All you need to know about Irish whiskey
Whiskey, a distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grains or malt, is one of the most popular forms of alcohol and has a rich and colourful history. The history of whiskey dates back to the 15th century, with the first written record of the alcohol described in the Irish Annals of Clonmacnoise. Later on in the same century, the first evidence of whiskey production in Scotland was written in the Exchequer Rolls. The word whiskey is derived from the Irish name uisce beatha which literally means 'water of life', implicating the importance of the alcohol in day to day life back then.
The history of Irish whiskey is long and ever changing. In the 1770's, there were over 1200 distilleries, however most of these were unlicensed. In 1820, so many taxes were introduced on whiskey, so only 20 legal distilleries remained. Following this decrease, tax laws were relaxed, and in a few years, the number of legal distilleries increased to nearly one hundred. Unfortunately, with the mass increase in supply resulted in a decreased demand and by the end of the 19th century, there were only 28 distilleries in production in Ireland. In keeping with the rollercoaster ride, demand for Irish whiskey then rose, in particular whiskey produced in Dublin. However, this did not last long, and between 1919 and 1923 sales of whiskey hit the rocks, affecting Ireland's exports to the British Empire. Also, the prohibition of alcohol in America from 1920 to 1933 did not help matters, and even after this ban was lifted, Scottish whisky (Scotch) was found to be more popular in America and the British Empire.
Until the 1960's, things were looking bleak for Ireland in terms of whiskey. Then, Powers, Jameson and Cork Distillers merged to form the Irish Distillers Group, took over Bushmills (the oldest licensed distillery in Ireland) and built a new distillery behind the Old Midleton Distillery in County Cork. This gave them a monopoly on Irish whiskey. In 1987, Teeling opened the Cooley Distillery, and in 2004, Diageo acquired Bushmills. Also, the recent opening of Lockes Distillery at Kilbeggan Distillery has boosted the name and production of Irish whiskey once again.
The main products of Cooley Distillery are Kilbeggan and Lockes whiskeys, Connemara, Tyrconnel and Micheal Collins single malts. Bushmills Distillery produces various single malt ranges under the Bushmills name. The New Midleton Distillery produces several brands including Jameson, Powers, Tullamore Dew, Paddy, Redbreast, and Midleton Very Rare.
The history of Irish whiskey is long and ever changing. In the 1770's, there were over 1200 distilleries, however most of these were unlicensed. In 1820, so many taxes were introduced on whiskey, so only 20 legal distilleries remained. Following this decrease, tax laws were relaxed, and in a few years, the number of legal distilleries increased to nearly one hundred. Unfortunately, with the mass increase in supply resulted in a decreased demand and by the end of the 19th century, there were only 28 distilleries in production in Ireland. In keeping with the rollercoaster ride, demand for Irish whiskey then rose, in particular whiskey produced in Dublin. However, this did not last long, and between 1919 and 1923 sales of whiskey hit the rocks, affecting Ireland's exports to the British Empire. Also, the prohibition of alcohol in America from 1920 to 1933 did not help matters, and even after this ban was lifted, Scottish whisky (Scotch) was found to be more popular in America and the British Empire.
Until the 1960's, things were looking bleak for Ireland in terms of whiskey. Then, Powers, Jameson and Cork Distillers merged to form the Irish Distillers Group, took over Bushmills (the oldest licensed distillery in Ireland) and built a new distillery behind the Old Midleton Distillery in County Cork. This gave them a monopoly on Irish whiskey. In 1987, Teeling opened the Cooley Distillery, and in 2004, Diageo acquired Bushmills. Also, the recent opening of Lockes Distillery at Kilbeggan Distillery has boosted the name and production of Irish whiskey once again.
The main products of Cooley Distillery are Kilbeggan and Lockes whiskeys, Connemara, Tyrconnel and Micheal Collins single malts. Bushmills Distillery produces various single malt ranges under the Bushmills name. The New Midleton Distillery produces several brands including Jameson, Powers, Tullamore Dew, Paddy, Redbreast, and Midleton Very Rare.
