Day 21. Since we had Irish whisky yesterday why not continue with that. Today we have the biggest peatest Irish offering if you have never had it before enjoy for those of you that have had it before I am sure you will agree that its tasty stuff
Story
Cooley Distillery is nestled in the foothills of the Cooley Mountains in Co. Louth. The Cooley Distillery enjoys a perfect location for a whiskey distillery due to its access to clean, pure water from the Slieve na gCloc river that runs down from the mountain and right by the distillery.
Both patent and pot stills are used here at Cooley allowing us to produce both malt and grain whiskey, reinvigorating old famous brands such as Kilbeggan® and Tyrconnell while also allowing us to create new brands such as Connemara Peated Single Malt and Greenore Single Grain Irish whiskey.
History
The distillery was founded in 1757 and, by 1798, was in the hands of Matthias McManus, whose son was executed in Mullingar due to the part he played in the United Irishmen rebellion of that year.
John Locke took over the distillery in 1843, and it passed down to his granddaughters Mary Evelyn and Florence Emily in 1943. The economic depression of the 1920s and 1930s took its toll on Locke’s. In 1947 it was put up for sale and the successful bidder, the Transworld Trust, involved fraudsters from Switzerland and Austria. Oliver J. Flanagan alleged under Oireachtas privilege that Fianna Fáil politicians were linked to the deal; a tribunal of inquiry discounted the allegations but the damage contributed to Fianna Fáil’s defeat in the 1948 election. On 19 March 1954 production ceased at the distillery. It closed completely in 1957 and the building began to fall into disrepair. Twenty five years after its closure, the community of Kilbeggan restored the distillery and opened it to the public as a whiskey distillery museum. Cooley Distillery bought the license to produce Kilbeggan and Lockes Whiskey, and later took over the museum along with opening a new working distillery in Kilbeggan.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Well-smoked and peated, heather freshness and floral notes with a honeyed sweetness and a little wood.
Taste: Full and smooth with notes of malt and peat, honeyed smoke and barley sweetness.
FInish: Long and pungent with honey and peat smoke.
Purchase Links
Can be purchased from Tudor House
or
Can be purchased at Strathcona Liquor Store