Insights
The very best insights from Irish Whiskey Magazine. Join the community and access the authoritative source of all things Irish whiskey.
Happy 20th Birthday to Celtic Whiskey Shop
Celtic Whiskey Shop celebrates 20th anniversary For those who have followed Irish whiskey for long enough to remember, the Celtic Whiskey Shop was at the very hub of what then was a small but enthusiastic group of whiskey lovers. The role that Celtic Whiskey...
Dingle Unplugged at Camden Studios
Dingle Unplugged at Camden Studios: Intimate acoustic gig series to connect fans with favourite Irish musicians Loah to present inaugural event in new acoustic series debut with guest acts, Cathy Davey and Moncrieff Dingle Distillery and Camden Recording...
A Chat with Master Distiller Kevin O’Gorman – Midleton Very Rare, The Pinnacle and Sustainability
Whether you’re a fan or not, it’s undeniable that no other Irish whiskey garners as much anticipation, excitement and frenzy as the annual release of Midleton Very Rare. Mention premium Irish whiskey and inevitably the discussion will include Midleton Very...
Old Comber Distillery – a Pot Still story
The Old Comber Distillery was an Irish whiskey distillery that operated from 1825-1953.
An insight into Gold Spot Irish whiskey
An insight into Gold Spot Irish whiskey A few weeks ago we had the pleasure of attending the unveiling of the latest release from Mitchell and Sons – Gold Spot. This release marks one hundred and thirty five years of whiskey bonding from one of Dublin’s...
Blake’s of the Hollow
Blake’s of the Hollow We visited one of Ireland’s landmark Victorian bars and got to chat with owner Pat Blake. Blake’s of the Hollow is one of the locations in Ireland to have of the 10 intricately carved doors, each of which displays a scene from...
Words on Whiskey – Conor Ryan of Pearse Lyons Distillery
On this weeks Words on Whiskey we’re delighted to be joined by Conor Ryan, Global Spirits Brand Ambassador at Pearse Lyons Distillery.
Our Cover Story
Wonderful collaboration between Irish Whiskey Magazine and artist Dannielle Simpson to come up with a very special cover for issue 10
Irish Whiskey Verification and Labelling – The Challenges
The latest verification process is still relatively new and is a positive step in ensuring protection and quality for Irish Whiskey.
When whiskey equals freedom
Back in 2006, I got to fulfill a dream of mine, by traveling to Ireland. Two years before that, I had purchased my first bottles of whisky without having a clue about what I was doing.
Our favourite Irish whiskey blogs
With so much enthusiasm for Irish whiskey we’ve selected what we feel are the best Irish whiskey blogs. There are bound to be ones that we’ve missed so please do share your thoughts.
Independent bottling in Irish whiskey – Part 1
The Independent Bottling category in Irish whiskey is vast, at times filled with controversy and ignorance on some parts, but there’s no doubt that it is through this practice that we have seen some Ireland’s very best whiskey releases. Mark McLaughlin will bring us...
Chat with Ned and Megan of Waterford Distillery
Chat with Ned and Megan of Waterford Distillery Just before the pandemic broke in Ireland we had the opportunity to visit Waterford Distillery and have a tour and chat with Megan and Ned about their roles, the distillery and upcoming...
Conor McQuaid talks to Irish Whiskey Magazine
Conor McQuaid talks to Irish Whiskey Magazine In this series of three interviews we talk with CEO of Irish Distillers, Conor McQuaid about the markets for growth of Irish whiskey. We also discuss the Irish whiskey sector and their significant influence on it. We chat...
Clonakilty Distillery – Distillery insight
Clonakilty Distillery – Distillery insight We continue our exploration of the distilleries of Ireland. In issue 8 our featured distillery is Clonakilty Distillery, one of the newest distilleries to open in Ireland. Situated in Clonakilty, County Cork and a must visit...
Clonakilty Distillery Visit
In the heart of West Cork lies the vibrant and colourful heritage town of Clonakilty, population of around five thousand. Being part of the well-renowned Wild Atlantic Way, the town is famous for its artisan food and drink, its festivals and friendly atmosphere. Its...
Beppe Durante – Italy
In Italy, it is nice to see the peoples were the only distilled spirit at home. A reaction when you mention Ireland. It is as if there is a magical connection between the two nations, a sort of thread that binds us, maybe because, in the past century, we have both...
Haven In Crosshaven – Cronin’s pub
In our series of Great Whiskey Bars, we travel to Crosshaven, County Cork, a quaint village on the south bank of the Owenabue estuary just thirty minutes drive from Cork city centre. It’s here in this village with a population of about 2,500 inhabitants that we visit...
Pot still Irish whiskey – through the definitions
Uniquely Irish The topic of Pot Still, in particular the cereal grains used to create this beloved expression of Irish Whiskey, is providing some passionate debate of late. At whiskey events around the country when history or provenance of Pot Still is referenced a...
Exclusive interview: Conor McQuaid
Arguably the most influential role in the Irish whiskey sector and one year on from being appointed CEO and Chairman at Irish Distillers (IDL), we met with Conor McQuaid in their headquarters in Ballsbridge, Dublin. Conor, can you give us a little bit about your...
Single malt Irish whiskeys
Words by Miren Somers. Last November I moved to London and due to the limited availability of Irish whiskey, I have been drinking a lot of Scotch! This is because the Irish whiskey category over here is mainly made up of three key players; Jameson, Bushmills and...
Irish wine, Irish whiskey and a little bird called Redbreast
Part 1 of 3 | Words by Eric Ryan. Strangely, for a northerly country that is quite the great banqueting hall, at Tara, and noted how damp and cloudy, a vibrant wine drinking tradition has existed in Ireland for over two millennia. A further oddity is that Irish...
Cask cocktail bar
The cocktail scene in Ireland has seen dramatic developments over the last number of years, particularly in the high-end sector. It’s no longer just Ice Teas, Margaritas and Black Russians. There is now a vast array of original cocktails and fresh takes on old...