🥃 Paddy
Irish blended whiskey from Midleton (Cork); the name dates from 1913, after the trader Patrick O'Flaherty; owned by Sazerac since 2016.
Paddy is a brand of Irish blended whiskey from Cork, made at the distillery in Midleton. The name honours Patrick Paddy O'Flaherty, a trader with the Cork Distilleries Company. For a long time the brand belonged to Irish Distillers, but in 2016 the American company Sazerac bought it. At the time of the sale, Paddy was the fourth-largest Irish whiskey brand.
History. The Cork Distilleries Company was formed around 1867 from four Cork distilleries, and Midleton joined in 1868. O'Flaherty, born in 1850, worked as a trader from 1882, and he treated pub customers so often that owners ordered Paddy Flaherty's whiskey. In 1913 the company bought the rights to the name and renamed the whiskey. In 1966 it merged with Jameson and Powers into Irish Distillers.
How it is made. Since July 1975 Paddy has been made at the new distillery in Midleton. Today's Paddy is a blend, like Jameson and Powers, while the former Old Irish was a pure pot still whiskey aged ten years. After the sale to Sazerac, production remained in Midleton.
Owners. Irish Distillers has belonged to Pernod Ricard since 1988. On 17 May 2016 Pernod Ricard announced the sale of Paddy to Sazerac; the sum was not disclosed.
Why this matters to you. Paddy is Irish whiskey under a geographical indication: distilled and aged on the island of Ireland for at least 3 years, at least 40% ABV. Today it is a blend, so do not compare it with the former pot still. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Year founded | the name Paddy — 1913 (Cork Distilleries Company, c. 1867); Midleton from 1975 |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | GI Irish Whiskey (Technical File; Reg. (EU) 2019/787) |
| EU category | 2 — whisky/whiskey |
| Raw material | barley and malt; grain for grain whiskey |
| Minimum maturation | at least 3 years in wooden casks under GI rules |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | at least 40% ABV under GI rules |
How it connects to Spirits
Links
- Previous step
- 🥃 Sazerac Company
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel
- Made from
- 🥃 Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey, 🥃 Irish Grain Whiskey, 🥃 Barley and malt in whisky
- What it contains
- 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🥃 Whisky, 🥃 Irish Whiskey, 🥃 Blended Irish Whiskey
- Related to
- 🌍 Western Europe
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Jameson, 🥃 Tullamore Dew
Frequently asked questions
Is Paddy still owned by Irish Distillers?
No. In 2016 Pernod Ricard and Irish Distillers sold the brand to the American company Sazerac, but the whiskey is still made in Midleton.
Why is the whiskey called Paddy?
After Patrick Paddy O'Flaherty, a trader with the Cork Distilleries Company; the name appeared on the label in 1913.
Where is Paddy made?
At the distillery in Midleton, Cork, where it has been made since 1975.
Is Paddy a blend or a pot still?
Today's Paddy is a blended Irish whiskey; the older Old Irish was a pure pot still with a 10-year age.
What is the minimum age of Paddy?
As for any Irish whiskey, at least 3 years in wooden casks.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🍷 Oak barrel — A wooden barrel of oak staves in which wine matures and breathes.
- 🌍 Western Europe — France, the Netherlands, Britain, Ireland, Belgium and Luxembourg: a mild, moist climate, pastures and hundreds of cheeses such as Roquefort, Camembert, Gouda and Cheddar.
- 🥃 Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey — Irish whiskey from malted and unmalted barley (at least 30% of each), distilled in pot stills; 3+ years in casks, 40% vol. or more.
Similar
🥃 Midleton Very Rare · 🥃 Cooley · 🥃 Powers · 🥃 Bushmills · 🥃 Tullamore Dew · 🥃 Connemara
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Scotchwhisky.com, Whisky heroes: Paddy O'Flaherty, Paddy Irish Whiskey (Cork Distilleries Company c. 1867; salesman from 1882; renamed 1913; Irish Distillers 1966; Midleton since 1975; Sazerac 2016)
- Pernod Ricard: Pernod Ricard and Irish Distillers sell Paddy Irish whiskey to Sazerac (17.05.2016; 4th largest Irish whiskey brand)
- Revenue (Ireland): Geographical Indication for Irish Whiskey and Irish Poteen/Poitin (GI verification, Tax and Duty Manual)
- Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on spirit drinks (OJ L 130, 17.5.2019), Annex I, category 2 (whisky/whiskey: exclusively from cereals, min. 3 years in wood, min. 40 % ABV)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)