The good news just keeps on coming for the team at Clonakilty Distillery after winning the latest in a long list of allocades for 2021.
The Cork based distillery recently announced they won Best Irish Sloe Gin at the World Gin Awards in London.
Following a blind tasting by a panel of expert judges, Minke Sloe Gin beat out stiff competition and won the prestigious award.
Helen Scully, who co-created the distillery’s Minke Gin recipe, expressed her delight in being recognised at an internationally acclaimed standard.
She said; “This is a wonderful achievement for the entire team here at Clonakilty. We are extremely proud of everyone involved and it is a testament to our commitment of ensuring the highest standard when producing this gin”.
And the celebrations don’t end there – in what is a tremendous personal achievement, Ewan Paterson, Visitor Experience Manager at the distillery, received the “Highly Commended” award in the “Visitor Attraction Manager of the Year”, category.
“This has been an extremely challenging year for the drinks and tourism industry, and to be recognised in such a competitive global category is a real honour”, Ewan stated. Credit is due to the entire tours team here at the distillery without whom this would not be possible”.
Early this month Clonakilty Distillery also received not one but two Highly Commended Awards at the prestigious Icons of Whisky Awards 2021.
For the second year running, the distillery received the ‘Highly Commended’, in the Irish ‘Craft Producer of the Year’, category. Paul Corbett, Head Distiller at Clonakilty, also received the ‘Highly Commended’ award in the ‘Master Distiller/Master Blender’, category.
It’s safe to say that 2021 is shaping up to be a very good year for Clonakilty Distillery.
It’s been a great start to 2021 so far, as we are extremely proud to announce Clonakilty Distillery recieved not one but two Highly Commended Awards at the prestigious Icons of Whisky Awards 2021.
For the second year running, Clonakilty Distillery received the ‘Highly Commended’, in the Irish ‘Craft Producer of the Year’, category. This is a credit to everyone involved and we are justifiably proud as it recognizes the real team effort from every single individual over the past unprecedented and difficult 12 months.
Paul Corbett,our Head Distiller, also received the ‘Highly Commended’, award in the ‘Master Distiller/Master Blender’, category. This is a tremendous personal achievement and an independent recognition of the great work that Paul does for Clonakilty Distillery.
We would like to thank Icons of Whisky, and congratulate everyone involved in this years award ceremony.
Not only has our distillery shop re-opened, but our Visitor Experience for Distillery Tours & Minke Gin School is open for business too!
The tour dates are as follows;
– Saturday 12th Dec & Saturday 19th Dec. – Sunday 27th – Wed 30th Dec – Saturday 2nd – Sat 9th Jan.
To view tour times, visit our website. Pre-booking is advised.
Vouchers are also available for purchase through our online store:
All of our visitor centre staff have completed the Bord Failte Safety Charter Training:
‘The Safety Charter demonstrates to your customers and employees that you, as a tourism and hospitality business, are operating in line with current Government public health advice and with safety and cleaning protocols in place.‘
United by a shared passion for innovation Clonakilty Distillery and Revival Brewing, Rhode Island, have come together to release a bespoke whiskey.
Revival “You Thirsty?” IPA Cask Finish is the fourth and final release intended for the Irish market from Clonakilty’s collaboration series. Perfect for that unquenchable thirst!
Available from Friday November 27th
Once again we called on Paul Corbett, Head Distiller to tell us more about this showstopper of a finish.
Q. Tell us a bit about the Revival Brewing Company?
A. The Revival Brewing Company are based in Providence, Rhode Island and they have a real passion for innovation similar to ourselves here at Clonakilty.
Q. What beer was used in this particular collaboration?
A. Revival “You Thirsty?” IPA, a New England IPA, which is an Indian Pale Ale from the North East of the US. It’s usually an unfiltered beer so it has a real thick, juicy mouthfeel and a lot new world hops — basically it’s a real thick, fruity, hoppy beer.
Q. Would I be correct in saying they used lots of hops and different types of hops for the “You Thirsty?” IPA?
A. Yeah from what I’m aware they’re using three different types of hops and also three new variety’s of hops that are available in New England. This is why I’m hoping to get some new novel flavours into the the whiskey.
Q. Is this what led you to believe this beer would work well with Clonakilty whiskey?
A. Yes but also because of the New England unfiltered style, the fact it’s got quite a heavy mouthfeel and it’s quite juicy. That’s something I don’t think you usually get in a whiskey and I’m hoping that it will add something unique and fresh to the category.
Q. Why did you choose to bottle at 43.6% ABV?
A. Well because of all those new world hops, they have a real strong fruity flavour and I didn’t want them to overpower the whiskey. This is why I thought to bring the ABV down to just over 40%.
Q. What should people expect from this whiskey?
A. Straight away to me it smells like a New England IPA. There’s lots of mango, passion fruit, just a real variety of tropical fruits but under that you can still get the straw coming through from the grain.
It’s very floral in the mouth, that of course is from the hops. I get grapefruit, lime, a bit of nettle almost in there. At the same time there is still sweetness coming through from the malt like honey and cut straw. If you’re into craft beers this whiskey will work perfectly with them as a chaser.
Paul (r) & Ewan (l) discussing this collaboration
About the Whiskey On Sale: In store & available online Friday November 27th. Price: €85.00 Limited Release: 1,600 bottles in total, only 144 bottles kept for Ireland. Best Enjoyed: With a tall glass of IPA!
Tasting Notes Nose: New world hops, mango, passionfruit, grapefruit, cut straw Palette: Floral hops, nettle, grapefruit, honey and lime Finish: Soft oak with dried limes and tangerine.
Available from the Distillery Shop in Clonakilty & Online Store
SOCIAL MEDIA Tag Us Twitter:@clondistillery Facebook:@clonakiltydistillery Instagram:@clonakiltydistillery
It’s that time of year again when thoughts turn to friends and loved ones. How do we reward them for being so wonderful!
It’s made all the more difficult this year as we are so restricted in our movements. Unfortunately, there may be special people that we just won’t be able to visit over the festive season.
With that in mind, Clonakilty Distillery have put together a choice selection of gifts boxes to make your gifting decisions a little bit easier.
Double Oak and two Tuath glasses: Only 69.00 Euro
Choose from a selection of our award-winning Clonakilty whiskeys and Minke gin, perhaps paired with a beautifully crafted Tuath glass.
Or how about a hip flask with a bottle of Minke Sloe Gin for those cold winter days?
Every purchase you make will be supporting a local business.
All gift sets are shipped in environmentally-responsible brown kraft boxes.
On top of that, we are offering FREE SHIPPING to Ireland and the UK.
For loved-ones further afield, we offer reduced-rate shipping of €9.99 to the rest of the EU.
Michael & Cliodhna Scully, Clonakilty Distillery presenting a cheque for €1,155 to Dr Jason, West Cork Rapid Response
We recently auctioned off two bottles of our renowned Imperial Stout Trooper Cask Finish, raising €1,155 for local charity West Cork Rapid Response.
Held in partnership with our friends at Irish Whiskey Auctions. The auction took place in mid October and all proceeds were in aid of the local charity.
West Cork Rapid Response are entirely voluntary group. They work in partnership with and support the existing National Ambulance Services in West Cork. As a registered charity, whose entire team work on a voluntary basis, they welcome any and all assistance.
The whiskey, which is the result of us once again joining forces with the New England Brewing Company, won Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2020. As a result it became extremely sought after by whiskey fans.
We only produced 1400 bottles for sale in Connecticut, keeping a mere 60 in Ireland for sale at the distillery. After selling out quickly, these two bottles were a fan’s last chance to get hold of one.
At the presentation, Michael Scully, Founder of Clonakilty Distillery said: “we were delighted to have this opportunity to support Dr Jason. We hope the proceeds raised will help him to continue doing the fantastic work he does for the area”.
West Cork Rapid Response added: “we are extremely grateful for this generous donation from Clonakilty Distillery and thank everyone involved”.
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