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Everything you need to know about Cooley Distillery
Most popular bottles from the distillery
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Cooley 17 Year Old Irish Whiskey Batch 1 TBWC 50cl£199.99 Inc VAT -
Lockes Single Malt Irish Whiskey 1990s£69.93 Inc VAT
A brief History
Cooley, Ireland. Founded in 1987
Cooley Distillery: The Irish Spirit Breaker
Here’s a story you might like: back in the late 1980s, when Irish whiskey was a shrinking world of a few big players, a man called John Teeling decided to shake things up. He bought an old industrial alcohol plant on the Cooley Peninsula in County Louth, Ireland and transformed it into Cooley Distillery. The result? One of the first independent Irish whiskey distilleries in decades, and a catalyst for the Irish whiskey revival.
Cooley started putting new‑make spirit into casks in 1989 and over the years it became known for doing things differently: double distillation (rather than the usual triple), both malt and grain production, even peated whiskey in an Irish context. For whisky lovers in the UK looking for something outside the usual Scotch story, Cooley offers a bold, modern Irish angle — heritage mixed with innovation.
Flavour Profile:
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 |
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| Oaky / Woody |
Fruity |
Malty / Cereal |
Cooley’s whiskey tends to combine crisp fruit notes with solid malt and cereal character, then finish with warm oak spice and vanilla sweetness. Whether it’s a single malt, a blended grain or a peated Irish expression, you’ll often find fresh orchard fruit, honeyed malt, and well‑integrated wood influence. It’s approachable enough for casual sipping yet layered enough for the enthusiast.
Top 4 Flavour Profile Ingredients
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Oak / Wood Spice |
 |
Apple / Pear |
 |
Vanilla |
 |
Honey |
Popular Bottlings & Releases
Some of the well‑known Whiskeys from Cooley include:
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A peated Irish single malt under the Connemara name — a rare treat for those who like peat but want an Irish twist.
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A single grain Irish whiskey produced under the Greenore label — corn‑ or grain‑based, smooth and easy.
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Blended and single malt offerings under the Tyrconnell name — revived and boosted by Cooley’s drive.
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A single malt malt Irish Whisky - Lockes, produced from Colley Distillery, bottled using the Lockes brand name.
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The Distillery
The Distiller: Cooley Distillery
Address: Dundalk Rd, Castletowncooley, Dundalk, Co. Louth, Ireland
 Open in maps |
 Unavailable |
 +353 42 937 6102 |
Visitor Centre & Tours
Yes — Cooley does offer a visitor facility, though the experience may differ from large Scotch distilleries. Tours often include exploration of the distilling process, insights into both malt and grain production, and tastings. If you’re curious and plan to visit, it’s worth checking opening times and availability ahead of time.
Ownership & History
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Founder: John Teeling
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Milestones:
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1987: Acquisition of the plant and start of conversion.
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1989: Spirit production begins.
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2011: The distillery is acquired by a major international spirits company — signalling its success and value in the global whiskey market.
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Role in Industry: Cooley helped break a monopoly in Irish whiskey production, introduced new styles (grain, peated malts), and inspired a wave of Irish distilling activity.
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Current State: Now functioning under the umbrella of a larger group, but still producing distinctive Irish whiskey with its unique heritage and flavour signatures.
Distillery Facts
Overview & History
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Cooley Distillery is located in County Louth, Ireland.
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Founded in 1987 by entrepreneur John Teeling, making it the first independent Irish distillery in decades.
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Played a major role in reviving the Irish whiskey industry at a time when only a few distilleries remained.
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Purchased by Beam Inc. (now Beam Suntory) in 2012.
Production
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Produces both single malt and single grain Irish whiskey.
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Distills in traditional copper pot stills (for malt) and column stills (for grain).
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Unusually for Ireland, they produce peated whiskey as well as unpeated spirit.
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Cooley also operates a second site at Kilbeggan, where pot still whiskey production also takes place.
Brands Produced
Cooley makes or made several well-known Irish whiskey brands, including:
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Connemara – peated single malt (a rare style in Ireland).
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Tyrconnell – unpeated single malt, often finished in wine casks.
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Kilbeggan – traditional Irish blended whiskey.
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Locke’s – small-batch blended whiskey.
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Greenore – single grain whiskey (now sometimes seen as “Kilbeggan Single Grain”).
Whisky Style
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Known for producing more robust and diverse flavours than older Irish distilleries.
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Unpeated malt: fruity, malty, clean, with vanilla and soft oak.
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Peated malt (Connemara): smoky, sweet, earthy, with honeyed notes.
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Single grain: light, sweet, vanilla-led with gentle spice.
Significance
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Cooley helped break the monopoly of major Irish whiskey producers in the late 20th century.
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Its success paved the way for the modern Irish whiskey boom and the rise of new independent distilleries.
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Known for innovation, including reintroducing peated Irish whisky, a style not widely produced for generations.
Cooley Whisky to Buy
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