Overview: Ireland’s whiskey industry has experienced a significant rebirth following decades of turbulence in the 20th century. Recent years have seen dozens of distilleries emerge across the Emerald Isle, moving beyond well-known names to highlight smaller producers with unique profiles. This overview examines fourteen specific brands that define this modern landscape, ranging from heritage family operations to innovative cask finishes.
The Full Story
The industry landscape shifted dramatically after 2010, when Ireland had only four distilleries in the country. An entire swath of culture and heritage had dwindled, but fortunately, things changed as dozens of distilleries have popped up across the Emerald Isle. Brands like Jameson, Bushmills, and Teeling have been must-visit distilleries for every whiskey lover for a long time, yet recommendations often favor smaller guys in favor of the well-known names. The rich green fields of Ireland are behind some high-quality grains making equally high-quality whiskey.
Writers’ Tears was created to harken back to the days of copper pot distilling, and the libations once enjoyed by writers like Oscar Wilde and Bram Stoker. Boann Distillery includes a line named in honor of the founding family’s Pat Cooney and his habit of whistling a tune as he went about his day. Achill Island whiskey comes out of the IrishAmerican Whiskeys distillery on — as the name suggests — Achill Island. That is a breathtaking island off the West Coast, and seriously, if you’re planning a trip to Ireland, don’t overlook it. Connemara Irish Whiskey is made with barley that’s dried over peat fires to impart a rich, smoky flavor that is absolutely unparalleled and won’t be duplicated in any other way.
W.D. O’Connell is a whiskey bonder, which means it’s sourcing its whiskey and curating choices to create something stellar. Micil hails from Galway, and it’s a lovely family-owned distillery with a history that goes back through several hundred years and a handful of generations. Spot Whiskey is another one with a long family history, this one going back seven generations through Dublin. Clonakilty has been raking in awards for years, and among them are nods for the Best Irish Blended and Best Irish New Make whiskey from the World Whiskies Awards. Glendalough has the wildly impressive honor of taking home four consecutive Distillery of the Year wins from the New York International Spirits Competition.
Production & Profile
The aging process is crucial to creating the distinctive characteristics prized in whiskey, and you’ve probably heard that some distillers have taken to aging their whiskey at sea. Achill Island’s microclimate and its impact on aging make this one a standout, but the water does, too. That comes from Lough Corrymore, which movie buffs might recognize from “The Banshees of Inisherin.” The rocky, soaring location makes it the highest mountain lake in Europe. Writers’ Tears earned heavy-hitting awards, including top honors as the Best Blended Whiskey back at the first-ever Irish Whiskey Awards in 2013.
Boann Distillery offers bottles like Dark Symphony, which is aged in cognac barrels, and Mosaic, which spends its time in both bourbon and Sicilian Marsala casks before being bottled. Connemara delivers heavily on the smokiness and grassiness with a 12-year-old that delivers heavily on the smokiness and grassiness. Two Stacks offers bottles of whiskey — and you absolutely should — but you can also pick up the brand’s Dram In a Can, which are 100 milliliter cans that come in a four-pack. Foxes Bow was created out of a desire to give the world of Irish whiskey a modern upgrade with finishing in sherry casks along with time spent in rye casks.
Brand & Industry History
Ireland might be known for its whiskey, but there’s a heartbreaking history here. The 20th century saw a ton of turbulence — from the Irish Civil War to the pressures of World War I and II and economic consequences of U.S. Prohibition — that threatened to end centuries of distilling history. Fortunately, recent years have seen a rebirth and renewed interest in the industry and craft. Whiskey bonding is actually an old Irish tradition and an incredibly important part of the country’s whiskey history. Centuries ago, every town had a licensed bonder. Through the 20th century? Not so much. That’s finally changing.
What This Means
An entire swath of culture and heritage had dwindled, but fortunately, things changed. Dozens of distilleries have popped up across the Emerald Isle, and if you’re thinking the rich green fields of Ireland are behind some high-quality grains making equally high-quality whiskey, you would be correct. These choices are personal recommendations — I’m a collector of Irish whiskey, living in Ireland, with experience behind the bar — with an eye toward variety, awards, and U.S. availability. Trust me: if you see these bottles, pick them up! The industry is reinventing tradition, holding onto history, and bringing something unique, creative, and modern to the market.
Consumer Takeaway
These choices are personal recommendations with an eye toward variety, awards, and U.S. availability. If you like your whiskey on the woody side, go for the Double Oak. However, don’t pass by a bottle of the Red Head — that one is finished in sherry butts. Anyone who can’t get enough of the peat should seek out the Cask Strength. The 15-year-old brought the title of World’s Best Grain Whiskey home from the World Whiskies Awards two years in a row. After you try the flagship, pick up a bottle of The Mistake. Originally it was exactly that — an oopsie that led to a limited release of an extra-strong, over-aged whiskey. It was such a hit that they’re doing it on purpose now.
Source: Read the original article
