4 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Sligo based Hawk's Rock Distillery announces first release since recent re-brand
The Sazerac Company, one of the world's largest distilled spirits companies, is celebrating the release of its inaugural Irish whiskey from Hawk's Rock Distillery: Garavogue 20 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey.
Crafted by Master Blender Helen Mulholland, the first female Master Blender in Irish Whiskey history, this new-to-world whiskey brand embodies Sazerac's dedication to world class distillation, aging and blending.
Named after the Garavogue River that flows through Sligo town, Garavogue Whiskey is a bridge between past and present, honouring the rich traditions of Irish whiskey while embracing innovation and discovery.
Every small-batch release under the Garavogue name will be limited and experimental in nature, exploring different ages, maturation techniques and possibly even different types of Irish whiskey.
For its inaugural and limited release expression, Garavogue 20-Year-Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey offers a rare take on traditional Irish Whiskey with both unexpected and familiar flavours due to its unique maturation involving multiple types of casks.
Double-distilled and initially aged for a minimum of 14 years in ex-bourbon American oak casks, the whiskey was then transferred into a variety of unique finishing casks including French Muscat, French Sauternes, Spanish Pedro Ximénez Sherry and Barbadian Rum casks for further maturation.
The result is a 94-proof whiskey with aromas of vanilla, warm peach, and spun sugar from the Sauternes cask influence, while floral and raisin notes from the Muscat and Sherry casks emerge on the nose.
On the palate, vanilla and citrus sweetness complement buttery ripe apples, while fresh fruit flavours from the rum cask create a prominent sweet finish.
'The current trend is for whiskey to have a rich sherry finish, but Garavogue is purposefully different,' says Master Blender Helen Mulholland.
'We believe that complexity and subtlety can work hand in hand.
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'It is unusual for a whiskey to be blended with this number and variety of casks, but just as the river ebbs and flows, the flavours create a wonderful blend as they weave together in this 20-year-old single malt.'
Release #1 is housed in a distinctive reversed crescent shape bottle with a blue label reflecting the Garavogue River's influence including subtle wave patterns that mirror the motion of water.
The label also features imagery and coordinates for the Hazelwood House Windmill – an enduring landmark on the grounds of Hawk's Rock – in tribute to the historical figures who lived and worked along the Garavogue's banks.
'We hope that Garavogue Whiskey invites Irish Whiskey fans to linger, explore and uncover the hidden stories of Sligo,' remarks Jess Scheerhorn, Vice President at Sazerac. 'The Garavogue River shaped this beautiful landscape for millenniums, and Garavogue Irish Whiskey aims to shape new experiences, connections and traditions – one sip at a time.'
Garavogue Whiskey will be available at a suggested retail price of €199 (700ML) in limited quantities through Sazerac's distributor networks across the United States, Ireland, United Kingdom and Duty-Free.
A limited supply will also be available for purchase directly via Legacy de Forge, a new Sazerac branded global platform powered by Blockbar for purchasing some of the world's most coveted bottles.
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Garavogue Whiskey is the first release from Sazerac's recently rebranded Hawk's Rock Distillery, which is named after a prominent outcrop in the Ox Mountains known for inspiring Nobel Prize winning poet William Butler (W.B.) Yeats, who called Sligo his 'spiritual home.'
In April 2025, Hawk's Rock owner, Sazerac Company, announced the renaming of Hawk's Rock Distillery from Lough Gill Distillery, referring to the name change as a reflection of the company vision for the future – blending curiosity, innovation and respect for Sligo's heritage.
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