Exploring Whisky (Brum) Presents: Clonakilty Irish Whiskey

Join us as we welcome Clonakilty Irish distillery, from Ireland's wild Atlantic coast. Sample their drams, hear their story and enjoy the craic at Chancer's Cafe in the heart of Stirchley....

Then again, this is the Rebel County. And you’ll find that spirit right here in Clonakilty, on the south west tip of Ireland. An ancient, rocky coastline of jagged headlands, where 3,000 miles of ocean finally collide with land. Where whales bask offshore and the weather’s so wild, even the lighthouse keepers gave up. Where they don’t tear up the rulebook, because there isn’t one.

Out here, people do things their own way. People like the Scully family. Farming this same land for nine successive generations. Taking the considered view that Irish whiskey could be improved, by harnessing natural elements in a unique and more sustainable way. So they set about doing just that. Sourcing a strain of heritage barley. Growing it themselves, on land where the salty air, soft rain and sea mist infuse every grain. Boring deep into the ancient rock formation to draw the purest, clearest spring water.

Building their own distillery, to craft the very best of whiskeys, their own way. Using un-malted barley as well as malted. Lengthening the fermentation time, giving their natural yeast the all the time it needs to enhance the flavour. Triple-distilling the whiskey, for a lighter, sweeter spirit. Adding the water slowly and incrementally in way they call ‘gentle cut’. Ageing the liquid in oak casks and exposing those casks to the Atlantic air. Letting the whiskey mature for as long as it takes – even if that means the angels take more than their normal share. Divils!

It’s a unique story; a whiskey that’s been carefully crafted every step of the way. An award-winning, premium whiskey. Authentic. Full of character. Appreciated by connoisseurs, enjoyed by everyone. Ask any of the team at Clonakilty how they did all this, they’ll happily keep you talking for the day. Ask them why – they’ll simply say, “It’s in our nature”.