Tullamore Distillery

When Daniel E. Williams took the reins of a Tullamore distillery in 1873, he could hardly have imagined his initials would become one of Ireland's most recognized whiskey names. Today, Tullamore D.E.W. stands as the world's second-largest Irish whiskey brand, built on a foundation of triple everything: triple distillation, triple blending, and triple cask maturation.

History & Heritage

Michael Molloy founded the original distillery in 1829 in Tullamore, County Offaly. The operation passed to his nephew Bernard Daly, who appointed Williams as general manager around 1873. Williams eventually became owner and lent his initials to the brand in the late 1880s. After the original distillery closed in 1954, production moved to Midleton until William Grant & Sons acquired the brand in 2010 and built a new facility that opened in 2014, returning whiskey production to Tullamore after a 60-year absence.

The Whiskey

Tullamore produces a distinctive blend of three Irish whiskey styles: single malt, single grain, and pot still. The distillery employs three different copper stills modeled on the originals, featuring reflux bowls and tilted lyne arms for a smoother spirit. Notable expressions include the flagship Original, the 12 Year Old Special Reserve, and single malts aged 14 and 18 years. The 18 Year Old Single Malt earned the Worldwide Whiskey Trophy at the International Wine & Spirits Competition in 2018.

Why It Matters

Tullamore represents modern Irish whiskey's renaissance while honoring traditional methods. The distillery's revival of on-site cask manufacturing through its own cooperage, opened in 2020, demonstrates commitment to craft at commercial scale. With production capacity exceeding 1.5 million cases annually, Tullamore proves that size need not compromise quality, making it essential reading for those who appreciate good whiskey.