West Cork Distillers located in Skibbereen, County Cork is one of Ireland’s very few independent whiskey distilleries and is the most southerly located distillery on the Atlantic Archipelago. This provides a unique meso-thermal microclimate for which West Cork is famous and which is ideal for the maturation of Irish whiskey. The Distillery was founded in 2003 by three close friends, Denis McCarthy, Ger McCarthy & John O’Connell.
Ger & Denis had been deep sea trawler men and John was a research & development scientist for large blue chip food & beverage companies. Inspired by West Cork’s proud history in artisan food & beverage production, the three lifelong friends set about establishing a distillery to produce the highest quality spirits & provide sustainable employment in this beautiful and remote part of Ireland. The team at West Cork Distillers has grown steadily since its inception to encompass the “CAN DO” famous West Cork spirit.
The distillery at West Cork is very unique in that most of the mashing, fermentation & distilling equipment was handcrafted on site by the team at West Cork Distillers. No other distillery workforce can be so knowledgeable and intimately married to its equipment. West Cork Distillers have several notable ways of working which contribute to making the finest quality spirit
A non-chill filtered whiskey matured in first-fill, flame charred bourbon barrels for a minimum of ten years
Alcohol content: 40%
Ingredients: malt barley, water, yeast
Appearance: Mahogany brown
Aroma: intense malt, floral slight sweetness
Palate: citrus, cracked pepper, malt lasting
A superb single malt aged in new fill ex bourbon casks for a minimum of 12 years and finished in Pedro Ximenez sherry barrels for 115 days
Alcohol content: 43%
Ingredients: malt barley, water, yeast
Appearance: mahogany brown
Aroma: intense malt, floral slight sweetness
Palate: sweet, dried fruit, orange and citrus, malt lasting
Patiently matured in first fill bourbon & then polish matured exhausted Irish whiskey casks to allow marry for a further 6 months.
This marrying process allows the malt and grain whiskeys further mature and interact to produce a cask strength released of unique smoothness.
Alcohol content: 62%
Age: No Age Statement
Ingredients: malt barley, water, maize, caramel (E150a), yeast
Appearance: mahogany brown
Aroma: Malt, floral & spiciness
Palate: Spirituous but very smooth, floral & sweet yet spicy
A delicate blend of grain and malt whiskey aged in oak casks of less than 700 litres for a minimum of three years
Alcohol content: 40%
Age: No Age Statement
Ingredients: Barley, maize, water, yeast, caramel (E150a), free of GMO ingredients
Appearance: light oak
Aroma: malt, slight citrus, cracked pepper
Palate: malt, lingering sweetness, citrus and nutmeg
Gold West Cork Single Malt & Bourbon Cask - Los Angeles International Awards 2016
Shortlisted for World Craft Distillery - World Whiskey Awards 2017
Shortlisted for World Distillery Manager of the Year - World Whiskey Awards 2017
93 Highly Recommended West Cork Bourbon Cask - Ultimate Beverage Challenge 2015
Platinum West Cork 10YO - Craft Spirit Awards 2015
Platinum West Cork 10YO - Sip Awards 2015
Gold – West Cork Bourbon Cask - Great Taste Awards 2014
Double Gold 10YO Single Malt & 3 Gold West Cork Bourbon Cask & 10YO - WSWA 2015/2016
Irish Whiskey Distillery of the Year - 2017 New York Spirit Competition
Highly Commended Distillery - Icons of Whiskey 2017
