Friday Night Flights & Bites 9/12 & 9/19, Starting at 2pm

The Story of The Tyrconnell

In the late 19th century, Andrew Alexander Watt ran one of Ireland’s largest distilleries in Derry. Watt built his reputation on elegant single malt whiskey at a time when blends dominated the market, exporting bottles across Europe and America. His whiskeys were admired for their fruit-forward, approachable style, but one release would soon outshine all the rest.

In 1876, local horseman R. M. Delamere entered his chestnut colt in the National Produce Stakes at The Curragh Racecourse in County Kildare. The odds were set at 100 to 1, and few expected the horse to finish, let alone win. Yet against all predictions it thundered across the finish line first. Among the crowd was Watt himself, who chose to commemorate the upset with a special whiskey. The one-off bottling soon became his distillery’s most successful brand, eventually bearing the name of the unlikely champion: The Tyrconnell.

By the eve of Prohibition, The Tyrconnell was claimed to be the best-selling Irish whiskey in America. Like much of the Irish whiskey industry, however, Watt’s distillery was undone by global upheaval, Prohibition, and economic decline. By the 1920s its stills had fallen silent and the whiskey disappeared from shelves.

The brand was revived in the late 20th century by Dr. John Teeling, founder of Cooley Distillery, who brought it back as a proud double-distilled single malt, a rarity in Ireland. In 2012, Cooley and its portfolio were acquired by Beam (now Suntory Global Spirits) and today The Tyrconnell is maintained by the Kilbeggan Distilling Company, proud protectors of Ireland’s whiskey-making traditions. Each bottle still bears the commemorative label celebrating the racehorse’s improbable victory.

The Process

The Tyrconnell occupies a territory all its own. It is a double-distilled single malt, crafted from 100% malted barley in copper pot stills. Where most Irish whiskeys are triple-distilled and blended, Tyrconnell retains more of its malt character, resulting in a whiskey that is delicate yet creamy, with added weight and complexity. Every step, from barley selection to cask management, reveals itself in the flavor. Its hallmark is a backbone of citrus and honey balanced by a smooth, viscous texture, a style that continues to defy the odds.

Expressions in the Lineup

The Tyrconnell Original

Double distillation, rare for Irish whiskey, gives this expression more grain character compared to triple-distilled malts.

Style: Double-distilled single malt, matured in ex-bourbon barrels

Profile: Bright orchard fruit, honey, citrus, and vanilla with a malty backbone. Clean and lightly drying finish.

The Tyrconnell 10yr Sherry Cask Finish

The cask finish adds a dessert-like richness that Tyrconnell describes as reminiscent of tarte tatin.

Style: Double-distilled single malt, bourbon cask matured then finished 6–8 months in Oloroso sherry casks

Profile: Dried fruit, raisin, toffee, and custard on the palate with oak spice and a warming finish.

The Tyrconnell 10yr Madeira Cask Finish

Madeira casks are rare in Irish whiskey, and this was one of the first widely available Madeira-finished expressions on the market.

Style: Double-distilled single malt, bourbon cask matured then finished 6–8 months in Madeira wine casks

Profile: Caramel, candied citrus, red fruit, roasted nuts, and cocoa with a dry finish of caramel and allspice.

Flight with Bites: $14