That’s the spirit: boomtime for Irish whiskey

The steadily expanding shelf-space given over to Irish whiskey in our off-licences, supermarkets and airport retail says it all: Irish whiskey is enjoying an extended boom. Exports are growing across the globe, frequently in double-digits every year, including the important premium and super premium categories. Consumption in Ireland is increasing, but at a more modest rate – by about 5 per cent last year.

Apparently, there are now 20 distilleries operating across the country, with two dozen more currently in planning or under construction. Sixteen of these have plans to include visitor centres.

Every year, most distilleries release one or two special whiskeys to capture a slice of the valuable Christmas market. Last month, Conor McGregor got in on the act with his own brand of whiskey made by Bushmills. Here is a look at some further planned releases; doubtless more will follow.

A distillery must wait three years before it can call its spirit whiskey, and much longer to produce really good quality whiskey. In the meantime, it can buy in mature stocks from elsewhere, and finish them in a variety of casks to create its own unique brand. Some are very good indeed, others less so. However, distilleries such as Dingle, Pearse Lyons, Kilbeggan and Teeling now have their own mature stocks to draw from.

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Waterford Distillery is half-way through a series of fascinating experiments, making micro-distillations of barley grown in various sites around the country. Using a combination of location, sensory analysis and science, it hopes to start mapping out the different terroirs of Irish barley. The first whiskey won't be released until spring 2020.

Meanwhile lips are sealed at Shortcross Distillery as to when it will release its first whiskey, now mature and lying in cask in Crossgar, Co Down. Possibly before Christmas?

Powerscourt Distillery in Co Wicklow will unveil its first whiskeys later this month. There are three, all under the brand name Fercullen: a 14-year-old single malt whiskey (€90), a 10-year-old single grain whiskey (€55) and a premium-blend Irish whiskey for €42. The visitor centre, beside Powerscourt Garden Centre, will open next February.

Another first release will be Athrú, the brand name for Lough Gill Distillery in Sligo. It intends releasing three whiskeys every year in 2018, 2019 and 2020 under the guidance of renowned distiller Billy Walker. This month, Athrú Annacoona, Athrú Keshcorran and Athrú Knocknarea will be launched at Whiskey Live (see below) and make an appearance in specialist retailers. All three are 14-year-old single malts, matured in Sligo for the last four years. They are finished in PX, Oloroso and Tokaji casks. The Lough Gill Distillery forms part of the Hazelwood Estate, home to the Wynn family since 1722.

In September this year, Dublin distillery Teeling achieved a world record price of £10,000 ( about €11,370) for its Celebratory Single Pot Still, bottle #1, in an online auction. The remaining 100 bottles sold for an average of £600 a bottle. Later this month, it releases the first limited bottling of its Single Pot Still Whiskey, the first Dublin distilled whiskey in more than 40 years and the first whiskey to be distilled at the Teeling Whiskey Distillery in Newmarket. It will sell for €55.

At a more elevated level, Teeling will also release 500 bottles of a 30-year-old VRC Single Malt Whiskey, retailing at €1,500 a bottle.

In the coming weeks, Kilbeggan releases the first whiskey to be distilled and matured in its distillery since it recommenced distilling in 2007. The Kilbeggan Small Batch Rye (€55) used a mashbill that included 30 per cent rye, apparently once common with Irish distillers, but rare nowadays. Some 2,000 bottles have been earmarked for the Irish market.

Meanwhile, earlier this year, Jameson released Jameson Cold Brew, its take on the classic combination of Irish whiskey and coffee. It is made from a blend of Jameson whiskey and cold-brewed coffee extract from Fairtrade Arabica coffee from Brazil and Columbia. You can drink it solo, but this is mainly aimed at the cocktail market.

April saw the release of Jameson Cask Strength Bow St. 18-Year-Old Irish Whiskey (€240), distilled and aged in Midleton, before being finished in the historic Bow Street Distillery in Dublin.

If you would like to sample some of the above whiskeys and more, more than 60 whiskey producers will have their wares on tasting at Whiskey Live Dublin on Friday, November 23rd and Saturday November 24th at the Printworks, Dublin Castle. In addition, there will be masterclasses, food pairings and cocktail bars. Tickets are €43 plus booking fee available from whiskeylivedublin.com or €43 from Celtic Whiskey Shop on Dawson Street, Dublin 2.

On November 12th, Celtic Whiskey will launch an online whiskey auction, offering enthusiasts the opportunity to buy or sell their collectable bottles. See CelticWhiskeyAuction.com for details.