The Powerscourt Distillery

Situated amongst the beautiful Wicklow Mountains, in the ancient territory of Fercullen, The Powerscourt Distillery occupies an ethereal location, yet is just a stone’s throw from Dublin. The distillery operates from the Old Mill House on Powerscourt Estate, a historic piece of land whose history can be traced back to the 9th century.

Considering the natural beauty encompassed by the territory – from waterfalls, to mountainous plains – it’s no wonder that claim to the land was often challenged over time. Historic claimants of the territory include the native Clans of O’Toole and O’Byrne, as well as the Norman house of LePoer, for whom the estate is named.

Later on, in the early 17th century, Queen Elizabeth I gifted the Powerscourt Estate to army general Sir Richard Wingfield. This led to the construction of Enniskerry Village, a section of the estate meant to house those who worked the land in the area. Enniskerry Village lives on today as one of the most quaint and historic villages in Ireland and is the closest village to the modern-day Powerscourt Estate.

While the history of the Powerscourt Estate undoubtedly adds a tinge of romance and allure to the story of The Powerscourt Distillery, the real significance of the distillery’s location is that it provides an ideal setting for the distillation of fine whiskey. The location experiences a mild climate, peaceful scenery, and access to the purest Wicklow spring water which together offers the ideal environment for a distillery.

The Powerscourt Distillery operates out of the Old Mill House on Powerscourt Estate, which dates back to the early 18th century and was completely refurbished to accommodate three custom-designed copper pot stills, the heart of the distillery. The stills were crafted by Forsyths, a 5th-generation family owned business from Scotland who have been manufacturing distillery equipment since the 1890s. It is within these fine copper stills that Powerscourt Distillery’s new spirit is born.

Powerscourt Distillery has released sourced product under the brand name “Fercullen”- Fercullen being the name given to the ancient territory where the distillery is located. Fercullen Premium Blend Irish Whiskey, is a versatile blend of single malt and grain whiskey aged in seasoned oak which gives it a rounded smoothness and subtle oaky flavour.

The distillery’s second whiskey offering is Fercullen 10 Year Old Single Grain Irish Whiskey, which is aged exclusively in ex-bourbon oak for over a decade, being transferred to fresh bourbon barrels toward the ned of its maturation period which results in an aromatic, sweet and fruity flavour.

Finally, the most premium product of the Fercullen line is Fercullen 14-year–old Single Malt Irish Whiskey, which is matured for 14 years in bourbon barrels resulting in an exquisitely refined flavour of honey, vanilla, and sweet spice malt.

While The Powerscourt Distillery is still quite young, having been established in only 2016, it certainly does not lack the expertise and tools necessary for the production of quality whiskey. This is thanks, in addition to its prime location and the use of the highest-calibre stills, to the expertise of its Master Distiller, Noel Sweeney. Mr. Sweeney has over 30 years of experience in the whiskey business, and is a globally recognized expert credited for the release of many award-winning Irish whiskeys over the years. All aspects of spirit production and whiskey maturation fall under Mr. Sweeney’s careful supervision at Powerscourt Distillery, and thus despite the young age of the distillery there should be no doubt that Powerscourt employs only the best, age-old distillation techniques which result in the most high-quality Irish whiskey.

For those with a deep interest in the process of whiskey distillation or in the history of The Powerscourt Distillery, the distillery offers tours which can be booked on their website.
The distillery also offers an exclusive cask membership program – allowing private individuals to acquire their own cask of irish whiskey as it matures on Powerscourt Estate. Finally, for those more interested in an immediate exposure to the current product line, the Fercullen whiskeys can be found at a variety of retailers around Dublin.

For more information, see https://powerscourtdistillery.com