IrishSpirit Blog
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Our whiskey blog features the latest musings and news surrounding the Irish whiskey scene. We tackle everything from the basics to the complexities. Irish Spirit was founded to bring the "liquid sunshine" of Irish whiskey into the lives of whiskey lovers around the world.
IrishSpirit Blog
1y ago
Samhain: Delving into the Ancient Celtic Festival that Preceded Halloween
As autumn’s leaves tumble and the chill of winter begins its embrace, the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain beckons. This event, celebrated at the end of October, is more than just a predecessor to modern-day Halloween; it’s a profound reflection of the Celtic respect for nature’s rhythms, the passage of time, and the mysteries of the spiritual realm.
The Turning of the Celtic Calendar
For the Celts, Samhain wasn’t merely a festival; it was a pivotal moment in their year. Signifying the close of the harvest season and ..read more
IrishSpirit Blog
1y ago
In the vast landscape of spirits, few have a history as rich and intriguing as the Japanese Mugishochu. As we delve into the complexities of its production, it’s worth stepping back in time to appreciate its storied past.
The Origins of Mugishochu.
Centuries ago, the distillation techniques that would give birth to shochu arrived in Japan, likely introduced through trade routes connecting Japan with the Korean Peninsula and China. As these techniques were assimilated, they melded seamlessly with Japan’s indigenous brewing traditions. The result? Shochu. While there are several types of shochu ..read more
IrishSpirit Blog
2y ago
The Irish coffee is a hot drink made with whiskey, espresso, and sugar. It is traditionally served in a glass mug with cream on top. From its humble beginnings in a small village on the west coast of Ireland to its popularisation around the world, the Irish Coffee is an iconic drink with a fascinating history. In this article, explore the origins of this beloved beverage and learn how it became the iconic tipple it is today.
The Irish coffee was invented by Joe Sheridan, a chef who worked the at an old terminal building at Foyne’s Air Base, situated on the banks of the River Shannon, L ..read more
IrishSpirit Blog
2y ago
The legend of St. Patrick is one of many twists and tales. Firstly, despite being the patron Saint of Ireland, he was in actual fact, born on British soil sometime in the 4th century A.D. Captured by Irish pirates as a teenager, he was enslaved for 6 years as a sheep herder, before escaping back to Britain. He found solace by studying the teachings of Christianity, and after receiving a “calling”, eventually returned to Ireland to spread the word of God.
Legend has it that Saint Patrick (Naomh Pádraig in Gaelic) would use the Shamrock to illustrate the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. It’s three ..read more
IrishSpirit Blog
3y ago
At Irish Spirit our mission is to tell the stories of Irish Whiskey. Today we look at the legend that is Bushmills Distillery.
Bushmills have quite the heritage – they claim to be the world’s oldest licensed whiskey distillery. Not only is Bushmills the world’s oldest, it’s quite a bit older than the perhaps more famous distilleries around it. For example, the oldest licensed distillery in Scotland is The Glenlivet, which was licensed in 1824. Bushmills was granted the right to distil over 200 years earlier, in 1604.
How different was the 17th century to the 19th? Well, in 1604 Shakespeare was ..read more
IrishSpirit Blog
3y ago
Emerging and established Irish whiskey producers and patrons were honoured this year at the 2021 Irish Whiskey Awards which took place at the Powerscourt Distillery in Co. Wicklow. The evening commenced with a tour of the distillery and a drinks reception hosted by the Powerscourt Distillery co-founders and team. Keynote speaker, Jack Teeling, Founder and Manager for Teeling Whiskey presented the awards, which are now in their eighth year and span over 12 categories.
Judging of this year’s awards took place earlier this Summer where organisers, Celtic Whiskey, posted out several hundred, blin ..read more
IrishSpirit Blog
3y ago
Illicit distilling has been a family tradition for many across the Isle of Ireland. For Pádraic Ó Griallais owner & operator of Micil Distillery, this tradition has stretched back 6 successive generations. Since 1848, his family has produced the illicit spirit of Ireland, using traditional, rudimentary methods, often under the cover of darkness to avoid any unwanted attention. In 2016 Pádraic took the next step, establishing the families first ever legal distillery, taking the business into the 21st century.
Pádraic Ó Griallais, former teacher and now 6th generation distiller.
Named Micil ..read more
IrishSpirit Blog
3y ago
Ireland’s oldest city now has Ireland’s most innovative distillery. Despite being established only 5 years ago, Waterford are making serious waves in the whisk(e)y world. Headed by Mark Reynier, the man responsible for resurrecting Bruichladdich distillery in Islay, Waterford’s distilling philosophy centers around the idea of ‘terroir’ in whiskey. Typically synonymous with wine, terroir is a blanket term to describe how the resulting flavour of any given crop can be influenced by the unique characteristics of the region in which it grows. The climate, soil, topography and even farming practice ..read more
IrishSpirit Blog
3y ago
As you should know by now, the distilling landscape of Ireland is going through a bit of a change. Where once only 3 distilleries produced all of Ireland’s whiskey, we now have over 40 in operation. Some produce gin, vodka and liqueurs while their whiskey stock is laid down in cask and matured. Some have sourced mature whiskey from other distilleries, releasing expressions under their own label. Whatever their strategy to enter the market, they have much ground to cover before they become household names. So let us introduce you to some of the fledgling projects sowing their seeds.
Ferc ..read more
IrishSpirit Blog
3y ago
Last year saw the crowning of Mr. Vandenbossche as Head Cooper of the recently established Tullamore D.E.W. Distillery. This year, he’s expanding his team, taking two young bucks under his wing as part of Tullamore’s inaugural apprenticeship program. A rare sight to see in the industry. We spoke with Vandenbossche on his new role, his past and his take on the trade that has taken him to cooperages across France, Scotland and now his new home in Ireland.
Q: What does it take to become a cooper?
While there are no real requirements to become a cooper, you must just love to swing the hammer. T ..read more