Happy News Year!
Although fat-fingered typing is one of my specialties, that's not a typo in the headline. It's a comment on the amazing and encouraging growth in Irish whiskey in 2011, and in the whiskey/whisky world in general.
Congrats to Everyone in Kilbeggan, Riverstown, and Dublin!
Cooley as usual led the way with new releases at the beginning of (and throughout) 2011 and by re-shaping the market at the end of the year with its $95 million acquisition by Beam Global. It's a well-deserved accomplishment by the good folks at Cooley. Beam's worldwide reach promises to bring Cooley's great products and innovative spirit to a wider market, and rightfully so.
While it's natural to regret that are now no Irish-owned distilleries (at least in operation), Cooley's acquisition has a far more positive feel to it than the Pernod Ricard and Diageo acquistions of IDL and Bushmills in past years. Those came from troubled circumstances but have played out well, especially at IDL. But Cooley's "problem" of being a smaller player competing with multinational companies is one born of success, growth and greater opportunity. Cooley is not a case of a company in "poor old Ireland" that got gobbled up, but a new Irish model for the creation of value. And I don't just mean financial value but also that of innovation, entrepreneurial spirit and, of course, great, distinctly Irish products. Especially during a tough time in Ireland, it's definitely a reason to raise a glass to celebrate while contemplating new ventures and challenges.
IDL is the clear leader in terms of size. But it showed why its leadership comes from more than market presence when it re-introduced, re-branded and expanded its Single Pot Still (SPS), formerly Pure Pot Still, line of whiskeys in May and in October. Powers John's Lane Release 12-year-old and Midleton Barry Crockett Legacy whiskeys joined Red Breast and Green Spot in the SPS line and have wowed whiskey drinkers since.
The cask-strength version of the venerable and excellent Red Breast 12-year-old made its debut in the Fall to raves also. And just today Pernod announced it will make the cask-strength version available in the US next month. Look for it at about $65/bottle. And when you see it, get it. Don't think about it, just get it. At least one. The 40% ABV 12-year-old always wins converts and tastings. The 57.7% ABV cask strength version is simply wonderful stuff.
I'm often asked by drinkers and retailer alike when the fabulous Green Spot will land in America. No word on that yet, and I'm not sure if it will for some time as the volumes produced are relatively low. You'll still have to get yours in the US from Dublin or the random specialty retailer.
Bigger Still
Maybe that will change over time as IDL's expanded distillery capacity comes online. The planned €100 million ($130 million) expansion at Midleton has been accelerated based on market demand for IDL's products. That's good news for the Irish economy with 280 new jobs expected. It's also good news for whiskey drinkers looking for greater access to new and existing whiskeys.
Before and after aerial images of the Midleton Distillery Showing the new white cylindrical fermenting tanks near top left and the new stillhouse in the taller green building (think column stills) at top center. The 'after' image is a mockup, as is the artist's impression below showing a glassed-in stillhouse.
"Serious in the making, but not in the drinking..."
IDL has assembled a first-rate team that is producing first-rate whiskeys from the distillate, to the wood management program, to the aging and blending, to the product packaging and the marketing. Look for more extensions to the SPS line. And if you haven't tried regular old Jameson, Powers and the like, do so. They too are benefiting from the investment in quality people, process and product.
Meanwhile, to the north...
Diageo's Old Bushmills Distillery has been unusually quiet for an unusually long time as far as new whiskeys go. That may be a sign of changes and new whiskeys in the works. The current line-up includes some truly excellent blends and single malts (I describe the 21-year-old as "liquid sex." It's, um, very good.) With so much market growth as well as competitive pressure it seems likely that we'll see news coming out of Antrim before too much longer.
And it just keeps coming
As far as specific whiskeys, there have been so many and so many good ones that it's been hard to keep up. I actually have some whiskeys introduced last year that I have yet to open. And those are just the Irish ones, let alone the new Scotch, Japanese and American whiskys I have. But a few jump immediately to mind:
Tyrconell 11-year-old Sherry Cask finish at cask strength. Bottled for the Celtic Whiskey Shop and introduced at the first Whisky Live Dublin event in May. Wow! You've got to get it from the CWS in Dublin. Worth the dollar and the bother. Luscious and mouthwatering. Shows in a remarkable way what another year in the wood can do as it is a wonderful world apart from the 10-year-old 40% bottling from 2010.
Connemara Turf Mor. Peat heads unite. This is smoke, fruit, floral, smoke and more smoke. Flavor galore. For you phenol counters its right up there with Ardbeg, beyond Laphroig (also owned by Beam Global, btw). Yum.
The entire IDL SPS line. Picking which one to drink on any given day is a fabulous problem. And the thought of extensions to that line makes me smile. And get thirsty. Great things coming out of Midleton and more ahead.
The SPS lineup -- minus the Red Breast Cask Strength
There are many more I could mention. The point is to pay more attention to Irish whiskeys, both existing brands that you thought you knew and new ones that you don't yet (as they say, no strangers, just friends we haven't met yet). Whiskey is all about flavor, variety, complexity and personal preference. So pick up a bottle and share it with good company.
Resolved
It has been such a busy and eventful year. That's one reason why this blog has gone stale at times in the past year. When new, unopened bottles are sitting on my shelf for months awaiting attention you know there are other demands and distractions in play. I'll be putting more time into the blog so don't count it out. The Irish Whiskey Society of America has been another thing taking time, but productively so. Still, it's ironic that I have less time to write because I'm spending more time with the subject. Anyway, please hang in there.
More soon.
Sláinte, and a great new year to everyone.
Congrats to Everyone in Kilbeggan, Riverstown, and Dublin!
Cooley as usual led the way with new releases at the beginning of (and throughout) 2011 and by re-shaping the market at the end of the year with its $95 million acquisition by Beam Global. It's a well-deserved accomplishment by the good folks at Cooley. Beam's worldwide reach promises to bring Cooley's great products and innovative spirit to a wider market, and rightfully so.
While it's natural to regret that are now no Irish-owned distilleries (at least in operation), Cooley's acquisition has a far more positive feel to it than the Pernod Ricard and Diageo acquistions of IDL and Bushmills in past years. Those came from troubled circumstances but have played out well, especially at IDL. But Cooley's "problem" of being a smaller player competing with multinational companies is one born of success, growth and greater opportunity. Cooley is not a case of a company in "poor old Ireland" that got gobbled up, but a new Irish model for the creation of value. And I don't just mean financial value but also that of innovation, entrepreneurial spirit and, of course, great, distinctly Irish products. Especially during a tough time in Ireland, it's definitely a reason to raise a glass to celebrate while contemplating new ventures and challenges.
The cask-strength version of the venerable and excellent Red Breast 12-year-old made its debut in the Fall to raves also. And just today Pernod announced it will make the cask-strength version available in the US next month. Look for it at about $65/bottle. And when you see it, get it. Don't think about it, just get it. At least one. The 40% ABV 12-year-old always wins converts and tastings. The 57.7% ABV cask strength version is simply wonderful stuff.
Bigger Still
Maybe that will change over time as IDL's expanded distillery capacity comes online. The planned €100 million ($130 million) expansion at Midleton has been accelerated based on market demand for IDL's products. That's good news for the Irish economy with 280 new jobs expected. It's also good news for whiskey drinkers looking for greater access to new and existing whiskeys.
Before and after aerial images of the Midleton Distillery Showing the new white cylindrical fermenting tanks near top left and the new stillhouse in the taller green building (think column stills) at top center. The 'after' image is a mockup, as is the artist's impression below showing a glassed-in stillhouse.
"Serious in the making, but not in the drinking..."
IDL has assembled a first-rate team that is producing first-rate whiskeys from the distillate, to the wood management program, to the aging and blending, to the product packaging and the marketing. Look for more extensions to the SPS line. And if you haven't tried regular old Jameson, Powers and the like, do so. They too are benefiting from the investment in quality people, process and product.
Meanwhile, to the north...
Diageo's Old Bushmills Distillery has been unusually quiet for an unusually long time as far as new whiskeys go. That may be a sign of changes and new whiskeys in the works. The current line-up includes some truly excellent blends and single malts (I describe the 21-year-old as "liquid sex." It's, um, very good.) With so much market growth as well as competitive pressure it seems likely that we'll see news coming out of Antrim before too much longer.
And it just keeps coming
As far as specific whiskeys, there have been so many and so many good ones that it's been hard to keep up. I actually have some whiskeys introduced last year that I have yet to open. And those are just the Irish ones, let alone the new Scotch, Japanese and American whiskys I have. But a few jump immediately to mind:
Tyrconell 11-year-old Sherry Cask finish at cask strength. Bottled for the Celtic Whiskey Shop and introduced at the first Whisky Live Dublin event in May. Wow! You've got to get it from the CWS in Dublin. Worth the dollar and the bother. Luscious and mouthwatering. Shows in a remarkable way what another year in the wood can do as it is a wonderful world apart from the 10-year-old 40% bottling from 2010.
Connemara Turf Mor. Peat heads unite. This is smoke, fruit, floral, smoke and more smoke. Flavor galore. For you phenol counters its right up there with Ardbeg, beyond Laphroig (also owned by Beam Global, btw). Yum.
The entire IDL SPS line. Picking which one to drink on any given day is a fabulous problem. And the thought of extensions to that line makes me smile. And get thirsty. Great things coming out of Midleton and more ahead.
The SPS lineup -- minus the Red Breast Cask Strength
There are many more I could mention. The point is to pay more attention to Irish whiskeys, both existing brands that you thought you knew and new ones that you don't yet (as they say, no strangers, just friends we haven't met yet). Whiskey is all about flavor, variety, complexity and personal preference. So pick up a bottle and share it with good company.
Resolved
It has been such a busy and eventful year. That's one reason why this blog has gone stale at times in the past year. When new, unopened bottles are sitting on my shelf for months awaiting attention you know there are other demands and distractions in play. I'll be putting more time into the blog so don't count it out. The Irish Whiskey Society of America has been another thing taking time, but productively so. Still, it's ironic that I have less time to write because I'm spending more time with the subject. Anyway, please hang in there.
More soon.
Sláinte, and a great new year to everyone.
thank you
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