We recently had the pleasure of welcoming distinct groups to visit West Cork Distillers including Maryborough Hotel, Barry’s Bar, O’Driscolls, and The South County Bar.
During their visit they learned every process of making West Cork Whiskey from sourcing of the finest locally grown grains to the precise blending of aged spirits and they got to witness firsthand the craftsmanship behind West Cork Irish Whiskey .
During their visit, these groups witnessed the seamless integration of state-of-the-art equipment with traditional methods. The groups gained insights into the crucial role of barrel selection and maturation, learning how various wood types and aging conditions influence the whiskey’s character.
They also explored the extensive processes involved, including advanced charring technology, which employs an impressive level five char. This technique is utilized in specific releases such as West Cork Black Cask, the Glengarriff series including the Peat Charred Cask . Charring involves exposing the cask to controlled heat to prime, strengthen, and waterproof the wood, thereby impacting the flavor of the spirit. Charring levels range from 15 to 55 seconds of heat exposure. A higher char level minimizes the interaction between the wood’s tannins and the alcohol, preserving the original flavor profile established in the earlier production stages.
The trade visit ended with a whiskey tasting where participants had the opportunity to sample a variety of West Cork’s finest whiskeys including Bourbon Cask, a firm favourite for Irish whiskey cocktails as well as Black Cask Irish Whiskey . The group also discovered the meticulous process behind our whiskey production including our custom-designed pot stills , including the ‘Rocket’ still.
