Whiskey in the news

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

Teeling first release

http://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2012/ ... -category/

Great to see them off the mark so quickly, best of luck and looking forward to many more releases to come ...

[Pudge72]

Teeling first release

http://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2012/ ... -category/

Great to see them off the mark so quickly, best of luck and looking forward to many more releases to come ...

Very cool (and the price definitely seems excellent!)...could this be the start of a formal "Hybrid" series that also pairs Irish with Japanese, Canadian, and/or American whiskies, in separate bottlings? Some potentially cool marketing opportunities for Teeling to generate buzz going forward.

Any info on the ratio of Cooley vs. Bruichladdich within the blend? I will assume that this is not a case of "teaspooning" (i.e. 99% of one, and 1% of the other, whisk(e)y)

[John]

Is this a 'Celtic Nations' Mark II? Drawn from leftover stock? Sounds delicious!!!!!!??
In my mind the jury is still out on this new Teeling venture. I'm waiting for the newly revised 'we're the only truly Irish blah blah' marketing hype. Maybe they'll take a different tack this time, what with what's happening in Dingle and soon to happen in Dublin etc? Once bitten twice shy etc. Though I remain to be convinced.

[JohnM]

I think the Teelings are great.

What is happening in Dublin?

[IainB]

In fairness to them when they used to say they were the only Irish owned distillery they were right. The fact that they subsequently sold to Beam doesn't make what they were saying then untrue. And given the sums involved does anyone really think they should have said no out of some sort of patriotic duty?

I agree with JohnM and think that Cooley has done wonders for the Irish whiskey industry and opened up a whole range of styles that wouldn't otherwise exist. And even if you don't approve of the Beam sale I think the fact that they may be using some of the pile of money to start up again can only mean even more choice and variety on the market, not to mention the fact that I think Cooley's success is probably of more encouragement to other would be start up distillers than the ongoing huge success of Midleton. Well, that's my opinion anyway, for what it's worth.

[Pudge72]

In fairness to them when they used to say they were the only Irish owned distillery they were right. The fact that they subsequently sold to Beam doesn't make what they were saying then untrue. And given the sums involved does anyone really think they should have said no out of some sort of patriotic duty?

I agree with JohnM and think that Cooley has done wonders for the Irish whiskey industry and opened up a whole range of styles that wouldn't otherwise exist. And even if you don't approve of the Beam sale I think the fact that they may be using some of the pile of money to start up again can only mean even more choice and variety on the market, not to mention the fact that I think Cooley's success is probably of more encouragement to other would be start up distillers than the ongoing huge success of Midleton. Well, that's my opinion anyway, for what it's worth.

Well stated 'IainB'.

[John]

I didn't comment on the veracity of the 'only Irish-owned' claim. My point was that they made such a big deal out of that fact and then went ahead and put the business into foreign ownership. I don't believe that patriotism enters the equation in private-sector commerce Iain. Credit where it's due, they did produce some styles of whiskey that hadn't been produced here in a while.

[MyIrishHome]

But still: The question is to be answered. If this is left overs from eight years back. Was the whisk(e)y ready then, maybee it's over the top now. How ever, I will try to taste it or even by a bottle if I get a chance. Where will it be sold? I'm going to London in end of October.

[Good Whiskey Hunting]

I seen this on our twitter page https://twitter.com/IrishWhiskeySoc

http://www.independent.ie/business/whis ... 33159.html

[Pudge72]

I seen this on our twitter page https://twitter.com/IrishWhiskeySoc

http://www.independent.ie/business/whis ... 33159.html

Gotta love when business writers write about businesses that they know nothing about. While there may be little in the way of paperwork for starting up a whiskey distillery (an assumption on my part, taken from the article), that doesn't mean that "start up costs are miniscule". All distilling equipment, plus the gap in revenue generation while waiting for the majority of whiskey stock to age, creates huge start up costs.

[Good Whiskey Hunting]

There was an interesting article in a supplement with the Irish Indo.
I was trying to find a link on the web but wasn't successful. I was about the food
Industry in Ireland.

[Good Whiskey Hunting]

More news on the West Cork Distillery in Sundays Independant.

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

More news on the West Cork Distillery in Sundays Independant.

Has anybody seen their set up??? I have heard no mention of the use of any traditional pot stills in relation this them at all? If not sounds more like commercial distilling and then maturing in casks.

[John]

Hi Adrian / GWH,
I read that article too, and I also had more questions than answers when I was finished. Barry Walsh was retained as a consultant if memory serves so I'm sure they didn't go too far off the mark; though I would love to know exactly how they're maturing the Kennedy Whiskey brand. Maybe someone from the Distillery could give us a high level overview?

[DavidH]

One of their employees told me earlier in the year that Kennedy is matured for 2 years. If so, it explains why it's not labelled "Irish whiskey" and perhaps why it's not sold in Ireland.

The guy I spoke with didn't seem intimately familiar with the production process so I didn't press him. The company promised to contact me later and I also emailed them but I never found out any more.

[Raven]

interesting article from the Sunday independent Business section. I did not like those three
lines though ----[b] 'They believe their unique maturation process, developed by John and based
on proprietary "infusion technology", a method that gives their whiskey an older taste than its
actual age, will be a big advantage in taking on other brands'-------.
Maybe I am too fond of the old traditional side of distilling and that there is no quick fix where maturation is
concerned. By the way & pardon my ignorance what is proprietary 'infusion technology'

It is on sale here in the Republic. I think I paid 19 Euro for a bottle in Supervalu two/three weeks ago.I hadn't
spotted though the absence of the word 'Irish'. Next year the word 'Irish' will probably appear on label once the
three year term is reached. A tasting will follow and if no good 'Hot Toddy' season beckons !!!

[TheWhiskeyBro]

I think they accelerate aging using extra wooden staves/blocks afaik (I forget the correct term)

[DavidH]

It is on sale here in the Republic. I think I paid 19 Euro for a bottle in Supervalu two/three weeks ago.I hadn't
spotted though the absence of the word 'Irish'.

'Irish' is there, just not next to the word 'whiskey'. I thought this was because Kennedy didn't meet the defintion of "Irish whiskey" contained in Irish law. But the EU has a 3-year rule for whiskey generally so if it's being sold here it should be 3 years old (and no unusual maturation techniques either).

I'm sure I was told 2 years a few months ago because it really surprised me at the time but perhaps their sales guy was mistaken.

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

Some wonderful news from Carlow

Carlow Brewing/Alltech Ireland Start Distilling





Another distillery trip to organise

[Good Whiskey Hunting]

More news about Irish Whiskey resurrection here.

[Joel1802]

The down side is that it'll drive the prices of the rare old ones up.

[Pudge72]

Apologies if this was posted elsewhere:

http://www.just-drinks.com/news/new-irish-whiskey-distillery-to-start-production-this-week_id108849.aspx

[DublinGus]

Tullamore Dew wins award

http://www.offalyindependent.ie/news/ro ... key-award/

[DavidH]

Beam has added the "2 Gingers" Irish whiskey brand to its stable, and hired Kieran Folliard as Irish Whiskey Ambassador

http://www.liquidirish.com/2012/12/beam ... iskey.html

[Good Whiskey Hunting]

I had wondered who was supplying the whiskey. I though they would have to find another source after the issues with Pernod last year.

Then I thought that the settlement may have been that they supplied the whiskey. I didn't want to openly ask In case it was still a contentious issue.

Has anyone tried it?