Irish Whiskey Facts

Uisce beatha

Uisce beatha (Irish pronunciation: [ˈɪʃcə ˈbʲahə]), literally “water of life”, is the name for whiskey in Irish. It is derived from the Old Irish uisce (“water”) and bethu (“life”). The Scottish equivalent is rendered uisge beatha.

In modern usage, whisky is from Scotland and whiskey is from Ireland. The difference comes from the translation of words from the Scottish and Irish Gaelic forms. In the late 1800s, Scottish whisky was also very poor quality therefore the Irish producers wanted to differentiate their product.

Tullamore D.E.W. Irish Whiskey

Tullamore D.E.W. is the original triple blended Irish whiskey. It is a blend of all three styles of Irish whiskey, giving it a balance of flavor like no other in the category. Grain whiskey gives a sweetness, malt brings the fruitiness and pot-still gives the blend that iconic Irish whiskey spice.

At Tullamore D.E.W. we have a long history with many stories to tell because our distillery was first established in 1829. Our whiskey is the result of a family that showed incredible vision and commitment to develop their passion for whiskey.

Let me introduce you to our bottle, many of you will be familiar with it but you may not be familiar with the story behind it. Tullamore is a town in Ireland, a small town which today has a population of almost 13,000 people.

DEW or D. E. W. are the initials of one of the greatest distillers Ireland has ever had, his name was Daniel Edmund Williams. This guy has an incredibly interesting story. He began working at the distillery as a stable boy at the age of 15 and went on to become Distillery Manager by the age of 25.

“Success comes not to those who desire it most but to those who care deeply about what they do and feel compelled to create.” Daniel E. Williams

Daniel E. Williams was passionate about his craft and brought a lot of prosperity to County Offaly and the midlands.

We are fortunate to have this quote from him which we know he 
lived by given the legacy he has left behind. We honour him on every bottle of Tullamore D.E.W. today.

Why is there an ‘e’ in Irish whiskey? Equally, why is there not an ‘e’ in Scottish whisky spelling?

Well to begin, we would like to commend you on noticing the difference. Most people are concerned solely with what is inside the bottle rather than what is on the label. The answers to these questions are hidden in history so we must go back in time to find the clues which illuminate why whiskey has two spellings in the English language.

It all goes back to 1878 when a book titled the “Truths about whisky” references how the addition of the ‘e’ was to distinguish Irish whiskey from its Scottish cousins who had been caught out a few times for selling their whiskey as Irish. The reason for this was that Irish whiskey at the time carried a more premium title and price point in the consumer’s eyes and Irish whiskey was indeed in a golden era.

Over the centuries, the word(s) for Irish whiskey evolved from aqua vitae to Uisce beatha to Uisce baugh to whisky and finally whiskey.

McConnell’s Irish Whisky, Belfast, Ireland

McConnell’s is one of the oldest, most celebrated whiskies in Ireland.

A fine blend of Irish malt and grain whiskies, it is rested for five years in select bourbon casks, bringing out beautiful notes of vanilla sweetness. The result is an easy-drinking yet refined Irish whisky – the perfect foundation for truly exceptional cocktail

It all started in 1776, when the McConnell family of Belfast began selling their whisky to the public. It quickly became one of the most sought-after spirits in Ireland, and to keep up with demand, the McConnells built a distillery: a sprawling, buzzing compound on the banks of the River Lagan. The next 154 years would be spent dedicated to a single pursuit: producing the finest whisky in all of Ireland. Many whisky drinkers believed that they achieved their goal, making McConnell’s the most famous Irish whisky of the time.

But what about that “e “? Back in the 1900’s, adding the “e” was a way for Irelands distillers to differentiate themselves however McConnell’s, already an iconic brand with 125 years of production, decided to keep with tradition – no “e” in whisky, Slainte!

Tullamore D.E.W. “12 Year Old Special Reserve” Irish Whiskey

Tullamore D.E.W. 12 Year Old Special Reserve offers a spice flavour with a robust yet creamy body wrapped in a definite chocolaty note. Dried fruits and nut accompany chocolate giving this whiskey a veritable praline note.

A carefully crafted blend of old Irish whiskeys with a high proportion of pot still and malt whiskeys. This unique whiskey has been awarded plaudits in abundance from whiskey connoisseurs around the world.

Triple cask-matured for depth and balance. A very fine aged whiskey derived from 12 to 15 years matured in a combination of bourbon and sherry casks.

Tullamore D.E.W. “XO Caribbean Rum Cask Finish” Irish Whiskey

Tullamore D.E.W. XO Caribbean Rum Cask Finish is our triple blend Irish whiskey finished in the finest first fill XO rum casks. XO rum casks deliver sweet tropical flavours. Bringing delicious caramel and banana notes with hints of dates and raisins.

Tullamore D.E.W. XO Caribbean Rum Cask Finish pays tribute to the role of Irish Immigrants in the development of rum in the Caribbean in the 17th Century. Irish heart and Caribbean soul. We carefully select barrels previously used to age Demerara Rum to impart their distinctive tropical fruit flavours.

Tullamore D.E.W. “Cider Cask” Finish Irish Whiskey

Tullamore D.E.W. Cider Cask Finish is light-bodied with a sweet, fruity vibrancy. Fresh apple notes, soft and mellow with a lovely balance or oak, creamy malt and sweetness.

It is a marriage between the craft of small-batch cider-making and our legendary whiskey, creating a layered complexity of nose and taste that is richly rewarding. Only available in selected outlets in a limited number of markets.

This is a rare and noble Irish whiskey that is the essence of Ireland, with notes of toasted oak and cider sweetness.

McConnell’s “Aged 5 Years” Irish Whisky

It’s all in the Blend: Creamy, Citrus, Floral, Fruity & Smoky.

The perfect blend between malted barley & grain and the special handpicked bourbon barrels add a delicate and subtle sweetness with a deep oak woodiness & light char to the finish.

Nose: Light citrus notes, peppered spice and vanilla undertones.

Taste: Earthy fruits, butterscotch & vanilla sweetness from the bourbon casks, white pepper followed by an oak woodiness.

Finish: Sweet, spice, oak, with lingering ripe fruits.