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Ahascragh Distillery

Ahascragh Distillery in County Galway is part of the next generation of Irish Whiskey Distilleries that are re-energising the proud and long heritage of uisce beatha.

Founded by Gareth and Michelle McAllister the distillery is currently (January 2022) being built around the old landmark property of Ahascragh Mill.

By following Ahascragh Distillery social media sites you can access regular updates as to the progress of this ambitious venture.

In the meantime sourced spirits have been blended and packaged by Ahascragh Distillery in advance of their own produce and include Xin Gin, Clan Colla Whiskey and Uais Irish Whiskey.

Available in several local bars in Ahascragh village itself, Casks Away is ready to take you there to view the building works, enjoy a snack in the Old Mill Shop & Cafe and perhaps sample a few of their fine whiskey beside the distillery itself!

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All images courtesy Ahascragh Distillery website here.

Ahascragh Distillery twitter here, Instagram here and facebook here.

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Inishowen Irish Whiskey

Alfred Barnard’s 1887 book ‘The Whisky Distilleries Of The United Kingdom’ listed 28 distilleries on the island of Ireland.

At the time they constituted the largest and biggest selling whisky manufacturers in the world.

The reasons for their dramatic decline in the decades that followed are still hotly debated today.

Abbey Street in Derry was one of the distilleries A Barnard visited.

Run by the Watt family, Abbey St installed one of the earliest Coffey stills ever used and had a trio of popular brands; The Tyrconnell, Favourite and Inishowen.

By 1925 however, it was all over. Abbey St closed it’s doors and very little now remains of the former impressive facility.

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‘The Lost Distilleries of Ireland’ by Brian Townsend is a good source of information on Abbey Street Distillery. 

Inishowen, in the shape of a double distilled peated blend, did resurface in the 1990’s.

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Cooley Distillery in Co Louth, 1 of only 3 whiskey distilleries operating then, released the brand.

To many it signifies the rebirth of Irish Whiskey fortunes.

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Sadly now discontinued. Inishowen is a reminder of the past glories of Irish Whiskey, as well as the potential future yet to come.

Savour the rich history with every drop.

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All images courtesy Casks Away

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Velvet Cap Irish Whiskey

Velvet Cap was a whiskey brand of Thomas Power & Co, a local drinks bottler and supplier in Dungarvan, Co Waterford. See Blackwater blog here for further information.

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Up to the 1960’s many a local grocer, bar or bonder sourced whiskey from various distilleries and matured it in wooden casks before selling it on under their own brand names.

Blackwater Distillery in Ballyduff, Co Waterford have revived this tradition, along with the Velvet Cap name, with this latest release.

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Velvet Cap is a blend of malt and grain whiskey obtained from Great Northern Distillery. It’s then finished in a variety of casks to produce a fine tasting whiskey.

Blackwater Distillery are also laying down their own spirit for future releases and will be allowing visitors into the distillery soon.

Casks Away is ready and waiting to take you there.

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Header image courtesy Buzz.ie here.

Thomas Power picture courtesy easyliveauction here.

Peter Mulryan image courtesy fft.ie here.

Blackwater Distillery web page here.

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West Cork Distillers

West Cork Distillers have quietly built up the largest wholly Irish owned whiskey distillery operations in Ireland.

Founded in Union Hall in 2003 by three childhood friends, the business now occupies a large site in Skibbereen and is capable of producing 4 million litres of pure alcohol a year.

All styles of Irish Whiskey are made, Single Grain, Single Malt, Single Pot Still and Blended.

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West Cork not only release under their own brand.

They also contract distill for many other customers.

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Striving to use Irish grown grain they regularly use Irish wheat rather than the imported corn or maize many other distilleries use.

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A visitors centre is scheduled to open in 2020.

Casks Away looks forward to taking you there – when it is safe to do so.

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All images courtesy West Cork Distillers website here, facebook page here and twitter site here.

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Tullamore Distillery

There has been whiskey distilling in Tullamore for over 200 years.

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The Old Bonded Warehouse, where Tullamore DEW Whiskey Tours start from (website here), attractively situated on the banks of the Grand Canal, are part of the original 1829 B Daly Distillery from which the new Tullamore Distillery, located on a turf bog a few kms outside the town, still continues the tradition.

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Built in 2014, Tullamore Distillery is owned by William Grant & Sons of Scotland. It has the ability to produce all four styles of Irish Whiskey: single grain, single malt, single pot still and blended whiskey. Tullamore’s own distillate is now making it’s way into the popular triple distilled, triple blended Tullamore DEW range.

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Tours of Tullamore Distillery are available on a weekly basis, Old Bonded Warehouse tours are conducted daily.

Why not let Casks Away escort you there in conjunction with other prominent whiskey distilleries active in the Heart Of Ireland.

info@casksaway.ie

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All whiskey images courtesy Tullamore DEW twitter site here. Other images courtesy Cask Away.

Tullamore Dew website here.

William Grant & Sons website here.

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Teeling Whiskey Distillery

When Teeling Whiskey Distillery opened it’s doors back in 2015, website here, it marked the return of Irish Whiskey Distilling to Dublin after an absence of nearly 50 years.

Founded by Jack and Stephen Teeling, sons of the famous John Teeling, they assembled an experienced team of players, as well as plenty of maturing whiskey stocks, after the buyout of Killbeggan and Cooley Distilleries to Beam back in 2011. Irish Times article here.

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Head Distiller Alex Chasko

A fabulous visitors experience has been built around the working distillery, capable of producing a half million litres of alcohol per year.

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Some Teeling Whiskey

A wide and varied selection of award winning single malts, blends and single grains have been released from those initial stocks, as well as the first single pot still made in Dublin for a long time.

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Teeling Single Pot Still

Located in the vibrant Liberties area of Dublin, Teeling Whiskey Distillery is a must see of any Casks Away Whiskey Tour of Ireland’s capital city.

Contact info@casksaway.ie to book your tour.

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All images courtesy of Teeling Facebook page here, and Twitter site here.

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Roe & Co Distillery

After an absence of a few years, Diageo have returned to Irish Whiskey Distilling with a fabulous new distillery in the historic Liberties area of Dublin.

Inspired by the great George Roe Distillery of the 1800’s, the new Roe & Co design incorporates a green colour scheme throughout in homage to the pear tree that still stands beside the George Roe windmill nearby.

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The former Guinness Power Station now contains the three shiny copper pot stills of Roe & Co. as well as a comfortable and well appointed bar.

The highlight of the tour is the opportunity to make your own cocktail using Roe & Co’s signature blended whiskey.

You can also bottle your own whiskey from two exclusive casks on the site.

Let Casks Away whisky you there for a memorable day out.

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Roe & Co website here.

All images courtesy Roe & Co Facebook site here.

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Powerscourt Distillery

Powerscourt Distillery is built into the Old Mill House of Powerscourt Estate itself.

Stunning views across to Sugarloaf Mountain greet the visitor on driving down the impressive entry road just up from the picturesque village of Enniskerry in County Wicklow.

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Recently opened in 2019, the distillery has an impressive display of 3 copper pot stills already laying down spirit filling a variety of casks in the maturation warehouse opposite.

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A fully guided tour goes into the rich heritage of Powerscourt Estate, as well as the fine art of distilling whiskey.

Visitors are treated to a tasting of the Fercullen range of whiskeys which were previously distilled at another distillery by the Master Distiller of Powerscourt, Noel Sweeney.

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They encompass a Single Grain, a Blend and a 14 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey.

Powerscourt Distillery is the highlight of any Casks Away Whiskey Tour.

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All images courtesy of Powerscourt Distillery facebook here and twitter here.

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Knappogue Castle Whiskey

Knappogue Castle Whiskey are an Irish Whiskey brand releasing a fine range of age statemented single malts.

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Owned by the Castle Brands group who hold an impressive world wide portfolio of drinks including another range of Irish Whiskeys under the Clontarf Whiskey label.

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Knappogue Castle itself is a 15th Century Castle set in the picturesque countryside of County Clare in Ireland’s West. Owned by members of the Castle Brands group Knappogue Castle is open to visitors. Occasional banquets are held too!

Follow the link here for further information about Knappogue Castle events.

Knappogue Castle & Clontarf Whiskey are available widely around the world.

They both represent Ireland’s rich historical and cultural past in a modern bottle of whiskey today.

Enjoy!

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All images courtesy Knappogue Castle and Irish2Core media sites here and here.

 

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Great Northern Distillery

Located in the former Great Northern Brewery site in the border town of Dundalk in County Louth, the Great Northern Distillery will be a positive powerhouse of whiskey production in Ireland.

Established in 2015 by John Teeling, the distillery will follow the extremely successful strategy of producing whiskeys of varying styles for 3rd parties such as pubs, supermarkets, independent bottlers & brand makers.

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A trio of ‘First Born’ whiskeys were revealed at the Whiskey Live Dublin 2018 show to much satisfaction.

Capable of producing all four types of Irish Whiskey; Single Malt, Single Pot Still, Single Grain and Blended Whiskey, Great Northern can make a whiskey to satisfy any taste, style or pocket you desire.

Casks Away looks forward to these whiskeys appearing in stores around the world soon, as well as guiding you to this impressive facility.

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All images courtesy of Great Northern Distillery twitter site here.