🥃 Connemara

Connemara is an Irish single malt whisky with a peaty, smoky character. It is made at the Cooley distillery on the Cooley peninsula in County Louth. The brand was launched in 1996, the whisky is distilled twice, the base version is 40% ABV, and the owner is Suntory Global Spirits, formerly Beam Suntory.

History. Entrepreneur John Teeling founded the Cooley distillery: in 1985 he bought a state potato spirit plant, and in 1987 he opened a whiskey distillery on the site. For many years it was the only independent distillery in Ireland, and it challenged industry habits such as triple distillation and unpeated malt. In early 2012 Beam bought Cooley for about 95 million US dollars, according to Difford's Guide; Beam later became part of Japan's Suntory.

How it is made. According to Difford's Guide, the barley malt is dried over peat fires, so the smoke soaks into the grain. The whisky is distilled twice in copper pot stills, as in Scotland, rather than three times as is usual in Ireland. Difford's describes an aging period of at least 8 years, although the base version's label does not state an age.

Range. Besides the base Peated Single Malt, there have been age-stated versions and special releases. Strength and age differ between them, so check the label.

Why it matters to you. Peated Irish whisky is rare: most Irish brands are unpeated and triple distilled. Connemara is closer in style to Islay whisky, but under the Irish Whiskey geographical indication it is distilled and matured for at least 3 years on the island of Ireland, with strength from 40% ABV. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.