McCormack’s Irish Whiskey was brought to my attention by a random tweet featuring a photo of a French supermarket spirits shelf. The discussion mainly revolved around the varying prices brought about by the taxes charged in the respective countries – but what interested me was the fact that sitting beside a well known staple – Bushmills – is a brand unheard of in Ireland – McCormack’s. A bit of digging reveals it to be a West Cork Distillers brand. For it to be listed in LeClerc stores suggests it’s quite a big seller. A European Supermarket Magazine article from January 2024 has E.Leclerc a ..read more

The Pogues Streams Of Whiskey is the 3rd version of Pogues Whiskey to hit the shelves. All of them are presented in visually striking bottles. Black was the colour of the 1st one. A blended Irish Whiskey hailing from West Cork Distillers. Dunnes Stores stocked this at one stage. Red signified the Irish Single Malt version – also sourced from West Cork Distillers. Purple is the choice of this 3rd edition. Also a blended whiskey but representing the London-born-to-Irish-parents-heritage of The Pogues singer Shane MacGowan, Streams Of Whiskey is a High malt blend of whiskies distilled in Irelan ..read more

One of the Irish Whiskeys uncovered in my sojourn to ProWein in Germany was Kerrighan’s. I had a very quick sample as the show was coming to a close & found it an easy going blended Irish Whiskey. On searching for further details it appears to be a Great Northern Distillery offering for a French distribution company by the name of Les Producteurs Réunis. It’s certainly flying the Green for Irish Whiskey in France! Their website also showcases many other brands spanning various spirits categories. Pity I didn’t have time to explore more of them at the show! Sláinte Les Producteurs Réunis ..read more

The latest release from Terra Spirits of Bailieborough, County Cavan attracted the ire of local gender rights campaigner River Sheridan. The spokesperson for the Cavan Non-Binary Coalition denounced the naming of Mr Whiskey as perpetuating the tired old stereotypes whiskey is a male only drink & projects an exclusory image of Ireland’s historical brown spirit which omits the non binary community. Ms Lillian Farelly – Inclusivity Awareness Officer for Terra Spirits -had previously stated the Mr Whiskey brand is the beginning of our export expansion plans into the American market. We are ve ..read more

At first glance you’d expect Suntory Ao Whisky to be a Japanese brand – and it is – but there’s an Irish Whiskey component in it’s blended make-up. The Irish Whiskey in question hails from the Cooley Distillery in Co. Louth. Suntory own Cooley – along with Kilbeggan too – and Ao celebrates the internationality of Suntory’s global reach by using whiskies from Scotland, America, Canada, Japan & the aforementioned Ireland to create this World Whisky. I’ve not yet manage to sample the delights of Ao – yet I did see it available in Travel Retail at Dublin Airport. Seems a very apt venue to of ..read more

One of the first things I did after arriving in Dusseldorf was visiting an Aldi Süd store. Stocking up on some snacks & water for my stay was the main focus – but a look down the spirits isles also enticed. The German tax on alcohol is lower than Ireland so many brands were offered at more affordable prices. Gallantry Irish Whiskey displayed a rather more mundane bottle compared to the one I featured in No 2 of this series. There was a Scottish equivalent in Black Stone. What really caught my eye however was a very well presented Ballimore Irish Whiskey. Not only is it non-chill filter ..read more

I always celebrate new Irish Whiskey brands around the world. They bring diversity, new ideas, youthful enthusiasm & ultimately – new customers. One brand that caught my eye lately is Neit Whiskey. Launching in Italy Neit exude an air of youthful confidence, sophistication, chic fashion & stylishness – not something you encounter at a regular whiskey show! The packaging presents like a large perfume bottle. The videos on the webpage are like catwalk shows. Their first liquid to be released is music to my ears – a Single Grain Whiskey offered non-chill filtered & natural colour ..read more

I couldn’t resist popping into the Aldi Süd nearby my hotel in Dusseldorf. I’ve not been in one before & despite the familiar layout there were a whole host of brands I’d not encountered before. Gallantry Irish Whiskey appears to have changed their bottle design from the one I featured in my Irish Whiskey Around The World Series here. Black Stone is their Scotch equivalent. There was also a lovely looking Ballimore Irish Whiskey to tempt me. All at very attractive prices! What I couldn’t resist however was an Italian Grappa. I present to you Cavone. All for €5.69 It made my hotel room ..read more

I was brought back a bottle of Kavanagh Single Malt Irish Whiskey when herself visited the brother in Baltimore. Kavanagh appears to be a Total Wine own brand & has an extensive range. There’s the Blend, A Single Grain, The aforementioned Single Malt, A Cream Liqueur, And if you really want to push the boat out – a Pumpkin Spice Cream Liqueur. There’s also been some age statement bottlings as well as different barrel finishes too – pretty extensive! The source distillery/distilleries are not mentioned & different offerings could have originated from varying places. For the price p ..read more

Visiting the bar at Hodson Bay Hotel recently unveiled a pleasant surprise. A trio of Lough Ree The Bridge Series Irish Whiskey graced the display. Enquiring as to what they were revealed a Dead Centre Beer Cask collaboration, a single grain Killinure & a single malt Rindoon. Always on the lookout for a single grain – a sadly under-appreciated style – Killinure made my glass. Killinure – a peninsula on Lough Ree visible from Hodson Bay Hotel itself – Whiskey exhibited a rich, sweet aroma. Not honeyed, more reminiscent of sweet corn – the raw ingredient used in it’s distillation. A light m ..read more