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Thursday, March 29, 2007

Kilbeggan Distillery restarts Irish whiskey production

The Kilbeggan Distillery restarted whiskey production after 50 years of closure last Monday, March 19. Kilbeggan is run by the same Irish company that owns and operates the Cooley Distillery near Drogheda, northeast of Dublin. Kilbeggan is in County Westmeath, near the center of Ireland, not far from the old (and not currently operating) Tullamore Dew distillery.

Distillery chairman Jack Teeling said the whiskey from Kilbeggan (where Cooley has been aging whiskey for some years) will not be ready for release until 2014. Save your money.

Kilbeggan was licensed in the 1750s, which is bound to set off at least a small argument with Bushmills fans over which distillery is "actually" the oldest; more details on that coming up in my interview with Bushmills master distiller Colum Egan, which I hope to have up here later today.

8 comments:

Steven said...

Will the Kilbeggan be available in the 'States?

There's a great brand from the far north of Ireland that I've brought back home in the past: Inishowen. It's slightly peaty, but not as much so as Scotch. Wish that was available over here.

Hmm, some internet digging reveals: http://www.cooleywhiskey.com/ 'pears the Inishowen is part of Cooley!

Lew Bryson said...

Well, first off, note that "Kilbeggan" is already in the States: that's Cooley's blended whiskey. Not sure how they're going to brand the new stuff.

On the Inishowen: if it's peaty, and it's Irish, it's gonna be Cooley. Looks like it's a specialty blend of their Connemara peated whiskey (which is quite nice) and a grain whiskey.

Steven said...

Is the Connemara available stateside?

Lew Bryson said...

Yes, it is, though not everywhere. Binny's in Chicago has it, in stores and mail order (www.binnys.com).

Steven said...

Thanks Lew, I'll keep an eye out for that one.

okbrewer said...

You can find the Connemara here:

http://www.internetwines.com/

Anonymous said...

so who makes Tyrconnell (sp)?

Lew Bryson said...

Tyrconnell is Cooley's single malt whiskey. Good stuff, IMO.