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The Irishman is a young, but already well-known brand of premium Irish whiskey, created on the basis of traditional technologies. The brand is produced by the family company Hot Irishman Limited, which specializes exclusively in national drinks. The assortment of the enterprise includes twelve varieties of whiskey and Irish Cream liqueur. The company’s products are sold in forty countries around the world.
Historical information
The Walsh couple came up with the idea to create Hot Irishman Limited in 1999 while living in France. Rosemary Walsh managed the ski chalet and made dozens of Irish Cream coffees per evening, which took a lot of time and effort. Husband and wife decided to develop a liqueur that would make the process less labor intensive. An old recipe was taken as a basis, which included only natural ingredients: whiskey, cream and spices.
To realize their plan, the Walshes moved to the family estate in the Irish city of Carlow, which became the company’s headquarters for the next 10 years. In 2006, the assortment was replenished with traditional Irish whiskey made from spirits obtained by distillation in copper stills. At first, the ingredients had to be purchased from other distilleries. But already the first batches of The Irishman were highly appreciated by buyers in Europe and the USA, so the owners thought about creating their own production.
In 2016, the Walsh Whiskey plant was put into operation. It was the first enterprise of this magnitude to be built in the southeast of Ireland in over a hundred years. In the wake of growing interest in Irish whiskey in the United States, the company quickly entered the international market. The production capacity of the company is designed to produce 8 million bottles of spirits per year.
The secret of The Irishman’s success lies in the old recipes of the end of the XNUMXth century and in the careful observance of traditional technologies. The best varieties of barley are grown in the region, and the valley where the plant is located is famous for its clean water sources. Whiskey produced in small batches and aged in oak barrels for at least three years. Containers are used where bourbon, sherry, sherry and Sicilian wine were previously stored.
Awards:
- International Spirits Challenge 2013, London – gold medal;
- Irish Whiskey Awards 2017, Dublin – 4 gold medals;
- London Spirits Competition 2018, London – gold medal and victory in the Best in Show from Ireland nomination.
Interesting Facts
In 2006, the company released the whiskey Writers’ Tears – “Writers’ Tears”. The name symbolizes the torment in which brilliant creations are born. Manufacturers jokingly claim that the basis for their drink is the tears of authors such as Oscar Wilde, James Joyce and Jonathan Swift. Issues of Writers ‘Tears are strictly limited, the barrels for aging are selected by the owner of the company, Bernard Walsh.
Hot Irishman Limited is known for its philanthropic work to support literary-related cultural sites. In 2019, the company came to the rescue of Sweny, a Dublin pharmacy featured in James Joyce’s novel Ulysses. The place of pilgrimage for lovers of the writer’s work was threatened with closure due to rising rents.
Types of Irishman whiskey
The Irishman Founder’s Reserve, 40%
The blend is based on the recipe of the classic Irish Pot Still Whiskey, the spirits are aged in bourbon and Spanish sherry casks. An amber-colored drink with peach and hot spice aromas. On the palate, hints of malt, dark chocolate and caramel are felt with woody notes on the finish. Founder’s Reserve received a high score of 93 from Jim Murray, author of The Whiskey Bible.
The Irishman Rare Cask Strength, 54%
An exclusive whiskey variety, available in limited quantities – in 2017, only 3,5 thousand bottles were produced, each of which was assigned its own individual number. The color of the drink is dark amber, the aroma is bright and rich, with a predominance of malt and ginger. The flavor range combines chocolate, grain and spicy shades. Jim Murray called Rare Cask Strength an absolutely exceptional product with a score of 94,5.
The Irishman 12 Year Old Single Malt, 40%
The single malt whiskey was first released in 2013. Aged 12 years in first-fired bourbon casks. Every year, no more than 6 bottles leave the lines of the plant. Vanilla, cinnamon and cloves stand out in a slightly herbaceous aroma. At the start, there are pronounced spicy notes, which are replaced by bright fruity shades. At the finish you can feel butter fudge and milk chocolate.
