Food

Irish distilleries launch wave of new whiskies

Releases include Teeling’s 30-year-old single malt costing €975 per bottle

Lough Ree Distillery in Lanesborough are offering four limited releases in their Bridge series

John Wilson's face
John Wilson
Wed Dec 22 2021 - 06:00

With Christmas coming, Irish distilleries have launched a wave of new whiskies, ranging in price from €37 to €975. Teeling has released 4,000 bottles of the much anticipated 30-year-old single malt, finished in sauternes casks. Younger versions of this whiskey won several coveted awards, including World’s Best Single Malt in 2019. Sadly, it will set you back €975.

Lough Ree Distillery in Lanesborough recently released Bart’s (€46), their first core whiskey. In addition they are offering no fewer than four very limited releases in the Bridge series: Rhindoon, a 14-year-old aged in a Monbazillac cask (€120); Saint’s Island (€70), finished in a sweet amontillado cask; Bethlehem (PX casks, €95) to be followed by Elfeet Bay (white moscatel cask, €120) in 2022. The latter two both won medals at the International Wine & Spirit Competition this year.

Redbreast has two releases; their 12-year-old single pot still with copper bird feeder (€67) and the Redbreast PX (€80), the first in their Iberian series.

No fewer than seven versions of the latest in the Midleton Very Rare Dair Ghaelach series will be released in three batches over the coming months, each aged in a different oak cask sourced from Kylebeg Wood near Stradbally, Co Laois, owned by David Walsh-Kemmis, who also produces the excellent Ballykilcavan craft beers. A bottle costs €310.

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In addition, you can choose from Connacht Batch One, the first whiskey to be distilled commercially in Mayo for 150 years, (€65), Glendalough Double Barrel (€37, widely available) and the excellent Athrú Small Batch Release #1 from Lough Gill Distillery. Aged in a mix of oloroso, bourbon and madeira casks, this will set you back €85.

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