Kilbeggan releases first whiskey in 53 Years

For over 200 years the Kilbeggan Distillery in Co. Westmeath, Ireland, produced fine whiskey but in 1957 the stills ran dry and Cooley Distillery came to the rescue. Cooley Distillery has just released the first whiskey distilled at the old Kilbeggan Distillery in over 53 years.

The Kilbeggan Distillery Reserve Malt is produced from a pot still dating back to 1830, which because of its distinctive narrow neck design gives the whiskey a smooth and flavoursome character, and matured in 200 year old granite warehouses.

The launch of the first Kilbeggan bottling also marks the unveiling of the recently rebranded Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey.  Currently sold in over 35 international markets, the Kilbeggan brand is Cooley Distillery’s flagship blended whiskey.  

The rebrand project involved creating an over-arching identity for the Kilbeggan Irish whiskey brand and the Kilbeggan Distillery.  This highlights both the unique provenance as, allegedly, the oldest distillery in the world and the high quality of the whiskey.

The Kilbeggan 15 Year Old Irish whiskey was honoured recently as the Best Whiskey in the World at the 2009 International Wine & Spirits Competition in London.

Jack Teeling, MD of Cooley Distillery said, “We are delighted to be able to accompany the release of the first new whiskey from the Kilbeggan Distillery with the unveiling of the rebranded Kilbeggan Irish whiskey range.  The new packaging pays homage to the rich heritage and quality of the Kilbeggan brand while also maintaining a contemporary look and feel.  We look forward to seeing the trade’s and consumer’s reaction to the new look Kilbeggan Irish whiskey.”

The rebranded Kilbeggan is being rolled out in Germany and the US with all other markets following suit over the next few months. This will be followed by the release of a range of brand extensions including a Super Premium Kilbeggan 18 Year Old.

About Cooley Distillery
Kilbeggan Irish whiskey and the Kilbeggan Distillery are part of Cooley Distillery, the only independent Irish-owned whiskey distillery. Cooley was established in 1987, the first Irish whiskey distillery to be setup in over 100 years with a clear vision of revitalizing some of the historic brand names of Irish whiskey.

1 June 2010 - Felicity Murray