The rude health of the Irish distilling industry is evident from both the new companies entering the market this year and the existing distilleries and blenders who are expanding their operations.

Adding some showbiz sparkle to the sector is Riverdance and Lord Of The Dance star Michael Flatley who’s recruited former Powerscourt Distillery man Noel Sweeney as his master-blender.

Released to considerable fanfare in May, their first Flatley Irish Whiskey expression is The Dreamer, which was distilled and matured at Great Northern Distillery.

It’s no mere celebrity endorsement with the Monte Carlo-based Flatley setting the company up with his own money and keeping a daily eye on things.

A 43% mix of double-distilled malt and triple-distilled grain which has variously been exposed to port, Pedro Ximenéz and bourbon casks, it’s retailing in SuperValu shops and online from flatleywiskey.com for around €45.

Meanwhile, Hollywood A-Lister Liev Schreiber is also very hands-on with Sláinte Irish Whiskey, a 40% “triple barrel marriage of premium American bourbon-matured single grain and triple-distilled sherry-aged single malt.”

The Dublin-based company are big into their cocktails with lots of recipes to be found on slaintewhiskey.com.

While the domestic market isn’t insignificant, the real money is to be made overseas with the US, in particular, going ga-ga for our whiskeys.

It was therefore a very big deal this summer when the Kinsale Spirit Company won three medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, considered the Oscars of the distilling world.

The top gong, a platinum, went to Tom O’Riordan and his sister Clodagh’s 40% Wild Atlantic Irish Whiskey IPA Barrel, which has been aged for four years, pours a deep golden brown and has a distinctive hoppy flavour.

At around €35 it’s a snip and available from kinsalespirit.com.

It was also an award-winning year for Fermanagh’s Boatyard Distillery and their 46% Double Gin, an organic wheat spirit macerated – what a great word! – for 18 hours with eight different botanicals, including Sweet Gale harvested from the family farm.

What does it taste like? Absolutely divine!

Among those beefing up their operations this year are Natterjack Irish Whiskey who’ve raised €5.3m to continue its expansion into the US; Limavady Irish Whiskey who’ve got the green light for a new £10m distillery in Derry; and the Amber Beverage Group who’ve sunk €35m into the Dunleckney, Co. Carlow facility that the Walsh Whiskey Distillery are moving into. And that really is just the tip of the whiskey investment iceberg!

Having secured €30m in fresh funding themselves, Meath’s Boann Distillery have released new Marsala, Madeira and Pedro Ximinéz cask expressions, all of which get the official Hot Flavours seal of approval.

The value of whiskey and other spirits to the economy here was underlined with the revealing in May that over the past year Irish distilleries have been visited by a record 800,000 tourists.

According to the Irish Whiskey Association, the majority of those visitors come from the US, Germany, France and our nearest neighbours across the sea.

Talking of things maritime, the first Irish Whiskey Cruise is taking place from November 2-9, 2025 aboard the luxury 312-berth Star Pride.

Embarking from San Juan in Puerto Rico, it will stop-off in the US Virgin Islands, St. Kitts, St. Barts, St. Maarten and the British Virgin Islands before eight days later returning  to its port – or should that be whiskey? – of origin.

With the likes of Teeling Whiskey, Killowen Distillery, J.J. Corry and Two Stacks already confirmed and all that Caribbean sunshine to enjoy, the $4,500 per person sharing sounds like a pretty good deal.

As for what to give the whiskey lover in your life for Christmas, we’d be delighted to wake up on the big day to the limited-edition Bushmills 2024 Causeway Collection release, which is a 2011 Oloroso Sherry Cask priced at €125 and available exclusively from celticwhiskeyshop.com on Dawson Street, Dublin 2.

FESTIVE TRADITIONS WITH HENNESSY

Nothing embodies that warm, timeless Christmas feeling quite like Hennessy. The iconic cognac has carved out its own special place in so many of our festive traditions – whether you’re raising a toast by the fire, or you’re enjoying it with friends in a cocktail.

Long-associated with art, culture and good times, it’s hard to think of another brand that complements holiday gatherings as well as Hennessy. All you have to do is decide which of its exceptional range of cognacs you’re going to plan your Christmas celebrations around…

Fascinatingly rich history and innovative Irish art collide on the this year’s new Hennessy Very Special (V.S) Founder’s Edition release (RSP €41) – a limited edition bottle designed by homegrown artists Maser and Conor Harrington, to mark the 300th birthday of Hennessy’s Cork-born founder, Richard Hennessy. A stunningly vibrant and colourful addition to any festive drinks cabinet, the bottle continues Hennessy V.S’s tradition of unique artist partnerships – while still, of course, containing the bold, fragrant liquid of one of the world’s most popular cognacs.

The Founder’s Edition bottle helps capture a real sense of occasion around the holidays – but there’s other options too for those on the search for a sophisticated Christmas cognac. Hennessy V.S.O.P (RSP €72.35) is a long-time favourite, and for good reason. A classic combination of strength and smoothness, it was first commissioned back in 1817 by the future King George IV of England, to enthral his party guests – so we’re sure yours will be suitably impressed too!

For a particularly special winter gathering, there’s also Hennessy X.O (RSP €205.50). This was one of the first cognacs to be classified as X.O – or ‘extra old’ – thanks to its extended ageing process. Darker than the rest of the collection, with scents of candied fruit and hints of cocoa, the Hennessy X.O was created by Maurice Hennessy back in 1870, for his family and friends – and people around the world continue to carry on that tradition today...

Cocktail Recipe: ESPRESSO MARTINI

Ingredients
• 45 ml Hennessy V.S
• 30 ml espresso
• 10 ml simple syrup
• Coffee beans for garnish

Method
1. Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice.
2. Shake until chilled.
3. Strain into a martini glass.
4. Garnish with coffee beans

Cocktail Recipe: OLD-FASHIONED

Ingredients
• 40 ml Hennessy V.S.O.P Privilege
• 5 ml Simple Syrup
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• Orange Twist

Method
1. Drop bitters into an Old-Fashioned glass filled with ice cubes.
2. Add a splash of water and the syrup.
3. Pour in the Hennessy V.S.O.P slowly.
4. Garnish with Orange Twist.

BUSHMILLS MAGIC

Naturally, it wouldn’t be Christmas without a tipple. Bushmills’ finely aged single malt whiskeys are the perfect choice for a holiday toast, from the classic Bushmills 10 Year Old, the triple casked Bushmills 16 Year Old, the iconic Bushmills 21 Year Old and the newly added Bushmills 14 Year Old, which is meticulously matured in bourbon barrels before being exclusively finished in Muscat of Alexandria white wine casks.

They also have a stunning selection of whiskey-laced gastronomic delights, including Burren Balsamics’ Irish Whiskey Barrel-Infused Balsamic Vinegar, the Erne Larder Irish Whiskey Marmalade, and the deeply rich Black Bush x Suki Loose Leaf Tea.

Cocktail Recipe: BUSHMILLS SOUR

Ingredients
• 50ml Bushmills Black Bush
• 25ml fresh Lemon Juice
• 15ml sugar syrup
• 4 dashes Angostura bitters
• 1 egg white
• Ice
• lemon twist to garnish

Method
Add Black Bush, lemon juice, simple syrup and egg white to a shaker and dry-shake for 30 seconds without ice. Add ice and shake again until well-chilled. Strain into your glass and garnish with lemon twist, to serve.