Latest news with #Hawk'sRockDistillery
Belfast Telegraph
30-04-2025
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
US drinks giant launches revamped Irish distillery – with Co Antrim woman as master blender
Sazerac, which owns Fireball whisky and several award-winning distilleries around the globe, has transformed the former Loch Gill distillery into Hawk's Rock Distillery. The US giant is behind the Buffalo Trace distillery in Kentucky and Domaine Sazerac de Segonzac in Cognac, France, as well as Paul John Distillery in Goa, India. President and CEO Jake Wenz spoke of his pride at the new vision taking shape in Sligo. He said: 'The renaming of Hawk's Rock Distillery marks a new, yet familiar, frontier for us. 'Sazerac is known for its balanced approach to honouring tradition while embracing change in constant pursuit of crafting the world's best spirits at our distilleries in America, India, Canada and France. 'Our mission holds true for Ireland, and we are excited to reveal how we are blending time-honoured traditions with bold innovation to advance the art of Irish whiskey-making.' Hawk's Rock will continue to produce and age Irish whiskey under the watchful eye of master blender Helen Mulholland, formerly of Bushmills, on the 100-acre site in Sligo which includes the historic landmark of Hazelwood House. The company says the name change reflects Sazerac Company's 'vision for the future of Irish whiskey' including 'the art and science of blending, innovation and respect for Sligo's rich heritage'. The distillery is named after a prominent outcrop in the Ox Mountains which inspired Nobel Prize-winning poet William Butler Yeats' play, At the Hawk's Well. Sazerac says Hawk's Rock Distillery aims to become a 'global hub for Irish whiskey, while offering a gateway to explore the rich traditions of Sligo and the surrounding region.' Helen Mulholland, who was the first female master blender in Irish whiskey history, is leading the team. She also serves as chair of the Irish Whiskey Association and is a Whiskey Hall of Fame inductee. Helen and her team are behind the creation and blending of Hawk's Rock's innovative new-to-world Irish whiskey brands, the first of which will debut in June. Mr Wenz added: 'This rebrand is just the beginning for Hawk's Rock Distillery. 'Throughout the changes, our vision remains the same – creating a track record for the aging and blending of award-winning whiskeys – and this name change brings us one step closer to bringing that vision to life.' Sazerac Company acquired Lough Gill Distillery in 2022, and said it was drawn to 'by its historical significance and the cultural richness of Ireland'. Since acquisition the team has upgraded and tripled its warehouse capacity, expanded production and has significantly modernised the distillery. While currently closed to the public during renovations, Sazerac has received planning permission to develop a future visitor experience on-site in Sligo, part of which will include Hazelwood House. The company has hired a Grade 1 conservation architect from Howley Hayes Cooney Studio in Dublin to oversee its restoration. The phased delivery of this plan is currently in the works with Sazerac saying they 'look forward to welcoming visitors in the future'.
Irish Independent
24-04-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Name change marks a new dawn for Sligo distillery, while plans to develop visitor experience progress
Leading global spirits company Sazerac, which owns and operates award-winning distilleries and homeplaces worldwide including Buffalo Trace Distillery in Kentucky; Domaine Sazerac de Segonzac in Cognac, France; and Paul John Distillery in Goa, India, announced the renaming to Hawk's Rock earlier this week. Hawk's Rock will continue to produce and age Irish Whiskey under the watchful eye of Master Blender Helen Mulholland on the over 100-acre site located at Hazelwood, which includes the nationally listed historic landmark Hazelwood House. The distillery is currently closed to the public during renovations, but it has been confirmed that Sazerac has received planning permission to develop 'a future visitor experience' at the site. The name change reflects Sazerac Company's vision for the future of Irish Whiskey – the art and science of blending, innovation and respect for Sligo's rich heritage. Named after a prominent outcrop in the Ox Mountains that inspired Nobel Prize winning poet WB Yeats' play 'At the Hawk's Well', Hawk's Rock Distillery aims to become a global hub for Irish Whiskey, while offering a gateway to explore the rich traditions of Sligo and the surrounding region. 'The renaming of Hawk's Rock Distillery marks a new, yet familiar, frontier for us,' says Sazerac President and CEO Jake Wenz. 'Sazerac is known for its balanced approach to honouring tradition while embracing change in constant pursuit of crafting the world's best spirits at our distilleries in America, India, Canada and France. "Our mission holds true for Ireland, and we are excited to reveal how we are blending time-honoured traditions with bold innovation to advance the art of Irish whiskey-making.' Leading the Hawk's Rock distillation team as Master Blender is Helen Mulholland, the first female Master Blender in Irish Whiskey history, Chair of the Irish Whiskey Association and a Whiskey Hall of Fame inductee. She and her carefully-selected team have been entrusted with leading the creation and blending of Hawk's Rock's innovative new-to-world Irish whiskey brands, the first of which will debut in June 2025. Sazerac Company acquired Lough Gill Distillery in 2022, drawn by its historical significance and the cultural richness of Ireland. Since then, the team has upgraded and tripled its warehouse capacity, expanded production and is modernising the distillery, ensuring continued growth while maintaining its commitment to quality. 'This rebrand is just the beginning for Hawk's Rock Distillery,' says Wenz. 'Throughout the changes at Hawk's Rock, our vision remains the same – creating a track record for the aging and blending of award-winning whiskeys – and this name change brings us one step closer to bringing that vision to life.' While Hawk's Rock Distillery is closed to the public during renovations, Sazerac has received planning permission to develop a future visitor experience in Sligo. To ensure an honest restoration of Hazelwood House, Sazerac has hired a Grade 1 Conservation Architect from Howley Hayes Cooney Studio to lead its restoration. The phased delivery of this plan is being established, and Sazerac looks forward to welcoming visitors in the future. For more information, please visit
Forbes
23-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Sazerac's Irish Distillery Finally Has A Name: Hawk's Rock
Hawk's Rock Distillery Back in 2022, Sazarac, the company behind iconic brands including Buffalo Trace and Last Drop Distillers made headlines when it purchased Lough Gill, an Irish Whiskey distillery near Sligo. We haven't heard much about the acquisition in recent years; however, today the brand is revealing the distillery's new name and teasing what it has in store for its future. Going forward, the distillery will be known as Hawk's Rock Distillery, a nod to the nearby Ox Mountains and the dramatic outcrop that inspired W.B. Yeats' 1917 play At the Hawk's Well. The rebrand comes alongside ongoing renovations and a larger strategy to position the distillery—and the region—as a global player in Irish whiskey. 'The renaming of Hawk's Rock Distillery marks a new, yet familiar, frontier for us,' says Sazerac President and CEO Jake Wenz. 'Sazerac is known for its balanced approach to honoring tradition while embracing change in constant pursuit of crafting the world's best spirits at our distilleries in America, India, Canada and France. Our mission holds true for Ireland, and we are excited to reveal how we are blending time-honored traditions with bold innovation to advance the art of Irish whiskey-making.' Hawk's Rock Distillery Sazerac's decision to name the distillery after a local geological feature reflects a broader effort to tie its whiskey to the landscape and cultural heritage of Sligo. The 100-acre site includes the 18th-century Hazelwood House, a listed historic landmark, and sits near the wooded shores of Lough Gill, a lake immortalized in Yeats' poetry. But the vision isn't entirely pastoral. Since acquiring the site, Sazerac has tripled warehouse capacity and expanded production, signaling a clear intent to scale. The distillery is currently closed to the public, but plans are underway for a visitor center in the years ahead. Helen Mulholland At the helm of Hawk's Rock Distillery is Helen Mulholland, a figure whose name is already etched into the modern history of Irish whiskey. Now Master Blender at Sazerac Ireland, Mulholland's appointment represents more than just an experienced hire—it signals a serious commitment to quality, continuity, and innovation. Mulholland began her career at Bushmills, where she spent nearly three decades and became the first woman to hold the title of Master Blender in Irish whiskey. During her tenure, she helped define the brand's luxury single malts and premium blends, known for their layered complexity and cask-driven character. Her work helped elevate Irish whiskey's profile globally at a time when the category was still rebuilding. In 2020, she became the first woman to receive the Drinks Ireland-Irish Whiskey Association Chairman's Award for her contributions to the category. She was also the first woman inducted into the Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame. Her expertise now guides Sazerac's Irish whiskey portfolio—including legacy brands like Paddy and Michael Collins—as well as the new whiskeys being developed at Hawk's Rock. Her role isn't limited to production; it's also strategic. She oversees innovation, leads blending and maturation decisions, and shapes the sensory identity of what Hawk's Rock will become. Mulholland also currently serves as Chair of the Irish Whiskey Association, another first for a woman in the industry. Having previously served as vice-chair, she stepped into the role in 2024 with a focus on protecting the integrity of the category and championing its international growth. Her leadership arrives at a moment of both opportunity and pressure for Irish whiskey. With global demand rising and new producers entering the space, the category is evolving quickly. Mulholland's deep technical background—and her track record for pairing tradition with innovation—make her uniquely suited to guide Hawk's Rock through its formative years. In addition to her production responsibilities, she is also a member of The Last Drop Distillers Assembly, an international forum of expert blenders, distillers, and flavor architects. It's a fitting parallel to her work in Sligo, where she's helping shape the identity of an emerging brand while contributing to the broader conversation around what Irish whiskey can be. Hawk's Rock Renaming a distillery is rarely just a cosmetic move. In this case, it's part of a larger shift in focus: from small-scale production to international relevance, from a local name to one with literary and cultural resonance. 'This rebrand is just the beginning for Hawk's Rock Distillery,' says Wenz. 'Throughout the changes at Hawk's Rock, our vision remains the same – creating a track record for the aging and blending of award-winning whiskeys – and this name change brings us one step closer to bringing that vision to life.' The first expressions from Hawk's Rock are set to debut in June 2025.
