On Halloween night, #KeepHerLit at Hen’s Castle saw its old limestone walls emblazoned with #BelieveinGrace and the Grace O’Malley crest, on a backdrop of bright green. The lighting is part of Grace O’Malley Spirits' now annual salute to the arrival of Samhain, and a month of birthday celebrations through November for Grace O'Malley (Granuaile) – Hen’s Castle's most famous resident. #KeepHerLit at Hen’s Castle follows last year’s lighting at another of Grace’s strongholds, Rockfleet Castle, on the shores of Clew Bay.

Hen’s Castle is no stranger to mysterious lights. As legend goes, they coincide with that of a local’s passing. But rather than flickering lights, this Samhain illumination saw the whole castle aglow in vibrant green, its reflection cast across the lake and visible for miles around. It was revealed yesterday (Nov 1st) as the work of Grace O’Malley Spirits, the premium Irish whiskey brand dedicated to Granuaile.

Grace O’Malley Spirits is as much about premium Irish whiskey and gin as it is about keeping the stories of Granuaile alive, to ensure her legend lives on, and her rebellious heart is never forgotten.

As part of its birthday celebrations – of its namesake and to mark the arrival of darkness – Grace O’Malley Spirits proudly unveiled its latest premium Irish whiskey, the Grace O’Malley Dark Char Irish Whiskey. A special blend, the whiskey combines multiple batches of varying age statements up to ten years, to deliver a perfect balance of fruitiness, age character, complexity and smoothness.

Tasting notes reveal coffee, bourbon vanilla, chocolate milk, roasted wheat, and caramel candy on the nose ,while a medium body palate delivers complex flavours of dried fruit cake and layers of oak. The extra time in the darkness of a deep char cask delivers a smooth finish with hints of roasted coffee bean. Grace O’Malley Dark Char Irish Whiskey is the perfect birthday toast fit for a queen, a distinctive and delicious premium Irish whiskey to enjoy over a story or two on long winter nights.

#KeepHerLit at Hen’s Castle for #BelieveInGrace is the latest in a series of activity from the brand that has the West of Ireland at its heart and Grace O’Malley’s stories in its expression. This year, the brand launched three new premium Irish whiskeys.

• To follow the story, stay tuned to www.graceomalleywhiskey.com and the brands social channels @graceomalleyspirits for upcoming events, tastings and the latest news.

• Grace O’Malley Dark Char Cask Irish Whiskey is available in select off-licences and online retailers, Irishmalts.com and celticwhiskeyshop.com from November 1 st, retailing at €65 RRP.