Clonakilty Distillery launches Galley Head whiskey

by Melita Kiely

Irish whiskey maker Clonakilty Distillery has added a new single malt to its portfolio, called Galley Head.

Bottled at 40% ABV, Galley Head is available to purchase from off-licenses and Supervalu and Centra stores across Ireland, as well as the Celtic Whiskey Shop. It retails for RRP €39.50 (US$46) per 700ml bottle and can also be bought from clonakiltydistillery.ie. Paul Corbett, head distiller at Clonakilty Distillery, said: “We decided on single malt to produce a full-flavoured, barley-forward whiskey. “We finished this single malt in two cask types, a re-shaved, re-toasted wine cask and a freshly disgorged Bordeaux red wine casks. “The rejuvenated wood imparts a caramel sweetness and complex spice to the whiskey, while the fresh wine casks add a fruitiness that complements the cereal character of the malt.” The whiskey was inspired by the Galley Head Lighthouse, which was build in 1875 and towers 53m above the Atlantic Ocean just outside of Clonakilty town. The distillery currently exports to the UK, Germany, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Japan and Russia, as well as 15 states in the US and two Canadian provinces. Cork-based Clonakilty Distillery joined the ever-expanding Irish whiskey sector in 2019.