Irish Whiskey News & Stories

A major milestone was achieved at the end of August with the release of The Kilcar, the first legal Irish Whiskey distilled in Co. Donegal in almost 200 years! Sliabh Liag Distillers from the Adara Distillery and Silkie range of sourced Irish Whiskeys have released their first distilled single malt. A lottery was made available to purchase one of the limited 100 bottles. (Sadly, I was not one of the lucky winners.) Founder James Doherty is bringing the smoky whiskey style back to Donegal. I had the pleasure of meeting with James back in May during WhiskeyLive Dublin and sampling...

The Powers John's Lane Distillery was once the epicenter of Irish Whiskey in Dublin. Shuttered in the early 1970's, the former site is now the National College of Art & Design. Portions of the distillery including the Copper Pot Stills remain on the site surrounded by the College. Years of exposure to nature and human disrespect took their toll on the historical artifacts. This did not stop Irish Whiskey enthusiasts from visiting to see a piece of what once produced one of the greatest brands still enjoyed today. Irish Whiskey Society America Members visited in May 2023 as part of...

If you can't get to church regularly, the Confession Box is here for you. This cozy Dublin pub should be on everyone's must visit list regardless of religious denomination. Owned and operated by Keenan sisters, Pauline and Monica, this place is very welcoming.  One characteristic of a great Irish pub is the quality of their Guinness pour. It doesn't get much better than the pints served here. Of course, one needs a companion for their pint in the form of Irish Whiskey. The Confession Box has you covered with a nice assortment of offerings including their own bottling from IrishAmerican....

 The rising popularity of Irish Whiskey has attracted celebrities. Celebrity Alcohol brands are nothing new. Ryan Reynolds has Gin, George Clooney has Tequila, Dan Akroyd with Vodka, and Sammy Hagar with both Rum and Tequila. There are dozens more spanning across the spirit spectrum particularly among the music industry. Celebs from music, sports, and Hollywood have launched or attached their names to burgeoning Irish Whiskey brands.  Do you know the celebrity Irish Whiskey brands? Or the Celebrities attached? Even more, does the endorsement matter to you or is it only about the liquid in the bottle? Here is a list...

This recent article explains the differences between the two types of stills used in Irish Whiskey making. Many of the newer distilleries have popularized the Single Grain style made from Column Stills while they wait for their malted barley to age. Take a look at our IWSA tasting lineup for further discussion and examples. Precision vs. Character: Are Column Stills Actually Worse than Pot Stills? WORDS:RICH MANNING ILLUSTRATION:SARA PINSONAULT     When set side by side, a column still and a pot still look like an anthropomorphic, steampunk version of Abbott and Costello. One is tall, slender, and serious, and the other is short,...