Sazerac unveils first Hawk’s Rock whiskey

Sazerac-owned and recently renamed Hawk's Rock Distillery has unveiled its inaugural Irish single malt, Garavogue.

Buffalo Trace owner Sazerac Company acquired the Lough Gill Distillery in County Sligo, Ireland, in June 2022. In April this year, the distillery was renamed Hawk's Rock, said to reflect the company’s vision for the future of Irish whiskey, ’emphasising the art and science of blending, innovation, and respect for Sligo’s heritage’. Formerly known for its line of Athrú Irish whiskeys, the newly named distillery has unveiled its inaugural Irish whiskey under Sazerac, called Garavogue. Created by former Bushmills master blender Helen Mulholland, the whiskey is said to 'embody Sazerac’s dedication to world-class distillation, ageing and blending'. Garavogue gets its name from the river that flows past the distillery into the Atlantic Ocean. Jess Scheerhorn, vice-president at Sazerac, said: “We hope that Garavogue Whiskey invites Irish whiskey fans to linger, explore and uncover the hidden stories of Sligo. The Garavogue River shaped this beautiful landscape for millenniums, and Garavogue Irish Whiskey aims to shape new experiences, connections and traditions – one sip at a time.” The new small batch whiskey range will be dedicated to limited and experimental releases, including varying ages, maturation techniques, and possibly different types of Irish whiskeys. Release number one The first whiskey released under the new name, Garavogue 20-year-old, is a double-distilled Irish single malt that has been matured in multiple casks. Initially aged for a minimum of 14 years in ex-Bourbon American oak casks, the whiskey was finished in French Muscat, French Sauternes, Spanish Pedro Ximénez Sherry, and Barbadian rum casks. Mulholland commented: “The current trend is for whiskey to have a rich Sherry finish, but Garavogue is purposefully different. We believe that complexity and subtlety can work hand in hand. "It is unusual for a whiskey to be blended with this number and variety of casks, but just as the river ebbs and flows, the flavours create a wonderful blend as they weave together in this 20-year-old single malt.” Offered at 47% ABV, the whiskey displays vanilla, peach, and spun sugar aromas with floral notes and hints of raisins. On the palate, the flavours of vanilla and citrus complement buttery ripe apples and fresh fruit notes. Garavogue Whiskey will roll out in limited quantities from June 2025 at a suggested retail price of US$199 for a 700ml bottle. Release number one will be available in the US, Ireland, the UK, and duty free through Sazerac’s distributor networks. A limited supply will also be available directly via Legacy de Forge, a new Sazerac-branded global platform powered by BlockBar. Sazerac also owns the Paddy Irish whiskey brand.