It was followed up with a study of the 1798 rebellion in kilbeggan, which was published in 1998 to mark the bicentenary of the uprising. If you have an interest in irish whiskey and just maybe your mouth waters at the very sight of your favorite bottle your trip to ireland cant be complete without taking at least one present day irish whiskey distillery tour. Stan mccormack is a native of kilbeggan and an author of five books on the locality. Named after the distillery of the same name dating back to 1757, this is an elegant, sweet and malty blend. This is a solid release that is tasty neat, on the rocks or in your favorite whiskey cocktail. Find all the transport options for your trip from dublin to kilbeggan distillery right here. Beautiful smooth taste, 1 of my favorites i have to say. Old kilbeggan distillery 2020 all you need to know. A trip to this wellknown county westmeath attraction will enable you to discover the history of authentic artisan irish whiskey, as well as sample it for yourself. Twenty five years after its closure, the community of kilbeggan restored the distillery and opened it to the public as a whiskey distillery museum. The 10 best restaurants near old kilbeggan distillery.
Last weekend, on my exploration of the midlands of ireland, i made a stop at kilbeggan whiskey distillery in co. Last book from stan a colourful tribute to kilbeggan. If you are interested in irish distilling history and especially lockes, this book is. He wrote many other books including origin and history of irish names of places and a social history of ancient ireland. We would like to show you a description here but the site wont allow us. The oldest licensed whiskey distillery in the world. Dating back to 1757 a visit today lets you discover. The community breathed life into the kilbeggan distillery against the odds and the arrival of a new player in the irish whiskey industry would complete the resurrection of this iconic site. Old kilbeggan distillery updated may 2020 top tips. Lockes distillery is one of my all time favourite places especially now that kilbeggan has been bypassed. I liked the balance brought on by the sweetness from the malted barley and subtle rye spice.
Living as i do only half an hour away, i popped down to purchase a bottle. Kilbeggan westmeath county council wcc our services. Within the distillery complex, the owner constructed a house and gardens on an island in the river. This irish whiskey is carefully distilled at kilbeggan distillery, ireland. In 1887, the distillery was visited by alfred barnard, a british writer, as research for his book, the whiskey distilleries of the united kingdom. A small pot still distillery, the licence to distil dates to 1757, a copy of which can be seen in the distillery. In more recent times the arrival of cooley distillers and beam inc has seen the kilbeggan distillery experience become a major tourist attraction offering great insights into the world of distilling in ireland. Mcmanus passed the distillery down to his son, john, who managed the distillery until the turn of the century, when john was executed for his part in a. Another entrant into the oldest distillery in the world debate is the old kilbeggan distillery. Kilbeggan single grain irish whiskey is adored for its spicy, hazelnuts, cinnamon and fruit flavor notes. Excellent tour of old distillery great informative guide of the distillery and enjoyed finding out all about how whiskey was made and is still made on a smaller scale.
The kilbeggan distillery in county westmeath is the oldest distillery in the world, dating back to 1757. The distillery was founded in 1757 by matthew macmanus, who may have distilled elsewhere before founding kilbeggan. Kilbeggan distillery, standing on the banks of the river brosna, commenced whiskey production in 1757. Mcmanus died 171118 serving the western front and was buried in karori cemetery, wellington. Cooley distillery lies in a beautiful corner of southern ireland close to the northern boarder. The kilbeggan distillery is one of the historical sites of ireland and is one of the oldest distilleries in the world. Restaurants near old kilbeggan distillery, kilbeggan on tripadvisor. But please do not let that put you off as it is well worth a little detour off the m6 dublin to galway motorway, on to the quiet little. The whiskey producers archives includes a historical list of infractions committed by and associated penalties exacted. History ireland summer 1993 rate accounts were kept so that the books could. Kilbeggan distillery as depicted in barnards the whisky distilleries of the united kingdom 1887 written accounts of the.
Formally a government owned distillery, turning potatoes into industrial alcohol, it was designed by czech architects and resembles a beached battle ship. It was revived in 1879 when the first official meeting was held at ballard on 17th april in a field provided by the locke family, owners of the distillery which is still in. Cooley distillery bought the license to produce kilbeggan and lockes whiskey, and later took over the museum along with. He related back to mathias mcmanus founder of kilbeggan distillery and whose son john was the kilbeggan leader during the 1798 rebellion period in kilbeggan. Kilbeggan irish whiskey small batch rye was a surprising expression and a unique take on rye whiskey. Believe it or not, here we have another distillery with a long up and down history. The first ever recorded tornado in europe was recorded in. Situated on the banks of the river brosna in county westmeath, ireland, kilbeggan distillery dates back to 1757 and is the oldest licensed distillery in ireland. Rome2rio is a doortodoor travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world.
After a period of financial hardship it stopped production in 1954 and closed in 1957. The more modern parts of the distillery are working and are producing fine irish whiskey. A visit to the kilbeggan distillery in ireland alcademics. There are lots of things that make irish whiskey unique from its long history to the irish whiskey act passed in 1980. Kilbeggan is a blended irish whiskey made at cooley distillery in county louth. Kilbeggan distilling co miniature irish whiskey collection. Kilbeggan is in partnership with the cooley distillery, a much larger one without a visitors center. Stan appeals for old photos of kilbeggan for history project. The distillery, situated on the banks of the river brosna in kilbeggan, was founded in 1757. Similar to many irish distilleries, kilbeggan endured financial difficulties during the early 20th century, ceased operations in 1957. I recently picked up the revamped kilbeggan distilling co irish whiskey collection at my local kilbeggan distillery in westmeath flag bearer to the beamsuntory owned sister cooley distillery in louth where the bulk of the whiskey is made. They make not only kilbeggan irish whiskey, but also tyrconnell. In a fitting nod to the long history of distilling at kilbeggan, one of the two pot stills.
Stan on tour in kilebeggan in 2011 i hope this brief article illustrates that history that can be brought to life from names on a gravestone. See more ideas about distillery, irish whiskey and irish traditions. In the 18 th c two of the most famous figures in irish history were members of parliament for kilbeggan at the same time. For those that get to visit kilbeggan, its clear to see how history permeates everything the distillery is working on. Originally published in 1993 lockes distillery is being reissued to celebrate. However, the box says it was matured in the ancient granite warehouses in the old kilbeggan distillery. Yet the citizens of this charming town knew that a distillery with a pedigree like kilbeggan should not simply be consigned to the history books. Before the motorway m6 was built between dublin and galway this was on the main route and is now bypassed but it is well. The kilbeggan irish whiskey small batch rye is the first whiskey to be wholly distilled and matured at kilbeggan distillery since that completed renovation in 2010. Founded in 1757, its recognized as the emerald islands oldest licensed distillery. Rome2rio makes travelling from dublin to kilbeggan distillery easy. Kilbeggan is in partnership with the cooley distillery, a much larger one without a visitors center that was once independent but is now owned by jim beam. There is a working water wheel which powered the different pieces used in the brewing process. Actually, kilbeggans long up and down history is one of the longest histories in all of whiskey distillery historydom.
Released in 2011, kilbeggan 18yearold is a limited release, with just 4,000 bottles. Kilbeggan distillery, irelands oldest operating distillery, was founded by matthias mcmanus in 1757 on the banks of the river brosna, where there is an abundance of the three essential ingredients for making whiskey water, grains and turf. Although information about the early years of the distillery is scarce, documentation suggests that in its early years the distillery operated with a 232 gallon still, and an annual output of 1,500 gallons. Bought a few bottles of kilbeggan whiskey from the distillery. Its recent history, however, is filled with stops and starts. Nevertheless, almost thirty years after the distillery closed, kilbeggan was reopened as a museum, made possible by local enthusiasm and fundraising. Actually, kilbeggan s long up and down history is one of the longest histories in all of whiskey distillery history dom.
This whiskey marks another milestone in the long and often chequered history of this esteemed distillery. Kilbeggan whiskey kilbeggan distillery irish whiskey. It lets you discover real artisanal irish whiskey distilling at its finest. I really enjoy my whiskeys from glenmorangie to glenfiddich. Sincere thanks to kilbeggan and savona communications for the sample.
Like most of the great irish distilleries, the kilbeggan story is. Kilbeggan distillery is an irish whiskey distillery situated on the river brosna in kilbeggan. The smell of the fusion of ingredients is beautiful. Book your tickets online for old kilbeggan distillery, kilbeggan. By the time john locke took over from the mcmanus family in. The famous john locke took over in 1843, and until the economic depression, his family retained the control. American prohibition and general economic depression led to its. The locke family and the distilling industry in kilbeggan published in 18th19th century social perspectives, 18th19th century history, 20th century social perspectives, 20thcentury contemporary history, features, issue 2 summer 1993, volume 1.
Kilbeggan distillery westmeath, ireland atlas obscura. His first book, published in 1995, dealt with the 150year history of kilbeggan races. Kilbeggan whiskey is produced on the grounds now, but the facility has a long history. The present day irish whiskey distillery tour tenon tours. We paid a visit to the kilbeggan distillery in june this year. Between 1840 and 1855 racing was held in several locations around the town including the present site. Now owned by beam suntory, the small pot still distillery was originally constructed for its access to grain, peat and the waters of the river, which it still uses today as its water. Kilbeggan has a distillery while longford has an absence of signposts, especially to athlone, thus causing motorists to drive around in everdecreasing circles until they imitate the oozlum bird. History, and specifically the history of kilbeggan, is stans passion. In 1947 the transworld trust bought the distillery, but it had fraudulent influencers from. As a result of the downturn the kilbeggan distillery had to shut down again.
A while back i visited the kilbeggan distillery in the middle of ireland. Dublin to kilbeggan distillery 3 ways to travel via bus. Irelands kilbeggan distillery has no shortage of history. Joyce was born in the ballyhoura mountains on the limerickcork border and died in dublin in 1914. In this distillery you will experience the irish whisky making business first hand how it was done in the 19th century. Its history is also, as far as distillery histories. His facebook page, kilbeggan past has 1550 followers and gathered approximately 1700 photographs of kilbeggan and its people. A member of the locke family established the convent of mercy in the town in 1879. Take a glimpse behind the scenes of irelands oldest licensed whiskey distillery, where whiskey is still made today just as it was over 200 years ago. Cooley distillery bought the license to produce kilbeggan and lockes whiskey, and later took over the museum along with opening a new working distillery in kilbeggan. In 1798 matthias mcmanus took the control, he played a part in the united ir.
The kilbeggan gathering 20 was held on saturday 17th august 20, at the kilbeggan distillery, the oldest licenced distillery in ireland. Kilbeggans new single pot still irish whiskey is a nod to. Adistillery was first established in kilbeggan in 1757 when there was a proliferation of small distillers setting up in the midlands. Kilbeggan distillery experience attractions museums. William faulkner was a distiller in kilbeggan in 1756 and, arguably, this distillery relates to kilbeggan having the oldest pot still distillery in the world 1757. The recipe for this one is made up of 30% rye not sure if its irishgrown rye with the remaining 70% being malted and unmalted barley.
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