskey360.com

Saturday, May 16, 2020

Irish Whiskey industry ready to bounce back after Covid-19 restrictions


Irish Whiskey industry ready to bounce back after Covid-19 restrictions
Powerscourt Distillery

- Irish whiskey industry backs calls for funding support to promote brands in key markets around the world ahead of World Whiskey Day -

The Irish Whiskey industry is ready to bounce back when the Covid-19 restrictions are eased. That is the message from Drinks Ireland|Irish Whiskey Association to mark World Whiskey Day this Saturday, 16th May 2020.

The Irish whiskey industry had a successful 2019 with 137 million bottles (11.4 million cases) of Irish whiskey sold globally, a doubling of sales since 2010; along with a record one million people visiting Irish whiskey distilleries and brand homes.

However, the Association is warning that 2020 will prove very different as the Irish whiskey industry assesses the negative economic impact of Covid-19.

William Lavelle, Head of Drinks Ireland|Irish Whiskey Association, said: “In response to the Covid-19 crisis, our industry had to step back and in some cases step-up. Sales channels have been restricted and, and in many cases, such as bars and travel retail, have shut down. We closed our visitor centres. Cash flow has dried-up. Jobs have been lost, hopefully only temporarily.

“The Irish whiskey industry has proven itself to be resilient. After decades of decline, we’ve just experienced a remarkable decade of recovery. That recovery will continue. We’re ready to bounce back again.”

Playing their part in the Covid-19 pandemic
Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic Irish whiskey distilleries have supported the national effort to slow the spread of the virus, by producing alcohol-based hand sanitisers to help the country meet its increased demand for the product.

Lavelle commented: It is really encouraging to see whiskey distilleries and brand homes play their part during this public health emergency. There has been a massive increase in demand for alcohol-based sanitisers, given its effectiveness in helping to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus.”
Clonakilty Distillery

Promoting Irish whiskey in key markets, both domestic and international
A key priority for the Irish whiskey industry over coming weeks and months will be to consolidate and reboot sales in key existing markets for Irish whiskey. To support this, Drinks Ireland|Irish Whiskey Association is developing new programmes to promote Irish whiskey at home and abroad.

Lavelle commented: This crisis has knocked back sales growth. Orders have been cancelled and, in some cases, companies have been called on to take back stock. The challenges are particularly stark for many smaller and new-entrant companies.

“But our industry intends to win back these sales losses, across all our key markets. Our Association is finalising ambitious plans to promote Irish whiskey in our key markets, from the US and Canada right back to the domestic Irish market where we’ll be seeking to re-position Irish whiskey in what is quite likely to be a re-imagined Irish hospitality scene.”

The Irish whiskey industry is calling on the Irish and Northern Irish governments to back the proposal from Drinks Ireland for an ambitious programme of support - with up to 70 per cent funding - to allow companies to directly and exclusively employ graduate brand ambassadors in key markets for at least 12 months.

Lavelle added Supporting Irish exporters to reboot their brands and regain market position should be a key priority for Government. Funding ‘boots on the ground’ in key markets around the world has long been the key to Irish food and drinks export success and is now more vital than ever.”
                             
Targeting domestic tourists
Last year, over one million people visited Irish whiskey distilleries and brand homes. However, 87 per cent of those visitors were from overseas, which will result in a significant decline in visitor numbers recorded this year.

Lavelle said: Irish whiskey visitor attractions are more exposed than other attractions to the loss of international tourism. We will be actively targeting domestic Irish tourists once our visitor centres reopen in July.

“The second half 2020 is likely to see a surge in ‘stay-cations’, short breaks and day trips by Irish people right across the island of Ireland. As part of this we are encouraging Irish people to visit an Irish whiskey distillery.

International visitors to Ireland have up to now flocked to Irish whiskey distilleries on the basis of their worldwide reputation as exciting and enjoyable attractions, where people can learn how Irish whiskey is made and explore the influence of the people and place in crafting our unique national spirit. We now want more Irish visitors to discover the depth and diversity of our Irish whiskey distilleries and brands homes, starting with their local distilleries.

“Distilleries and brand homes are ready to reopen their doors in July , many with new and redesigned tour experiences – such as more intimate tour offerings for couples, families and small groups - all designed to ensure the safety and enjoyment of visitors.”

For more information on Irish whiskey distillery visitor attractions visit https://irishwhiskey360.ie/

Monday, April 20, 2020

Blacks Win Gold For Their Rum At World Awards. Amazing Kinsale Duo Soon To Lay Down Their Whiskey

press release
Blacks Win Gold For Their Rum At World Awards

Amazing Kinsale Duo Soon To Lay Down Their Whiskey

Husband and wife duo, and founders of Blacks Brewery and Distillery, Sam and Maudeline Black, were in high spirits on winning a prestigious Gold award for their Blacks Golden Rum at the World Rum Awards. Founded originally as a craft beer brewery in 2013, this unstoppable couple expanded and opened their distillery in 2015, where they began producing gin in their top-of-the range facility in Kinsale, Co.Cork.  In 2018, they made history with Blacks Spiced Rum, Ireland’s first-ever rum, made entirely from start to finish in Ireland. Continuing to add to their extensive range of award-winning craft beers and spirits, this year their first bottle of Blacks Golden Rum hit the shelves, after maturing in ex Irish whiskey oak barrels for the last five years.

The World Rum Awards are the leading global rum awards, which select the very best in all of the internationally recognised styles, and award and promote these world best rums to consumers and trade across the globe. It was with immense pride that passionate entrepreneurs, Maudeline & Sam, accepted this coveted World Rum Award, a recognition of their master craftsmanship and innovative recipe. Blacks Golden Rum was the only rum to win Gold in its category - World’s Best Column Still Rum 5 Years & Under, and the only Irish spirit to make the winners list. This was the first time Blacks Brewery & Distillery entered these illustrious awards, with their golden rum undergoing a series of three stringent judges tasting sessions. Due to Covid19 restrictions, this year, all aspects of these awards took place behind closed doors, with virtual tasting sessions chaired by head judge Peter Holland. The distinguished judging panel comprised of international, leading journalists, specialist drinks retailers and industry experts.

Speaking in relation to the taste of this Gold award-winning Blacks Golden Rum the judging panel commented, ‘An interesting nose. It starts off with wood varnish and dunder/funkiness. Very ripe tropical fruit and very ripe stone and citrus fruit with a very notable dry orange peel aroma. There is roat vegetal notes too. The palate is quite straightforward and easy. One dimensional with easy tropical fruits and little hints of wood smoke and medicinal characteristics.’
 
Sam Black
‘We couldn’t believe it when award organisers contacted us with the good news. Gold! We are very proud of our golden rum, as we are with all of the beers and spirits which leave our brewery and distillery displaying our name. They really are a testament to the time and talent invested by all of our team in Kinsale, but to receive this recognition on a global scale, especially when up against such long standing and established rum brands it was just phenomenal.’ commented Founder Sam Black. 

Having made their mark on the global rum stage, there is no stopping this pair who already have their eyes firmly on their next endeavour - the whiskey market. Always looking for a unique angle, and bringing creativity to their business, be that in the form of seasonal craft beer recipes, production methods or eye-catching packaging, Maudeline & Sam wanted to make their whiskey journey special too. They have achieved this by opening up their business to other whiskey enthusiasts who wish to share in their passion with the Blacks Whiskey Founders Club.

Already boasting over 100 members, the Blacks Whiskey Founders Club gives whiskey lovers the opportunity to purchase their own cask of whiskey, starting from €6,500. This club allows members to create their very own personalised and branded whiskey, with a cask expected to deliver over 397 bottles of pot still single malt Irish whiskey, or to use this as an investment opportunity and after the five-year maturation period sell back their cask to Blacks. This buy-back scheme will generate a minimum 4% annually compounded (approx. €280 per year per cask) return on a members initial investment.

Phase one of this €1million project has now been completed, the installation of two copper whiskey stills. With the club still open for new members to join, and with lots of different cask options to choose from for example ex bourbon, sherry or port, the next key date in the diary is the first annual Blacks Whiskey Founders Club party, which is set to take place on Friday 18th September. This annual event gives members an opportunity to network and check in on their whiskey, becoming an actively engaged part of the distilling process. During the day members will have a choice of some social activities such as golfing and a Kinsale Harbour sailing trip,  while in the afternoon there will be tours of the distillery and brewery, with lots of spirit and beer tasting.

Speaking in relation to the Blacks Whiskey Founders Club , Sam Black commented, ‘This really is a unique opportunity for whiskey enthusiasts, who otherwise would not be in a position to produce whiskey alone. It was my passion for brewing and my wifes support that gave me the push to open Black Brewery & Distillery and I want to share that experience with others. Some of our members who have already joined plan to bottle and label their whiskey to gift to family, friends, as corporate client gifts and to sell some on the secondary whiskey market, while for others its an investment opportunity, but one in which they to play an active role in also creating a piece of our famous Irish whiskey heritage. The next few weeks mark a huge milestone in this project as the actual whiskey production begins. I look forward to watching our club grow, adding more people to the Blacks family and getting to meet a lot of these face to face at our annual get-together.’

Blacks Brewery and Distillery are among some of the lucky businesses who have been able to adapt their operations processes in order to remain functioning safely through this Covid19 pandemic. Not only are they still supplying beers and spirits to off-licenses and supermarkets across the country, but they are also playing their part in trying to fight this virus and support the community, with the production of much needed hand sanitiser. Despite their online sales increasing over the last month and sales staff required to focus their efforts here, Maudeline and Sam were still adamant that they were going to use their resources to help, and therefore redeployed members of their sales team, who would have primarily focused on on-trade pubs and restaurants.

Sales staff are now helping in the distillery to bottle and label hand sanitizer. This supply of hand sanitiser is being split between charities, such as Cork Simon and local Kinsale volunteers, and consumers. In addition to charity drops and for consumers through retail stores, when placing online spirit orders through the Blacks website consumers receive free sanitiser and one is also donated to a charity group in their name. Now that the new copper whiskey stills are installed they will also play a role in this sanitation process, as before whiskey production begins in the coming weeks the stills must undergo a cleaning run in manual mode with vinegar, followed by a sacrificial alcohol run which will also be transformed into hand sanitiser.


Commenting on the new edition to their production line Sam Black said, ‘We consider ourselves very fortunate to still be in a position to stay open and meet the demand of customers. It is a very hard time for the entire Irish community and we just wanted to play our part, no matter how small in helping during this crisis. When we became aware of the huge shortage of hand sanitiser for those on the frontline we realised we were in a unique position to be able to assist, and so we quickly went about altering our production process to start manufacturing and getting this into the hands of those who need it.’

To find out more about the award-winning Blacks Golden Rum, to become a member of the Blacks Whiskey Founders Club, or to place an order for some of Blacks Brewery & Distillery famous craft beers or gin visit www.blacksbrewery.com. You can also contact Paul, a member of the Blacks team at paul@blacksbrewery.com or stay connected online at Instagram/blacksbrewery Instagram/blacksdistillerykinsale, Twitter @BlacksBrewery or Facebook/BlacksOfKinsale

Thursday, March 12, 2020

Hands On Fun during Roe and Co Whiskey Tour in Dublin’s Liberties.

Hands On Fun during Roe and Co
 Whiskey Tour in Dublin’s Liberties.

We are sitting in a rather plush room. The lights are dim.There is a covered box on the table in front each of us. Eventually we are invited to flip the lid. In the box are three closed containers, a tube of liquid, a glass of whiskey, and two sections, one with malted barley, the other with corn (maize).

On the word, I squeeze a few drops of whiskey from the tube on to a palm and then rub my hand together, and smell the result. Now we open the three containers and use the old nostrils again. No 1 is sweet; “from the fermentation” says our guide. No 2 looks and smells like caramel and coffee; “from the distillation”. No 3 looks and smells like a piece of clove rock; “spice, from the maturation”. The barley and corn (maize) are there because this whiskey is a blend of malted and grain (aged in Bourbon casks).


We finish by tasting from the glass in the box. All the elements have now come together in harmony and we enjoy. What is a bit unusual about the new Roe and Co whiskey is that its ABV is 45 degrees, up on the usual forty.

The Roe master blender, Caroline Martin (a Scot), whose original brief was “to create a modern Irish whiskey”, went through over a multiple prototypes before eventually settling on this one. Then, she consulted widely again with the country’s bar staff. And the message that came back was that this higher alcohol mix was just the job for cocktails! So there you are.
Douglas Fir, Caroline insisting this was “essential” to the success of her process and project, was used here instead of the usual stainless steel.

You get a fair bit of fun in this new Dublin and, soon afterwards, in a different and well equipped room we each are assembling our own cocktail under the guidance of Shane. Again we did a bit of tasting, this time getting to know, by tasting of course, the five tastes: sour, sweet, bitter, umami and salt. We had all the essentials in front us including the all important jigger (20ml and 40ml) and whiskey of course. Not over impressed with my effort at first. It did seem to improve after a few minutes but by then we were heading downstairs to the bar for another drink, either a whiskey or a another professional made cocktail!
Wall of whiskey

No sails now on this old windmill tower
So who is this Roe? George Roe & Co helped build the golden era of Irish whiskey - this area of the Liberties was known as the Golden Triangle -  in the 19th century. Their distillery at Thomas Street in Dublin extended over 17 acres and they were Ireland's largest exporter of whiskey. As neighbours for hundreds of years George Roe & Co and Guinness were the two biggest names at the heart of Dublin’s historic brewing and distilling quarter. 

And now it is Guinness (through Diageo) that have opened this Roe distillery on the site of an old powerhouse. Our tour was called the Power House Tour. The original Roe distillery closed in 1926 and now all that remains is the distillery windmill tower (known as St Patrick’s and visible from the tour) and a pear tree that flowers to this day. Indeed, Shane told us the old tree is still fruiting and it and the tower are used as a marketing motif. In addition, a part of the old power house has been retained and you’ll see it on the tour.

For our twenty two euro each, we were promised a personalised experience. There were just five guests - a maximum of 16 is permitted - so we did enjoy the stories plus the sensorial tasting and cocktail workshop exploring the flavour and taste profile and that signature serve in the Power House Bar. Only over 18s are allowed.
Cocktail time

You also get to see the distillery itself, mostly from an overhead walkway. It opened last year so the whiskey used in the current offering has been distilled elsewhere on the island. The three stills are named Vision, Virtue and Valour. The middle one, Virtue, has a slightly different configuration to the others and is a gift from sister company Gordon’s Gin. All very impressive and Caroline and her crew here are all looking forward to their first whiskey which should see the light of day in 2022.

If you want to find out more about the various tours, read here

By the way, the Power House Bar is open to the public on Friday nights when they’ll be dishing out signature Roe & Co cocktails, great tunes and good vibes. 

Also on this trip: 
Kilmainham Gaol

Monday, October 7, 2019

New Challenge for Noel Sweeney at Powerscourt Distillery


New Challenge for Noel Sweeney at Powerscourt Distillery

“The distiller’s challenge nowadays is to produce a style”, according to Master Distiller Noel Sweeney (right).

We were visiting the new Powerscourt Distillery on the estate, a visit hosted by Marketing Manager Caroline Gardiner who arranged for us to have a tasting with Noel.

He doesn’t particularly think that you can attach the word “innovation” to any of today’s various finishes as they’ve all been done before. But he reckons that there may be room for innovation at the other end, in the mash bill, and mentioned the Teeling Rye as an example.
Powerscourt Distillery and Visitor Centre

All aspects of spirit production and whiskey maturation fall under Sweeney’s careful supervision at Powerscourt Distillery. And we were privileged to have a chat and a tasting with Noel.

We started with the Fercullen 10-year old Single Grain. He is not surprised that it is successful, “a star performer”, and thinks that particular category is generally “under-rated”. It is indeed hugely enjoyable and I bought a bottle in the shop on the way out.
All set up for our tasting

His long experience of this style shows in the Fercullen whisky, experience gained and tempered in the good old days when grain matured in “good Bourbon barrels” became very popular as Greenore (now replaced by Kilbeggan Single Grain). 

Powerscourt have just begun to lay down their own whiskey and the three we tasted are based on old stock made by Sweeney while at Cooley where he began his 30 plus year whiskey career and stayed on after founder John Teeling sold to Beam in 2011. 
The Mash Tun

Noel is one of just a handful of Irish distillers to have been inducted into Whisky Magazine’s ‘Hall of Fame’ and Powerscourt are indeed lucky to have him, as Caroline emphasised.

After that lovely and light, smooth and sweet 10-year old grain, we tried the well-rounded Premium Blend. This, with its nicely judged blend of youngish grain and older malt, has a lot to offer, according to Noel, pointing to its “different maltiness” and excellent body.

We finished with the 14 year Pure Malt, matured in Bourbon barrels, the darkest of the three and also the strongest (46%). It has intense aromas, is smooth on the palate and that bit spicier. You may well need to add a drop or two of water to this.

If Noel didn’t hit the sweet spot with the 14-year old - and I reckon he did - he is even more sure of having done it with the soon to be released 18 year with its abv of 43%. Watch out for that!
In the warehouse

You enter the new distillery visitor centre via the Old Mill House steeped in history and built using local Wicklow granite. This has being faithfully restored  - you’ll see some of the original machinery under the glass floor - and extended to help accommodate the distillery’s development. The bell that adorns the northern west wall was originally used to herald the daily lunch break to workers in distant fields.
Whiskey in wine barrels

Must admit I didn’t see the bell that day. The rain was bucketing down and we couldn’t even see the Sugar Loaf mountain whose silhouette appears on all the Fercullen bottles. The next day, also wet, we got up close (and very wet) when we visited the Powerscourt Waterfall, the source of the water that the new distillery uses.

The history of the Powerscourt Estate can be traced back to the 9th century to a territory that stretches across fertile plains and rugged mountainous land.

Known in native Gaelic tongue as “FeraCulann” or Fercullen, it is located in the foothold of the Wicklow mountains, close to Dublin. Ownership has been claimed by many over the centuries, from the native Clans of O’Toole and O’Byrne, to the Norman house of LePoer (who built a castle here and from whom the estate takes its name.)

The new distillery (2018) has moved past the 1,000,000 bottle mark recently. The whiskey is being stored in casks (mainly bourbon, but some also in European barrels, mainly from the wine trade) in the on-site warehouse. More storage space will be needed in the not too distant future!
No shortage of fresh water in Powerscourt
The first big item you come across on the distillery tour itself is the Mash tun and from there the steps from grinding to mashing to fermentation to distillation to maturation are explained to you by your guide. You will have picked up some excellent information too in a short video that you start with. The three impressive copper stills were manufactured in Scotland by Forsyths.

And of course, every tour includes a tasting. Indeed, there are no less than six individual tasting rooms. There is a Distillery tour and also a Distillery and Warehouse tour. Some of the rooms are suitable for large groups so corporate visits can be comfortably facilitated and tailored to suit the group’s needs.

They also have a bright and airy café here and if you call in for a cuppa or something more substantial, be sure and try out their Fercullen Whiskey Ice-cream! 

The shop is alongside, very well laid out. And here you may buy a bottle or two or more. The three Fercullen whiskeys are also available, in miniature bottles, in a handy gift-pack. 

And no shortage of other souvenirs. I also spotted the Móinéir Wines (made here in Wicklow by Wicklow Way Wines) and also those delicious biscuits from the Lismore Food Company.

And if you’d like to get involved in the new distillery, check out their Cask Programme. Restricted to a membership of 397 (200L) casks only, each one is intended to represent a foot in height of the nearby 397ft Powerscourt Waterfall. Available to private subscription, the programme offers an exclusive level of involvement with the distillery’s exciting whiskey future. Details here

Powerscourt Estate, Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow, Ireland
Eircode: A98 A9T7
Phone: +353 1 506 5656


Also on this trip:
The Wicklow Heather
Powerscourt Hotel




Wednesday, September 11, 2019

A Hat-trick of Whiskeys from the new Powerscourt Distillery


A Hat-trick of Whiskeys from the new Powerscourt Distillery

Powerscourt Distillery recently celebrated its first anniversary as a fully operating whiskey distillery with the opening of its visitor centre in the Old Mill House on Powerscourt Estate.  Master Distiller Noel Sweeney is a globally recognised expert who has already been credited for the release of many international award-winning whiskeys and was inducted into Whisky Magazine’s celebrated ‘Hall of Fame’ in 2017.  

I hope to visit Powerscourt in the near future but in the meantime I enjoyed the three whiskeys that make up the Fercullen Trilogy Set. The name comes from ‘FeraCulann’ or ‘Fercullen’, the Gaelic name given to the ancient and strategically important lands that surround and encompass Powerscourt Estate.

Like many young distilleries, Powerscourt are sourcing malt and grain from existing distilleries including Cooley Distillery. Here Noel Sweeney represents an unusual and valuable continuation as it was he who distilled this original liquid when he was Master Distiller in Cooley!

Fercullen Premium Blend Irish Whiskey, 40% abv, €44.00

A blend of carefully selected casks of aged malt and grain whiskeys, Fercullen Premium Blend Irish Whiskey, is aged in seasoned oak. Mid-gold in the glass, legs slow to clear as you’d expect. Surprisingly rich aromas, sweet too with vanilla notes. Quite smooth on the palate, quite a depth of flavour, a touch of toast, spice and sweetness too. Sweet finish too with those tropical fruits. Very promising indeed for their entry level drop. Then again distiller Noel Sweeney is far from entry level!


Fercullen 10 Year Old Single Grain Irish Whiskey, 40% abv, €57.50

Carefully selected from rare stocks of aged Irish Whiskey, the Fercullen 10-year-old Single Grain Irish Whiskey has been aged exclusively in white oak for over a decade before being recasked to mature in fresh bourbon barrels.  A bit more gold in the colour here, plus the slow legs of course. Vanilla, honey and spice in the sweet aromas, more rounded, if slightly less intense, than the blend. Beautifully smooth and balanced on the palate; harmonious combinations all the way, nothing jars at all, no extremes, easy sipping to a long and lovely finale.
Fercullen 14-Year-Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey, 46%,  €92.95

Carefully selected from rare stocks of aged Irish whiskey, Fercullen 14-Year-Old Single Malt has been expertly distilled and set aside to mature in bourbon barrels by one of Ireland’s most accomplished Master Distillers Noel Sweeney. It is matured in Bourbon barrels. The darkest of the three. Also the strongest of the three, so slow slow legs. Aromas are quite mature and intense: vanilla, honey, fruit, herb and spice. So smooth, so harmonious on the palate, sweet and silky and fresh from start to finish. Gather up this Single Malt. Keep one for every one you drink now!