Glendalough

Glendalough Distillery was founded in County Wicklow in 2011 by friends Barry Gallagher, Brian Fagan, Gary McLoughlin and Kevin Keenan with the intent to emphasise traditional methods of Irish distillation in the belief that the industry and market were ready for a return of independent Irish whiskey. For brand inspiration, the friends looked towards the story of Glendalough – the Glen of Two Lakes - a settlement founded by the legendary St. Kevin.

Following his ordination in 518 as a priest, Kevin moved on to Glendalough in order to avoid the company of his followers. He lived as a hermit in a partially man-made cave now known as St. Kevin's Bed, to which he was led, according to account, by an angel. Kevin lived the life of a hermit there with an extraordinary closeness to nature. His companions were the animals and birds all around him. He lived as a hermit for seven years wearing only animal skins, sleeping on stones, and eating very sparingly while spending his time in prayer. Disciples were soon attracted to Kevin and a further settlement enclosed by a wall, called Kevin's Cell, was established nearer the lakeshore. By 540 Kevin's fame as a teacher and holy man had spread far and wide. Many people came to seek his help and guidance. Glendalough grew into a renowned seminary of saints and scholars and the parent of several other monasteries. He was canonized by Pope Pius X on 9 December 1903.

One of the most widely known poems of the Nobel prizewinner Seamus Heaney, 'St Kevin and the Blackbird', relates the story of Kevin holding out his hand with trance-like stillness for thirteen days and nights while a blackbird builds a nest in it, lays eggs, the eggs hatch and the chicks fledge.

Glendalough Distillery uses this image as its logo, and it features on every bottling. In 2013 the current Glendalough Distillery was built on the edge of Newtownmountkennedy, Co. Wicklow, featuring a 500L Holstein still imported from Germany. While the distillery waited for its own stocks to mature, whiskey was sourced from the Cooley Distillery in Louth, which was given a sense of Glendalough identity through maturation and blending.

The term 'Pot Still' in Irish whiskey refers not to the shape of the still used, but the use of unmalted barley as well as malted barley during distillation. This 'green' barley provides a distinctive fruity note which is pretty unique compared to the rest of the world. Maturation for this bottling takes place initially in ex-Bourbon barrels before a brief period in virgin casks made from oak trees felled in the Wicklow Mountains. They claim this is the first 'Irish Oak' whiskey produced for over 100 years.

The result is a deliciously fruity and almost juicy whiskey with hints of blackcurrant, apple, baking spices and vanilla cream. It's incredibly approachable and is a great example of what 'true' Irish whiskey produces. I absolutely loved Redbreast Pot Still but the price of that has recently crept up and up - this release is arguably better value for money!