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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.

Sláinte

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All images courtesy Casks Away

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Belfast Distillery Company

Truth is often stranger than fiction.

Back in 1996 Belfast bus driver Peter Lavery won £10 million on the lottery.

Along with the usual spending, holidays, fast cars & a new house, he also set up the Belfast Distillery Company.

A number of bottles were released under some rather catchy brand names. The most obvious being Danny Boy & Titanic Whiskey which were sourced from the then Cooley Distillery.

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Titanic Irish Whiskey courtesy thewhiskeyexchange

The Titanic Whiskey was an easy drinking blend which attracted a fair amount of sales & appreciation.

All was going well until 2011 when Cooley was sold to Beam and at one fell swoop – all supply to 3rd party bottlers ceased as Beam kept the precious liquid for their own stocks!

To secure his own supply of whiskey Mr Lavery decided to start plans for a distillery in the historic building of Crumlin Road Jail.

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Old BDC logo

Everything seemed to be proceeding well.

Then it went quiet.

 

 

 

Very quiet.

 

 

 

Which is usually a sign things aren’t going well.

 

 

 

But all is not lost!

Belfast Distillery Company is now under new hands.

I’m hearing rumours through the grapevine that the project isn’t dead. In fact my sources say it’s very much alive!

Casks Away will be super excited to take whiskey fans into A Wing of Crumlin Jail.

Not to be locked up I may add, but to enjoy a taste of whiskey!

Here’s hoping the tales are true & that once more, whiskey will be made in Belfast.

Sláinte

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Images courtesy of The Whisky Exchange and the silent Belfast Distillery Company facebook site.