Killowen Distillery was founded in 2017 by a trio of friends. Situated in the Mourne Mountains in County Down, Northern Ireland, the small operation quickly made a name for itself by releasing innovative cask-finished whiskeys, complete with transparent packaging that provides details on sourcing, blend ratio, and barrel finishes.
Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, Killowen has four new products: two single malt Irish whiskeys, one single pot still Irish whiskey, and one poítin.
Two of these releases — Coconut Rum & Raisin Inspired 5-Year-Old Single Malt and Barántúil White Cognac Cask Single Pot Still — are exclusive to the U.S. market.
“We looked into the very best of our cask room to bring something special to America,” said Brendan Carty, director of Killowen Distillery. “My favorite cask of Barantúil was the White Cognac cask; it was a no-brainer and the U.S. deserves it. As for the Rum & Raisin Single Malt, nothing beats the coconut rum cask. These single cask flavors will never happen again, and what few bottles remain are hanging around different parts of the U.S.”
All four spirits can be purchased online. Each is very limited in quantity, so if you want to score a bottle for yourself, don’t delay.
Killowen Signature Rum & Raisin 5-Year-Old Single Malt
This 5-year-old whiskey was sourced by Killowen, who selected a handful of casks from a distillery in the neighboring County Louth. The whiskey has inherent notes of apples and pears, plus rich molasses and tropical fruits courtesy of dark rum casks. Pedro Ximénez sherry casks provide further notes of raisins and dried fruits. The playful name is a nod to the cask choices and the beginning of a signature release that will be replicated in varying forms. | 55% ABV, $77/375ml
Killowen Coconut Rum & Raisin Inspired 5-Year-Old Single Malt
This special release of Killowen’s Rum & Raisin 5-Year-Old Single Malt starts with whiskey that originated in Cooley Distillery. Then it gets a Caribbean twist with the addition of a West Indies coconut rum cask in place of Killowen’s own rum barrels. Just like the original version, PX sherry butts are utilized to impart raisin-like complexity and complement the single malt. | 55% ABV, $80/375ml
Killowen Barántúil White Cognac Cask Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey
Featuring Killowen’s own very rare distillate, this whiskey was aged in an American oak cask that once held Hennessy Pure White Cognac, a collector’s item expression that’s mostly found in travel retail shops. The cask was not re-charred, but instead was delivered fresh and wet, ready to influence this single pot still whiskey. | 61% ABV, $115/375ml
Killowen Pangur Irish Poitín
Poitín, which translates to “little pot,” is a traditional Irish distillate and a precursor to the aged whiskeys dotting Ireland today. Killowen Pangur is a 50-50 marriage of two Irish poitíns from two iconic distilleries, combined to form a product with superior body and flavor. Though poitín was traditionally unaged, Pangur is available in three varieties: one rested in bourbon casks, one in stout casks, and one in PX sherry casks. | 47% ABV, $40/700ml
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