Wild Atlantic Distillery announces inaugural whisky

Northern Ireland-based Wild Atlantic Distillery will launch its inaugural whiskey expression, The IslandMen 1921, this December.

It will be released on 21 December, marking the first time since 1921 that whiskey has been made in County Tyrone and Derry, with the brand hoping to ‘revive the proud history of Irish whiskey distillation in the two counties’. The Wild Atlantic Distillery in Aghyaran, County Tyrone, opened in 2019 and has been producing gin and vodka. Drawing from its inaugural cask 001, the distillery plans to produce around 380 bottles of its first whiskey. The whiskey was distilled at the distillery and laid down on 21 December 2021. Reaching the three-year mark this December on disgorging, the final number of bottles will be revealed. The IslandMen 1921 Release honours the year in which the last distillery in the region, Watt Distillery, closed. “We are proud to continue the long history of traditional distilling in this region,” said the co-founders of Wild Atlantic Distillery, Brian Ash and Jim Nash. “IslandMen Irish whiskey represents the pinnacle of craftsmanship and celebrates the resilience, passion, and spirit of the Irish people." Interested buyers are encouraged to register at the distillery’s website by entering a ballot before 14 December. Bottles will be available only through the lottery. The ABV and price of the limited edition whiskey have yet to be revealed. In addition, the distillery is offering 188 casks to private investors. Earlier this year we revealed the results of The Irish Whiskey Masters 2024, with the category reporting a strong performance in the EU and the UK.