Unleashing a new Restless Spirit in Ireland
A new brand ‘The Restless Spirit’ and their first Irish whiskey ‘Outwalker’ are set to officially launch this week.
Press Release
A new name in Irish whiskey – Outwalker – is set to take the market by storm as it launches this week. Representing something genuinely different, this bold offering will stand head and shoulders above others in the sector with its distinctive taste and brand as ‘The Restless Spirit’.
Outwalker is a unique blend of Single Malt aged in white burgundy casks, Pot Still aged in ex-Oloroso Sherry, Grain aged in Virgin American Oak and Grain aged in Rye Casks.
It was developed by one of the world’s foremost drinks authorities Jillian Vose, formerly Beverage Director of New York’s famous Dead Rabbit and now co-owner of the eagerly anticipated Hazel & Apple opening soon in Charleston, South Carolina.
The idea for Outwalker – which was forged many years ago in Belfast’s luxury hotel The Merchant – combines Jillian’s expertise with that of leading Irish hospitality guru Sean Muldoon, co-founder of Dead Rabbit, named twice as the world’s best bar, and co-owner with Jillian of Hazel & Apple; award-winning hotelier and entrepreneur Adrian McLaughlin and hospitality business expert, ex-international rugby player Darren Cave.
Together they have created this new golden honey-coloured premium spirit to be enjoyed whenever, however, and wherever by those with a sense of adventure.
Wholly distilled, blended, aged, and bottled in Ireland, Outwalker is rooted in tradition while reflecting the world of today. With now over 40 distilleries in Ireland producing around 110m LPA of whiskey a year, the Irish whiskey market is booming. In 2021, 14 million cases were sold globally, a 21 per cent increase on 2020, contributing over €700 million to the Irish economy.
Irish whiskey expressions are also increasing in prominence, and in the last 10 years alone the premium market grew a staggering 1,053 per cent, with super premium growing 2,769 per cent according to DISCUS.
Whiskey is now increasingly enjoyed across generations. With the explosion of craft cocktails with whiskey as a prime ingredient, there is undoubtedly a fast-growing appreciation for the spirit, particularly among women and younger drinkers.
The Outwalker Partners
The Outwalker team brings together a wide range of backgrounds, skills and experience – all united by a shared passion for Irish whiskey.
The Outwalker Team – (L to R) Adrian McLaughlin, Darren Cave, Jillian Vose, Sean Muldoon
Adrian McLaughlin, Co-Founder
Adrian has enjoyed a long and highly successful career as a hotelier, running some of Ireland’s most iconic venues, including the five-star Merchant Hotel in Belfast. A serial entrepreneur – and lifelong whiskey aficionado – he has also owned several hospitality businesses including several restaurants and premium bars.
Darren Cave, Co-Founder
Darren is a Currency Consultant specialising in foreign exchange services and international payments. At one stage he co-founded and owned a chain of coffee shops which grew across Northern Ireland into England. As a former Ulster and Ireland Rugby International, he also now works as a rugby pundit on RTE and TG4.
Jillian Vose, Co-Founder
Regularly ranked among the world’s best bartenders and cocktail creators, Jillian is also known for her rockstar menus, her flawless technique coupled with obsessive attention to detail.
Jillian’s experience, encyclopedic knowledge – particularly of Irish whiskey – and outstanding communication skills mean that she is much in demand for guest appearances and workshops throughout the world. She has co-authored three books on cocktails and Irish whiskey, including most recently, Paddy Drinks: Modern Irish Whiskey Cocktails.
Sean Muldoon, Co-Founder
Sean was the creative driving force behind the Dead Rabbit since it opened in 2012. Under his direction the bar went on to win every major accolade, including World’s Best Bar (twice).
Today, Sean is as passionate and driven as ever about creativity and hospitality, and to date he is the co-author of five books on the subject. A high-school dropout in Belfast, Sean is a passionate auto-didact who is currently completing a Bachelor of Liberal Arts Degree at Harvard.
The launch of Outwalker is perfectly timed to take advantage of this growing interest in Irish Whiskey, as Sean Muldoon explained:
“Outwalker was born to meet the need for a genuinely unique blend of component whiskeys, something that was both a cocktail staple and also good enough to sip on its own.”
Jillian Vose continued:
“Through the creation process I researched a lot of grain whiskeys and found two that stood out: one aged in Virgin American oak and another in Rye casks. These combined very well with each other, making a great backbone for the whiskeys.
“The Pot Still aged in ex-Oloroso sherry casks brought richness and body, while the Virgin American oak pulls out a lot of fruit notes from the white burgundy cask single malt – which brought everything together and gave the spirit a lovely minerality, pulling so much from the other components.”
On the nose, Outwalker has aromas of butterscotch, apricot and cinnamon. The new spirit has a complex, fruity, and assertive taste with a toffee sweetness and notes of mango and hints of pineapple, and a lingering finish with the characteristic Irish whiskey maltiness and spice.
Notable on the captivating bottle is a nod to Ireland’s mythical past in the headless figure of the Dullahan – a wandering spirit gathering and sharing stories.
Outwalker co-founder Adrian McLaughlin said:
“Joining forces with Sean, Jillian and Darren, we know we have created something really special for cocktail fans and whiskey connoisseurs alike.
“We are confident, like our spirit, that this will be one of the most talked-about Irish whiskeys for many years to come.”
Fellow co-founder Darren Cave added:
“Outwalker is by nature, adventurous and open. It will be savoured by many, enjoying the quality of the blend and sharing a good time – in the great Irish tradition.”
A 70cl 44.5% ABV bottle of the new Outwalker is available from £40/€50 RRP and stockists can be found at www.outwalkerwhiskey.com/find
Further information available here: www.outwalkerwhiskey.com
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