Ireland
📍 Clonakilty, West Cork, Ireland – Wild Atlantic Way
Clonakilty is a maritime "farm-to-glass" distillery on the Atlantic coast of West Cork. The Scully family has been farming here for 8–9 generations and uses their own coastal fields near Galley Head Lighthouse to grow barley. The warehouses overlook the ocean, allowing the whiskey to literally be shaped by sea air.
🕰️ History and Heritage
The Scullys have been farming the same stretch of coastline for over 200–300 years; Clonakilty Distillery itself was established in 2016 and officially opened in 2019.
Goal: To create the best single pot still Irish whiskey, rooted in local barley and Atlantic terroir.
In addition to whiskey, the distillery also produces Minke Gin and vodka, but whiskey remains at the heart of the project.
⚗️ Production and Philosophy
Own barley: Heritage barley from the family farm and local farmers in Co. Cork.
Slow fermentation: More than 100 hours – much longer than average – for a complex, fruity new make.
Triple distillation: Three copper pot stills primarily produce single pot still spirit – smooth, yet with great depth.
Atlantic maturation: Casks mature in warehouses on the cliffs above the Atlantic Ocean; subtle salinity and “sea spray” are part of the house profile.
Cask creativity: Ex-bourbon as a base, with finishes in Bordeaux, Port, Cognac, and sherry casks, among others.
Sustainability: Clonakilty is B Corp certified and strongly focuses on local sourcing, biodiversity, and a lower CO₂ footprint.
🍯 Flavor Profile and Style
Typical Clonakilty (pot still & single malt):
Lots of orchard fruit – apple, pear, sometimes peach
Creamy mouthfeel due to triple distillation
Vanilla, toffee, and soft oak from bourbon casks
Spices (pepper, nutmeg) and subtle grain notes
Subtle maritime edge: saline, fresh sea breeze
For older single casks (like your 18 YO bourbon): additional honey, “peaches & cream,” coconut, and fine leather/oak spices.
🌟 Special Bottlings or Series
Single Batch Double Oak – core expression, bourbon + virgin oak + Bordeaux finish.
Cask Series – Port, Cognac, Bordeaux, Amontillado, etc.
Galley Head Single Malt – maritime “house whiskey” with good value for money.
Single Cask releases – including bourbon, wine, and fortified casks, often limited to a few hundred bottles (like your 18-year-old cask #9075).
💎 Why this distillery is special
Clonakilty is one of the most interesting new Irish distilleries because:
It tells a true Atlantic terroir story (coastal barley + cliff warehouses);
It combines triple-distilled pot still with modern cask innovation;
It is a family business, uses its own barley, is B Corp certified, and has a strong focus on sustainability;
And because its first own, fully in-house distillate is now slowly maturing – which means even more exciting releases are likely to come in the next few years.
