Jul
Watching new Irish brands succeed is one of the best parts of my job, says Glen Melia of the Single Malt Shop
Sales of Irish whiskey have been one of the big success stories in the Single Malt Shop, explains Glen Melia, sourcing manager. “Since we set up, it’s been great to see more and more new distillery releases from across Ireland. After years of maturation, the whiskey produced at these exciting new distilleries has started to become available, and it is incredible to follow their stories,” he says.
“We’ve added lots of new and existing Irish brands to the lineup over the past couple of years and they have all performed really well,” he explains, “and in all markets.”
The Single Malt Shop ships worldwide, including throughout Europe, the UK, Switzerland, and Norway, as well as Australia and a growing range of Asian destinations.
“To watch the growth in Irish sales in these markets is really inspiring and tells its own story about how well-regarded Irish whiskey is in the world,” he says.
Here are five new-wave Irish examples from the Single Malt Shelves:
Boann Distillery
Boann is a young distillery with big ambitions in County Meath, just north of Co Dublin. It produces a range of its own-make single-pot still whiskies and a very successful series of sourced and independently bottled releases under the Whistler label.
Its most recent edition is a trio of single-pot still whiskies finished in three cask types: PX, Marsala and Madeira.
“They have all proven to be very popular, with sales of all three going strong,” Glen Melia explains. “This is a whole new whiskey brand from an already important but young whiskey maker that everyone should follow.”
Powerscourt Distillery
Powerscourt Distillery is in Co Wicklow, south of Co Dublin. It’s a dynamic, high-end whiskey maker located on the stunning Powerscourt Estate and within reach of the Wicklow Mountains. Its first own-make whiskey comes under the Fercullen label and has a dedicated following among Irish whiskey drinkers.
“When Powerscourt Distillery released their inaugural Fercullen bottling last year, sales took off immediately,” Glen Melia explains. “The accessible price and high quality ensured its popularity, with bottles going to all corners of the globe.”
That first release is sold out but this 21-year-old single malt, independently matured and bottled at Powerscourt, in ex-bourbon, oloroso and Pedro Ximénez casks, is a showstopper.
The Shed Distillery, Drumshanbo
The Shed has had great success since it was set up in Co Leitrim in 2014. With a superb series of cask-finished, own-make single malts and single pot stills, it has managed to carve out a solid name for its whiskey from its Midlands base.
“Our customers love the inventive bottlings it produces, like its Pinot Noir cask edition or its marsala release. We hope to see a lot more distinctive cask finishing from these folk soon.”
This 43% single pot still is finished in French pinot noir red wine casks and is incredibly rich and decadent. It’s also terriffic value.
West Cork Distillery
Already one of the biggest independent whiskey makers in Ireland, the team at West Cork was one of the earlier of the new wave, with their excellent single malt, single pot still, and Irish blends.
This is a distillery that likes to innovate above all else, and that includes its bottles and finishing. Their bog oak charred cask release and their maritime editions finished in rum, port, and sherry are standouts.
“West Cork is a big favourite with our customers. Having a head start on the competition in Ireland meant that their 7- and 5-year-old bottles are currently available and are hard to keep in stock. We love the bottles and the whiskey in the Maritime collection”.
Waterford Distillery
Waterford Distillery is run by Mark Reynier, the same man who pushed Islay’s Bruichladdich onto the global stage. He arrived in Ireland with a dream of terroir and has worked with farmers along the east coast of Ireland to find the perfect mash bill for his single malt.
His approach caught the industry’s attention, and their own-make releases have been snapped up. The Single Malt Shop experience proves the point by being currently out of stock.
“The creative folk at Waterford Distillery are continuing to release their own liquid, consistently focussing on the terroir of the barley. This has clearly paid off as we have sold out of all our Waterford releases, but more are due back in soon.”
Click here to view more of the stars of our Irish whiskey sales
