Harvard University has a seriously impressive list of alumni, doesn’t it? John F. Kennedy, Helen Keller, Barack Obama, John Teeling… Oh yeah, you read that right, John Teeling – founder of Cooley Distillery and arguably the man behind the Irish whiskey renaissance. I told you it was an impressive list.

The reason why I mention Harvard, is because it was during his studies there in the early 1970’s that John Teeling first identified the decline of Irish whiskey and recognised an opportunity to resolve this situation. His solution to finding a viable way to rival Irish Distillers, who at this point were the sole producers of Irish whiskey in the world, was to buy the former State owned potato alcohol plant in the Cooley peninsula in 1987. In less than two years, it was converted into two distilleries, with a pot still and a patent still operation.

Cooley Distillery is most notable for being the producer of Connemara Peated, named after one of the most famous regions in Ireland. When it was released, it was a most rare and original find among Irish whiskeys: a single malt. This formed a huge part of its identity, along with the manner in which distilled, using the traditional Irish method of drying malted barley over peat fires to create a signature peated whiskey. This technique was resurrected by Managing Director of Cooley Distillery, David Hynes and the chairman, a certain John Teeling.

Now part of the Kilbeggan Distilling Company, Connemara still typifies the belief in the brilliance of traditional Irish brands and classic distillations that prompted its foundation, a fact that can be witnessed in editions such as Connemara Turf Mór and Connemara Distillers Edition, as well as sister company Tyrconnell too!