Northern Ireland distillery unveils new five-year-old single grain whiskey

The Copeland Distillery in Co Down has released a five-year-old Single Grain Irish whiskey – the second permanent addition to its Merchants’ Quay blended Irish whiskey range.

Aged in single-use American Bourbon barrels, and finished in Muscatel and Pedro Ximenez wine casks, the whiskey has been carefully curated by the distillery team in the harbour town of Donaghadee.

Already home to award-winning spirits across various categories including gin and rum, whiskey has long been a priority for the Distillery, signalled by its six-figure, 2019 investment in its current facility - an abandoned cinema and former community centre. This investment kick-started the Distillery’s whiskey production, and now five years on, it has not only announced the release of a new five-year Single Grain whiskey but is soon to release the first malt and pot-still whiskeys distilled in Donaghadee, which are nearing maturation and will be launched at the end of 2024.

The Copeland Distillery has released a five-year-old Single Grain Irish whiskey – the second permanent addition to its Merchants’ Quay blended Irish whiskey range. Pictured is Mark Prentice, commercial director and Gareth Irvine, founder

Gareth Irvine, founder of The Copeland Distillery, said: “2024 marks a significant moment in our whiskey journey. We continue to establish pedigree and showcase our creativity and craftmanship in blended whiskey through our Merchants’ Quay range, and it’s particularly important we do so, as we prepare for the first release of our own pot-stills and single malts later this year.

"There are currently over 500 casks filled and maturing in our cask warehouse on the Ards Peninsula, which equates to over 150,000 bottles.

“We’re incredibly proud of our identity as Northern Ireland’s most innovative distillery, and how we have instilled our local heritage and history into our spirits range. Our Merchants’ Quay range, for instance, reflects Donaghadee’s historic position as one of Ireland’s busiest ports and represents the colourful history of maritime activity in the town that can be traced back to the 13th century.”

The Copeland Distillery has released a five-year-old Single Grain Irish whiskey – the second permanent addition to its Merchants’ Quay blended Irish whiskey range

With whiskey the third-highest growing spirits category in the US, and over 55 million litres of Irish whiskey sold across North America in 2022, it’s important that Irish distilleries develop their export potential by focusing on quality and brand identity.

Mark Prentice, commercial director at The Copeland Distillery, explained: “We’re incredibly grateful for the support the local market continues to give, but export is crucial to the long-term growth of the distillery. When it comes to whiskey, although Europe, the Middle East, Australia, and Africa remain important, the US is our primary market.

"It is a competitive environment, but we can speak confidently about our quality and our provenance which helps build connection with consumers. Over the last 12 months, we have proven our appeal, particularly amongst the Irish diaspora, and as the demand for Irish whiskey grows, we are well-positioned to meet demand through our expanded Merchants’ Quay range. It’s an exciting time as our whiskey offering is set to transform towards the end of the year with the release of the first cask of whiskey produced in Donaghadee.”

To celebrate the launch of the new Single Grain whiskey, up to 60 whiskey enthusiasts will have the opportunity to attend a 'Whiskey Flight Night’ at The Copeland Distillery tonight (Friday).

Visitors to the distillery can enjoy the range of Copeland whiskey, and their other spirits, every Friday night from 4-10pm where a range of cocktails and spirits serves are available.

The new Single Grain whiskey will be available in off-licences, bars and restaurants from June 1 and is priced at £39.99 (70cl).