Crolly Distillery: Donegal's 1st Licensed Pot Still Whiskey

Fully Matured in French Cognac Casks and Direct-Fired Double Distilled in Charentais Stills

Irish distillery The Crolly Distillery has announced the release of County Donegal's first licensed single pot still Irish whiskey, Croithlí Cognac Single Cask — Single Pot Still. Bottled at 53.9% ABV, this inaugural release is strictly limited to 1,000 bottles and is scheduled to launch officially on November 1st.

French Craftsmanship Meets Traditional Grain Mashbill

Departing from the distillery's current single malt range crafted exclusively from malted barley, this single pot still expression utilizes a mashbill combining malted and unmalted barley. The spirit was fully matured in 300-litre non-charred French oak ex-Cognac casks crafted by Alter Oak Cooperage in Le Bouscat, Bordeaux. In addition, the distillation utilized vintage Cognac Charentais copper pot stills sourced from France with direct-fire heating, infusing French artisanal traditions directly into Donegal whiskey making.

Official Tasting Notes and Local Distilling Heritage

According to official tasting notes, Croithlí Cognac Single Cask — Single Pot Still offers aromas of orange peel and roasted hazelnuts, complemented by rich Cognac notes and subtle dried citrus fruits. On the palate, it delivers poached pear, dark honey, spiced fruit cake, and warm oak flavours.

Conor McMenamin, co-founder of The Crolly Distillery, stated that as the first licensed single pot still whiskey in Donegal's history, this inaugural batch represents a milestone that extends beyond the distillery itself, with every stage of production carried out locally in Crolly. Master Distiller Julio Diana added that prolonged copper contact refined the spirit's character, while full maturation in Cognac-seasoned French oak casks contributed depth and complexity, weaving French heritage into whiskey crafted entirely in Donegal, Ireland.

📅 Release Date: 2026-10-23

🔗 Source: The Whisky Wire