Celtic Whiskey Highlights of 2020
As we are drawing towards the end of the first month of 2021, we decided to take a look back at some of the highlights of 2020, a year that brought with it many challenges, but also many rewards. We also take a brief sneak peek at what 2021 has in store for Celtic Whiskey in what we hope will be an even bigger and better year for the company, the industry at large and most importantly our customers!
Celtic Whiskey Cask Sales – Launched in April
At Celtic Whiskey, we have been buying casks of whiskey from different Irish distilleries dating back over a decade. Our initial adventures were buying casks from Cooley distillery and finishing them in wine casks supplied by a number of the wineries we import from. This is how our own brand of whiskey, Celtic Cask, was born in 2012.
In recent times, a number of distilleries and investment companies have been offering customers the opportunity to buy their own casks. And this year, we are finally able to start offering this service.
Beginning in April 2020, we have started offering buyers the opportunity to purchase an array of casks from different distilleries whenever possible. We have established a significant relationship with Great Northern to offer their New Make spirit (it can’t be called Irish Whiskey until it’s 3 years old) beginning its life in a first fill bourbon cask and also 2017 3-year-old whiskeys, also in first-fill bourbon casks.
The price of a new fill cask is relatively affordable and allows you to follow the journey of your individual cask. You also have the opportunity to mature your spirit/whiskey in your preferred cask type and get the finished product you desire. The cask can be purchased as a present for a newborn to mature until they are 18, 21, 25, 30, etc. It could be purchased between a group of friends, colleagues or to a society. Maybe as a wedding or birthday gift? Or maybe you are a whiskey aficionado and would like to create your own unique cask. Be sure to check out further details here.
New & Exclusive Charity Bottling from Teeling Whiskey!
2020 also saw the Teeling Virgin Oak Charity Bottling, a once of, limited edition bottling of only 300 bottles. The profits were fully donated to charities supporting our Front Line Heroes during the battle against Covid-19.
Down Syndrome Ireland Donation
In June, we were delighted to present Down Syndrome Ireland with a cheque for €13,414.50 with thanks to the sales from the exclusive Whiskey Live Dublin bottling Whiskey 21C, 2019 release. We would like to say a big thank you to all the distilleries who contributed to this one-of-a-kind All-Ireland blended whiskey and to everyone who gave their time and effort into creating a fantastic whiskey for such a worthy cause.
Marys Meals Charity Auction with Celtic Whiskey Auction.com with Bottle 1 of Redbreast Dream Cask
We would also like to say a massive thank you to all the suppliers and customers who helped us to raise money for the Kapatamoyo school in Zambia for 2021 with Mary's Meals. That’s 616 kids who will receive a meal every day, who might not have otherwise.
Our Celtic Whiskey July Auction saw us receive many special bottles donated from our suppliers for the charity element of the July Auction, including, Redbreast Dream Cask Ruby Port Bottle number 1! Inspired by the flavours of the Iberian Peninsula, Redbreast Dream Cask Ruby Port Edition is the first Redbreast expression to be fully finished in a single port cask, taking whiskey drinkers on a journey from the home of Irish whiskey to Portugal’s wine region. 100% of the proceeds raised from bids on these charity bottles went towards Mary's Meals Charity.
As you may know, the ticket sales from the annual Irish Whiskey Awards normally funds over half of the required amount and with the 2020 event cancelled, last year's support was in jeopardy. So thank you to everyone who supported us and helped us raise these much-needed funds to continue 2020's sponsorship!
Quarantine Cocktails
Amidst turbulent times, we at Celtic Whiskey hoped to make things a little easier for you. Having noticed interesting trends emerging around the sales of cocktail ingredients, and with your favourite bars in lockdown, we decided to bring the bar to your home instead!
We collaborated with Great Irish Beverages’ Oisin Davis and hosted a total of 8 different virtual cocktail making tours where we brought our customers all around the world, from Altos in Mexico to make Margaritas, Cuba with Havana Club to make Daiquiris, even Hollywood as we learned how to make Palomas, Mojitos, Russian Cocktails, Casablancas, and more.
Over Christmas, we organised a Christmas Special edition with a virtual cocktail making session and learned how to make Espresso Martini, Christmas Royale, Hot Buttered Rum, and Classic Margarita.
Teeling Exclusive
We were delighted to finally announce the arrival of our new and exclusive Teeling 29 Year Old Single Cask #6759. This very special limited edition whiskey is one of our finest collaborations yet and we'd like to say a big thank you to Teeling Whiskey for making it happen!
This crystal malt was distilled in September 1991 and turned 29 this year. Fully matured in refilled Oloroso sherry hogshead cask. Bottled in October 2020. Only 216 bottles were released.
Virtual Tastings
As the year meant we were locked inside for most of it, we looked at other ways to bring the bar to you instead. In collaboration with the team at Celtic Whiskey Bar in Killarney, we hosted many great virtual tastings with the likes of Midleton Very Rare, Springbank Single Malts, Longrow Single Malts, the Dalmore, and Glengoyne but to name a few and saw producers and fans from all around the world share a glass and learn about the fascinating stories those who produce our favourite drinks have to tell.
The Celt 1 & II
In 2020, we were delighted to launch not one, but two batches of ‘The Celt Irish Whiskey’ independently bottled through the Celtic Whiskey Shop on Dawson Street and online here.
In September, we released The Celt I “An Chéad Bhlas” or “First Taste”, this is a single malt finished in sherry casks from an unspecified Irish distillery & is a non-age statement release.
Later in November, we then released The Celt II - a single malt finished in red wine casks from an unspecified Irish distillery and is a non-age statement release.
Our aim with releases of The Celt series is to release what we consider to be excellent, tasty whiskeys at affordable prices. Unusually, for Celtic Whiskey, we are limiting the product information on the whiskey as we are not looking for comparisons with the distilleries that distilled them. We would like them to be opened, enjoyed and shared for their quality rather than having any collectible value.
Headed by Founder and Managing Director Ally Alpine, we have been sourcing and purchasing casks of whiskey from different Irish distilleries dating back over a decade. Our initial ventures came in the form of Cooley sourced casks, which we then finished in wine casks supplied by a number of the wineries which Celtic import from. This shaped our own award-winning brand back in 2012, the Celtic Cask.
As the Whiskey Live Dublin 2020 event was cancelled due to Covid-19, €5 from every bottle sold will be donated to Down Syndrome Dublin.
Newest Celt Casks
This year also saw us add to our Celt Cask family with the additions of 30 – 37! Our Celtic Cask family began back in 2012 and has continued to grow with each passing year. These include many sweet wine casks ranging from Vin Santo to port to various types of sherry. The Celtic Cask expressions are often single cask offerings and sell out quickly on release.
It might be fair to say that some of the new releases could be the best yet, including Celtic Cask's first single cask Panama Rum Celtic Cask Triocha Seacht (37)! The full range can be viewed here.
What’s coming in 2021
We have more virtual tastings planned with Glenmorangie Burns Night, Ardbeg, Bacardi, Hennessy and others over January and February. If you haven’t signed up yet, be sure to grab your pack before it’s gone!
Glenmorangie Burns Night 25th January
Ardbeg Tasting Night 27th January
Jameson Tasting Night 28th January
Bacardi Tasting Night 4th February
Hennessy Tasting Night 11th February
We also hope to reschedule events such as Whiskey Live 2021 and the Irish Whiskey Awards, if circumstances allow but we will have to keep our fingers crossed in the meantime!
Lastly, thank you for your support over what had been a difficult year for all. We hope 2021 will be a better year for all of us and that we will all be able to enjoy a nice whiskey with friends and family soon.
