Glendalough

Introduction:

Glendalough Whiskey takes pride in using pure mountain spring water from the Wicklow Mountains in the production of their Single Malt and Single Grain Whiskeys. The Grain Whiskeys predominantly feature corn, with a small portion of barley, and are often bottled as single casks with unique finishes like Calvados or Madeira casks.

Glendalough Double Barrel is a Single Grain Whiskey that undergoes a double distillation process in a coffey still. It is then matured in two distinct types of casks: American Oak Bourbon casks and Spanish Oak Oloroso casks, which contribute different flavor profiles to the final product.

For their pot still Whiskey, Glendalough employs first-fill Irish Oak casks sourced from the Wicklow Mountains. These casks play a significant role in shaping the flavor and character of the Whiskey. Each bottle is not only marked with the cask number but also with the number of the specific tree that was felled for its production, emphasizing the importance of the wood in the maturation process.

One notable expression from Glendalough is the seven-year-old Single Malt Mizunara Cask. This Whiskey matures in special casks made from the coveted oak sourced from the Japanese island of Hokkaido. The drying process for this unique oak takes three years, further adding to the complexity and distinctiveness of the whiskey.

Overall, Glendalough Whiskey showcases a variety of innovative cask finishes and highlights the influence of wood on the maturation process, resulting in a diverse range of flavorful and distinct expressions.

The Gin:

Glendalough’s Gin is a testament to the diverse botanicals found in the Wicklow Mountains, incorporating both regional and seasonal herbs and fruits. The selection of botanicals varies throughout the year to capture the essence of each season.

During spring, botanicals such as cicely, primrose, water mint, and sorrel are gathered, each contributing their unique flavors ranging from sweet and aniseed-like to minty-fresh and spicy.

In summer, the gin features the floral notes of elderflowers and wild roses, complemented by the freshness of water mint, clover blossoms, raspberries, blackberry leaves, and the subtle tartness of pine needles, daisies, and yarrows.

Autumnal botanicals include apples, rosehips, blackberries, elderberries, rowanberries, and the sweet-tart meadowsweet flowers, capturing the rich flavors of the season.

For winter, Glendalough incorporates apples, rosehips, hawthorn berries, sloes, and Douglas fir needles, providing a fruity-resinous profile to the gin.

In addition to the Seasonal Gins that highlight the characteristics of each season, Glendalough offers a Wild Botanical Gin. This gin comprises around 36 carefully selected ingredients that capture the full flavors of all four seasons and the aromatic essence of the Wicklow Mountains.

Geraldine Kavanagh, the herbalist at Glendalough, ensures that all herbs and botanicals are sustainably harvested, leaving minimal impact on nature and preserving the beauty of the Wicklow Mountains.

Head Distiller Ciaran “Rowdy” Rooney utilizes the Gin still named ‘Kathleen’ for distillation. Kathleen has a capacity of 500 liters and is filled with 96.3% neutral alcohol, which is then diluted to 35%. The botanicals are added fresh and steeped overnight, without prior drying, a unique approach in the distillation process.

In a touching tribute to his late mother Rose and his brother’s wedding, Head Distiller Rooney created a special and personal gin called Rose Gin. This gin incorporates rose petals from his childhood home’s garden, hung in the aroma basket during distillation to extract their delicate flavors.

Glendalough’s commitment to using fresh and locally sourced botanicals, combined with their innovative approach to gin production, results in a range of unique and flavorful spirits that reflect the natural beauty and diversity of the Wicklow Mountains.

Production:

Glendalough distillery takes pride in producing its Whiskeys and Gin in small batches, emphasizing the use of regional raw materials to capture the essence of the local terroir. This commitment extends to the sourcing of grain, water, and botanicals used in their spirits.

In addition to their renowned Whiskeys and Gin, Glendalough also produces Poitín, a traditional Irish spirit that is often referred to as the “father of Irish Whiskey.” Poitín has a long history in Ireland and was historically produced illegally as moonshine. Glendalough’s production of Poitín pays homage to this traditional spirit and showcases the distillery’s dedication to preserving Irish distilling heritage.

By utilizing regional ingredients and drawing inspiration from Irish distilling traditions, Glendalough creates spirits that showcase the unique character of the Wicklow Mountains and the rich cultural heritage of Irish Whiskey and Poitín.

The Pot Stills:

In Glendalough’s small craft distillery, they have a wash still with a volume of 250 litres, which features a constriction for the production of Single Malts. This constriction helps to refine the spirit by allowing for better separation of alcohol during distillation. They also have a spirit still with a reflux ball and ascending lyne arm, which promotes copper contact and reflux, resulting in a smoother and milder spirit. To achieve triple distillation, Glendalough utilizes a simple method of filling the spirit still a second time with the already distilled alcohol and distilling it again.

For the production of Grain Whiskeys, Glendalough uses a coffey still, which enables continuous distillation. This allows for efficient and consistent production of Grain Whiskey.

The distilled new make spirit from both the pot stills and the coffey still is initially filled into casks, predominantly Bourbon casks, with an alcohol content of 62.5%. The Whiskey is then transferred to different cask types for the respective finishing process, enhancing its flavor and character.

Maturation:

Indeed, Glendalough Whiskeys undergo primary maturation in first fill Bourbon casks, which impart characteristic vanilla, caramel, and toasted oak flavors to the spirit. However, Glendalough goes beyond traditional maturation by finishing their Grain and Malt Whiskeys in a wide range of cask types. This includes casks previously used for Burgundy, Madeira, Sherry, and Beer, among others. These additional cask finishes contribute distinct flavor profiles and nuances to the Whiskey, enhancing its complexity and depth.

One notable aspect of Glendalough’s maturation process is the use of Irish oak casks, a unique and rare practice in the Whiskey industry. The distillery emphasizes sustainable practices by ensuring the responsible cutting of oak trees and reforestation efforts. For each tree felled, seven new trees are planted, ensuring the preservation of the oak ecosystem. Irish oak, due to the mild climate, grows at a faster rate than American or European oak, resulting in a stronger wood structure with larger cells and thinner cell walls. This unique wood composition allows for quicker transfer of oak flavors into the Whiskey during maturation.

The flavors imparted by Irish oak in Glendalough Whiskeys are characterized by sweetness with notes of chocolate, caramel, and vanilla, as well as a pronounced spicy quality from the toasted oak. This emphasis on using Irish oak helps to capture the terroir of Ireland, contributing to the distinctiveness of Glendalough Whiskeys.

The History:

The Glendalough distillery was indeed founded in 2011 by five friends from Dublin who shared a passion for distilling whiskey. Barry Gallagher, Brian Fagan, Gary McLoughlin, Kevin Keenan, and Donal O’Gallachoir embarked on this venture to fulfill their dream. In the initial stages, they sourced new make spirit from the Cooley distillery while they awaited the maturation of their own whiskey. Over time, they attracted investment, including a contribution from the well-known Irish rugby player Brian O’Driscoll. In 2016, 40% of the company’s shares were sold to Mark Anthony Brands International Group, a Canadian spirits conglomerate. Eventually, in December 2019, the group acquired the remaining 60% stake. Despite this, Glendalough will continue to operate as an independent company with its founders at the helm.

Visitor information:

Glendalough Distillery
Moneycarroll, Newtown Mount Kennedy
Co. Wicklow
A63 A439
Ireland
Email: info@glendaloughdistillery.com