Cooley Distillery is Ireland’s newest distillery. Located on the Cooley peninsula, in the midst of a fairytale landscape, the distillery produces a large number of typically Irish whiskeys…
In 1987, a wealthy Irish entrepreneur, John Teeling, launched the idea of a new distillery in Ireland. He had it built in Cooley, and decided to make it a completely independent distillery, unlike the other Irish distilleries which were dependent on large groups.
Another special feature of the Cooley distillery is that it produces double-distilled whiskeys, rather than the traditional triple distillation of Irish whiskeys. Their taste is therefore quite different from that of the Bushmills (Co. Antrim) or Midleton (Co. Cork) distilleries.
As far as distillery production is concerned, the Cooley distillery mainly produces :
All are distilled at Cooley, but aged in barrels at another distillery: Kilbeggan Distillery (Co. Westmeath). These whiskeys are then sold mainly in Ireland and the UK. (Very few, if any, are available in France, with the exception of Kilbeggan, sometimes available in shops).
The Cooley Distillery opens its doors all year round to show you how Irish whiskey is made. You’ll learn about the principles of double distillation, the differences in taste compared to whiskey distilled three times in a row, and admire the gigantic stills and imposing copper vats.
The tour itself is very interesting, though a little less extensive than the other distilleries in Ireland. Nevertheless, a visit to Cooley will introduce you to some high quality whiskeys, which are unfortunately less well known outside Ireland. A tasting session is also offered, to sample the distillery’s production.
There is also a shop on the distillery premises. You can purchase their whiskeys, as well as branded glasses.
Adresse :
GPS :
Rates : per person
Opening hours :
Monday to Saturday, 9.20 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
