In the last Whiskey Review for the year, I’d like to give an honourable mention to some great Irish Spirits that have made the West of Ireland their home.
The Shed Distillery of PJ Rigney - Not too far away, in the village of Drumshanbo, PJ Rigney set about producing the first Whiskey in Connacht in over 100 years. Drumshanbo Irish Whiskey may not be a familiar name to many, but Gunpowder Gin I’m sure will ring afew bells. Producing Gunpowder Gin while the brown stuff was sleeping, The Shed Distillery gained a name for itself quickly within the industry, eventually launching its inaugural release of a Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey in 2019. With a lovely balance of spice, oak and sherry fruitiness, if the inaugural release is anything to go by, Drumshando Whiskey is one to watch in 2021.
Dingle Distillery – The brainchild of Oliver Hughes; Liam LaHart and Peter Mosley of The Porterhouse Brewing Company, Dingle Distillery produced their first drops of Usice Beatha back in 2012, launching their first whiskey 3 years and 1 day later in December 2015. Since then, Dingle has gone from strength to strength, in no small part due to their Founding Fathers program allowing whiskey enthusiasts the opportunity to create their own barrel of whiskey. This gave the Distillery a vital injection of finance during a recession while also gain a vast amount of experience in the process. Now producing Gin and Vodka alongside the award-winning Whiskey its worth keeping these guys in mind if you’re looking for something special.
JJ Corry Whiskey Bonders – One step removed from the whiskey distillers is the whiskey bonder, a common business in every town across the country at one time, the tradition of whiskey bonding almost died off with the collapse of the Irish Whiskey Industry in the early 1900’s. But in 2015 Louise McGuane founded JJ Corry Whiskey Bonders in her native Clare and revived this art of ageing, blending and bottle great Irish Whiskey. With one of JJ Corry’s exclusive releases fetching over €6500 a bottle you can bet the more attainable tipples bottled by Corry are something special indeed.
Micil – Before there was Whiskey, there was Poitín. And we can’t discuss distilling on the West of Ireland with mentioning a tradition that has been past down through the generations for hundreds of years. And it doesn’t get more or traditional that Micil Distillery in our very own Salthill. Opened by Connemara native and sixth generation Poitín maker Pádraic Ó Griallais. Producing Poitín since 1848, Pádraic has taken that family’s knowledge and poured it into a beautifully fruity and earthy glass of clear liquid. Not content with just producing Poitín, Micil Distillery has found a loyal following in its Gin and 2021 holds an exciting new era for Micil Distillery as they launch their Micil Irish Cream early next year.
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This Christmas season as you sit by the fire in the Skeff sipping on your whiskey of choice, coming to the end of a year that many would wish to forget, take a look at the liquid in your glass. That little drop of golden loveliness has survived Famine and World Wars, it has seen poverty and wealth alike, travelled the world celebrating Irishness, it has inspired countless songs and told great stories and it’ll be enjoyed long after we are gone to the great Irish Pub in the Sky.
Now if that doesn’t bring a little smile to your face, well have another sip and read it again.
Nollaig Shona Dhaoibh agus Sláinte
John Byrne @craicandculture
