Discover the Collection
Our handcrafted single malt whiskey is available in full bottles and exclusive taster sets, perfect for those looking to explore its depth before committing to a bottle. Each sip reveals a balance of rich malt, warm vanilla, and delicate spice, making it a whiskey to be savoured.
Flavour Profile: A Journey Through the Senses
Birr Whiskey is a meticulously crafted Irish whiskey that balances tradition and innovation, offering a rich and layered tasting experience. From the first sip to the lingering finish, it takes the drinker on a journey through deep, complex flavours, each element carefully developed through time-honoured distilling techniques and careful maturation.
Aroma: The First Impression
As you bring the glass to your nose, a warm and inviting bouquet greets you. The dominant notes are honeyed malt and orchard fruits—ripe apples, pears, and a whisper of apricot—interwoven with delicate floral hints of heather and chamomile. Beneath this lies a subtle vanilla sweetness, courtesy of carefully selected American oak barrels, while a touch of spice—clove, cinnamon, and a trace of nutmeg—adds depth. The presence of toasted oak and a hint of fresh-cut hay nod to the whiskey’s natural origins, evoking the rolling fields and crisp air of the Irish midlands.
Palate: A Symphony of Flavours
On the first sip, the whiskey unfolds with a silky texture, coating the tongue in layers of flavour. Sweetness leads the way, with rich caramel, golden syrup, and a gentle touch of butterscotch. This is quickly followed by a surge of fruitiness, as juicy red apples, dried apricots, and a hint of citrus zest provide balance.
As the whiskey develops on the palate, spicier undertones emerge, with cracked black pepper and cinnamon adding warmth without overpowering. There’s a pleasing nuttiness—almond and hazelnut—alongside a subtle earthiness, reminiscent of oak, leather, and the faintest wisp of pipe tobacco. A soft vanilla creaminess rounds it all out, giving the whiskey a beautifully integrated and refined character.
Finish: A Lasting Impression
The finish is long and complex, with a gentle warmth that lingers on the tongue. As the spice fades, it gives way to a lingering sweetness, where honey and vanilla are met by hints of dark chocolate and roasted coffee. A final flourish of oak tannins and a faint wisp of smoke provide structure, ensuring a satisfying and elegant conclusion to the tasting experience.
How It’s Made: The Art of Distillation
Birr Whiskey is the result of centuries-old distilling traditions, combining pure local ingredients, copper pot distillation, and expert cask maturation to create a whiskey of exceptional depth and character. Every stage of production—from grain selection to final bottling—is carefully managed to ensure uncompromising quality and complexity.
1. The Ingredients: The Foundation of Flavour
Birr Whiskey starts with the finest raw materials, each chosen to enhance the whiskey’s signature smoothness and complexity.
- Barley: 100% locally sourced Irish barley, both malted and un-malted, provides the rich, biscuity backbone of the whiskey. The inclusion of un-malted barley is key to the signature creaminess and spice of traditional Irish pot still whiskey.
- Water: Pure, soft water from deep wells in the Irish midlands ensures a clean and smooth fermentation process.
- Yeast: Carefully selected yeast strains are used to ferment the mash, unlocking the delicate fruity esters that give the whiskey its bright orchard fruit notes.
2. The Mash: Transforming Grain to Sugar
The barley is ground into a coarse flour known as grist, which is then mixed with hot water in a large vessel called a mash tun. Over the course of several hours, natural enzymes convert the starches in the barley into fermentable sugars, creating a sweet, rich liquid known as wort.
3. Fermentation: The Birth of Flavour
The wort is transferred to large wooden or stainless-steel fermentation vats called wash-backs, where yeast is added. Over the next 48–72 hours, the yeast ferments the sugars, producing alcohol while releasing flavourful compounds. This process yields a mildly alcoholic liquid called wash, which carries early notes of fruit, spice, and malt sweetness.
4. Distillation: The Heart of the Whiskey
Birr Whiskey is distilled three times in traditional copper pot stills, a hallmark of Irish whiskey that enhances smoothness and complexity.
- First Distillation (Wash Still): The fermented wash is heated in the first copper still, separating alcohol from the water and grain solids, resulting in a low-strength spirit known as low wines.
- Second Distillation (Feints Still): The low wines are distilled again, concentrating the alcohol and refining the flavours.
- Third Distillation (Spirit Still): The final distillation further purifies the spirit, removing harsh elements while preserving the most flavourful components. The master distiller carefully selects the heart cut, the purest and most flavourful portion of the distillate, which will go on to be matured in oak casks.
5. Maturation: Time and Oak Work Their Magic
The freshly distilled spirit is transferred to hand-selected oak casks, where it will slowly mature over several years. Birr Whiskey uses a combination of cask types to build its complex flavour profile:
- American Oak Bourbon Casks: Impart sweet vanilla, caramel, and honeyed notes, enhancing the whiskey’s smoothness.
- Sherry Casks (Oloroso & Pedro Ximénez): Add depth with dried fruit, nut, and spice characteristics.
- European Oak Casks: Introduce tannic structure, gentle spice, and hints of dark chocolate.
As the whiskey matures, it undergoes a slow interaction with the wood, extracting flavours and mellowing its character. The cool, damp Irish climate allows for gentle, steady aging, preserving the delicate balance between sweetness, spice, and oak influence.
6. Blending & Bottling: The Final Touch
Once the whiskey has reached peak maturity, it is expertly blended by the master distiller to ensure a perfect balance of flavours. The final product is proofed down to the ideal bottling strength with pure Irish water, preserving its richness and complexity. Each bottle is then carefully filled, labelled, and sealed—ready to be enjoyed by whiskey lovers around the world.
A Whiskey with Soul
Birr Whiskey is more than just a drink—it’s a story in a glass, shaped by centuries of tradition, nature, and craftsmanship. Every sip reflects the history of Irish distilling, the purity of local ingredients, and the meticulous care taken at every stage of production. Whether enjoyed neat, with a drop of water, or in a well-crafted cocktail, it offers a rich and rewarding tasting experience that lingers long after the glass is empty.
