Old Warehouse, Tullamore

It’s great to see an old historical Irish Whiskey building come back into use.

Tullamore DEW’s Old Bonded Warehouse has re-opened under new ownership – local businessman Alan Clancy & local PGA golfer Shane Lowry – with a new name – Old Warehouse.

The building has only been open to the public for a few weeks but a visit to sample the hospitality was in order.

Much remains the same from the outside – only the whiskey barrels sport their new branding.

The inside is oddly reminiscent of the former owners Tullamore DEW – who rightly moved the whiskey visitors experience to the actual working distillery a few miles down the road – with the bar area now moving to the back wall but happily showing an array of whiskey barrels as well as 3 copper pot stills in the 2nd floor dining area.

A nice little touch was the copper topped salt & pepper set which made me smile.

The top floor has yet to be developed into a sports bar & a large pizza oven is due to be fired up too. A late licence has also been applied for.

We enjoyed a late brunch in congenial & warm surroundings.

It took me back to an earlier meal in the building – 2016’s Irish Whiskey Awards!

All in all a fantastic venue and a welcome addition to the hospitality scene in Tullamore – along with the Midlands in general.

I’ll definitely be back!

Press release of Old Warehouse opening here.

Old Warehouse facebook page here.

My thoughts on the 2016 Irish Whiskey Awards here.

Advertisement

21C Whiskey, 2nd Edition, Blend, 54.3%

Irish Whiskey continues to grow.

There are now 16 working distilleries that have matured stocks of spirit old enough to be called whiskey.

All of them contributed to create this special limited edition 21C blend unveiled at Whiskey Live Dublin 2019.

Luckily I managed a taster.

A fabulously rich & complex nose. Full bodied on the palate. A long lasting satisfying finish.

21C Whiskey 1st Edition contributors. c/othewhiskeynut

From my recollections of 21C 1st Edition – blog here – this was a vast improvement. Perhaps reflecting the growing maturity of Irish Whiskey in general – a better blend of ingredients – older stocks added – or a combination of all factors.

Whatever – it made a great whiskey.

The new additional distilleries to have matured whiskey are below – taken in left to right, top to bottom order as printed on the back label.

21C Whiskey 2nd Edition contributors. c/othewhiskeynut

Shortcross Distillery have yet to release their 1st whiskey – a single pot still by all accounts – but have built up a strong following with their Shortcross Gins.

Connacht Distillery are also waiting for their own whiskey to age further before release. In the meantime they have some tasty & innovative sourced whiskey under the Spade & Bushel, Ballyhoo & Brothership labels.

Waterford Distillery are following the above 2 in waiting for their own stock to age before committing to market. Unlike the others – they have not sourced any whiskey prior to that release.

Royal Oak Distillery in County Carlow have not released their own whiskey. Previously called Walsh Distillery – a split with the 2 companies involved means Irishman & Writer’s Tears will remain as sourced brands.

In addition to last years 21C – some distilleries have recently entered the market with their own stock.

Shed Distillery’s wonderful Inaugural Drumshanbo Single Pot Still Whiskey is now in the shops.

105 Years waiting! c/othewhiskeynut

Tullamore Distillery’s malt is now being used as a component in their blended Tullamore DEW range.

A big congratulations to all those who contributed to this fantastic 21C Whiskey. Much credit to Celtic Whiskey Shop for bringing this fabulous project to fruition.

Already looking forward to the next installment of Irish Whiskey to mature in the coming year!

Sláinte

 

 

Glen Grant, Highland Malt Scotch Whisky, 43%

The label on this miniature bottle had me confused.

I always associated Grant’s with being a big selling Speyside blend with a distinctive triangular shaped bottle which hadn’t exactly set my palate alight.

Yet here was a round Glen Grant bottle proclaiming to be from the Highlands.

Turns out there were 2 or 3 Mr Grants who set up whisky distilleries in the 1800’s.

In the 1840’s brothers John & James Grant founded the Glen Grant Distillery. It has gone through many changes of ownership and is now in the hands of the Campari Group – which immediately takes me back to an old advert!

Later on a certain William Grant laid the stones for the Glenfiddich Distillery back in 1886. The company is still with the same family today and has gone on to great success. It is responsible for the Grant’s range of blended whiskies – as well as notable single malts and built the new Tullamore Distillery in Ireland.

So that’s one issue sorted.

Highland Malt when quite clearly it’s a Speyside distillery?

Well not so fast bucko.

Glen Grant Highland Malt c/othewhiskeynut

Scottish Whisky Regions are actually a fairly recent construct and in my opinion more tied in with clever marketing & branding rather than anything intrinsically connecting whiskies made in these regions. An internet search found an enjoyable explanation here.

Since my miniature seems to be an old bottling – the closest I could identify is offered on Whisky Exchange here – which pre-dates current Scotch Whiskey Region rules.

Courtesy Whisky Exchange

But I only found all this out after tasting  Glen Grant Highland Malt – as I fairly enjoyed it.

There was a slight funkiness on the nose – not overpowering & actually quite characterful – which I’d possibly allow as deterioration from the old bottling – yet otherwise fresh & light.

The palate was signature Speyside – soft, subtle fruits & easy sweet biscuity malt with a hint of spice towards the finish.

If anything the 43% presentation had boosted the flavours within & given an enhanced appeal to my palate.

Not bad at all.

It enticed me to unearth the information above – all from a mixed bag auction lot purchase.

A happy half hour drinking & internet searching.

Sláinte

 

 

 

 

 

 

Irish Whiskey Awards 2016

Tullamore Distillery c/othewhiskeynut

An added bonus at the Irish Whiskey Awards 2016 was being shown round the new Tullamore Distillery.

Tullamore Warehouse c/othewhiskeynut

Barrels aplenty quietly maturing in the warehouses.

Tullamore Distillery c/othewhiskeynut

The spotless condition of the production floor.

And a glass of Phoenix Whiskey straight from cask.

Tullamore Phoenix c/othewhiskeynut

Phoenix – a mythical bird that rose from the flames of;

a) The early 20th Century crash of Irish Whiskey Distilling and it’s subsequent rebirth today.

b) The closure of the original Tullamore Distillery in 1954 and it’s glorious new awakening in 2014.

or

c) The 1785 hot air balloon disaster that burnt half of Tullamore down after the balloon allegedly hit a distillery chimney.

You could say that for option c) – it was a bit of a Hot Ride!

Slainte

PS  – A bonus prize for naming all the whiskey celebs under the Phoenix!