Recently, two distinct groups had the privilege of visiting West Cork Distillers to witness firsthand the craftsmanship behind West Cork Irish Whiskey.
The first group was the West Cork Vintners Group. Comprising seasoned professionals, this group brought with them a wealth of knowledge and a keen appreciation for the art of whiskey-making. During the distillery tour they learned every process of making West Cork Whiskey from sourcing of the finest locally grown grains to the precise blending of aged spirits.
Following in the footsteps of the vintners, a second group, a delegation of bar managers from various Dublin bars descended upon West Cork Distillers. With a keen eye for quality, these industry insiders were eager to gain insights into the production of West Cork Irish Whiskey, a staple in many of their bars.
During their visit, these groups got to view the integration of state-of-the-art equipment seamlessly with traditional methods, a testament to West Cork Distillery’s commitment to both heritage and innovation. They learned about the importance of barrel selection and maturation, discovering how different wood types and aging conditions contribute to the whiskey’s character.
They were also able to learn the vast processes in place including charring technology which uses a phenomenal level five char. Used in specific releases such as West Cork Black Cask or the Glengarriff series including the peat charred cask, charring is a process whereby the cask is exposed to a controlled level of heat to prime, strengthen and waterproof the wood. This impacts the flavour of our spirit. Levels one to four, range from 15 seconds of heat exposure, all the way to 55 seconds. A high level of char offers less room for crossover between the wood’s tannins and the alcohol, and this helps to keep intact the original flavour profile created in earlier processes of production.
The visit was not only an opportunity to deepen their understanding of West Cork Irish Whiskey but also a chance to forge mutual stronger connections.
