Cooley Distillery

Cooley Distillery

Cooley Distillery is a former Irish whiskey distillery located in County Louth, Ireland. It was established in 1987 by John Teeling and was the first new independent Irish whiskey distillery to be established in over 100 years.

History

Cooley Distillery was founded by John Teeling, an Irish entrepreneur, in 1987. At the time, the Irish whiskey industry was dominated by a few large distilleries, and there was a lack of independent distilleries producing Irish whiskey. Teeling saw an opportunity to revive the tradition of independent Irish whiskey production and set out to establish Cooley Distillery.

The distillery was built on the site of an old potato alcohol plant in the Cooley Peninsula in County Louth. It was equipped with state-of-the-art distillation equipment, including copper pot stills, which are essential for producing high-quality Irish whiskey.

Cooley Distillery initially faced challenges in establishing itself in the market, as the dominance of larger distilleries made it difficult for a new player to gain recognition. However, the distillery's commitment to producing premium-quality whiskey and its focus on innovation helped it gain a reputation for excellence.

In 2011, Cooley Distillery was acquired by Beam Inc., an American spirits company. This acquisition brought Cooley's portfolio of Irish whiskey brands, including Kilbeggan, Connemara, and Tyrconnell, under the ownership of Beam Inc.

Products

Cooley Distillery produced a range of Irish whiskey brands, each with its own unique characteristics and flavor profiles. Some of the notable brands produced by Cooley Distillery include:

• Kilbeggan: Kilbeggan is a blended Irish whiskey that combines malted barley and grain whiskey. It is known for its smooth and mellow taste.

• Connemara: Connemara is a peated single malt Irish whiskey, which means that the malted barley used in its production is dried over a peat fire. This gives Connemara a distinctive smoky flavor.

• Tyrconnell: Tyrconnell is a single malt Irish whiskey that is aged in oak casks. It is known for its rich and complex flavor profile.

Legacy

Cooley Distillery played a significant role in the revival of the Irish whiskey industry. Its commitment to producing high-quality whiskey and its focus on innovation helped raise the profile of Irish whiskey on the global stage.

Today, Cooley's brands continue to be enjoyed by whiskey enthusiasts around the world. The distillery's legacy lives on through the continued production of its brands under the ownership of Beam Suntory, which acquired Beam Inc. in 2014.

See also

• Irish whiskey
• List of Irish whiskey distilleries