Tyrconnell whiskey has a rich history that dates back to the 19th century. It was originally produced by Watts Distillery, which owned the “The Tyrconnell” brand.

The Waterside (Watts) Distillery was founded by James Robinson in 1830. Until 1925, it was managed by the Watts family along with another distillery on Abbey Street. Despite its success, the Waterside Distillery always remained in the shadow of the Abbey Street distillery, possibly due to its location on a steep hill between two major roads.

At the beginning of the 20th century, Irish whiskey was experiencing a golden era. However, the Prohibition in the U.S., the Irish War of Independence, and increasing competition from Scotch whiskey led to the decline of the entire industry. In 1925, the Waterside Distillery shut down, and today, none of its original buildings remain.

The “The Tyrconnell” brand was revived thanks to Cooley Distillery, founded in 1987 by John Teeling. By the late 1980s, only one distillery remained in Ireland, which Teeling saw as an injustice. Determined to change that, he opened the first new Irish distillery in over a century, and one of its first products was the now-famous Tyrconnell whiskey.

Today, Cooley Distillery (owned by Beam Suntory) is one of Ireland’s finest distilleries. It produces a wide range of single malt whiskeys with different aging periods, using a non-chill filtration process. Tyrconnell whiskey is aged in sherry or American bourbon casks, giving it its distinctive and recognizable flavor.