THE Croithlí Summer Whiskey Gathering attracted more than 100 enthusiasts from across Ireland and beyond to The Crolly Distillery on Saturday last, marking the fourth anniversary of its award-winning visitor centre and the launch of two new whiskeys.
Visitors travelled to the Donegal Gaeltacht for an evening of guided tastings, live music and storytelling, including the exclusive first tasting of the Oloroso Single Cask and the launch of the Croithlí Single Malt Irish Whiskey (Triple Cask).
Oloroso Single Cask is Croithlí’s latest limited-edition premium release, a direct fire double distilled single malt Irish whiskey matured in European oak ex-Oloroso Sherry hogshead casks from the renowned Juan Pino Cooperage in Córdoba, Spain. Croithlí Single Malt Irish Whiskey (Triple Cask) is the newest addition to the distillery’s core range and is positioned as Croithlí’s flagship single malt for the wider market.
The anniversary gathering celebrated four years since the opening of The Crolly Distillery Visitor Centre, which has welcomed thousands of visitors from around the world and established itself as one of Donegal’s leading visitor attractions, earning recognition among the world’s top-rated tourism experiences on TripAdvisor.
Among those attending were whiskey connoisseurs, writers and influencers as well as a number of contestants for the forthcoming Mary From Dungloe International Arts Festival, including the Glasgow, London, Midlands, Gaeltacht and Wild Atlantic Way Marys.
Crolly Distillery Co-founder, Conor McMenamin, said: “To see the event sell out and welcome whiskey lovers from across Ireland and beyond to celebrate this milestone with us was incredibly special.
“The evening reflected everything Croithlí stands for — exceptional whiskey, genuine hospitality and sharing our passion for Donegal with visitors from near and far. As we say here in the Gaeltacht, céad míle fáilte — a hundred thousand welcomes — and that’s exactly the spirit we wanted everyone to experience.”
He added: “Launching both Oloroso Single Cask and our new Croithlí Single Malt Irish Whiskey on the visitor centre anniversary made the occasion extra special and even more memorable, and we’re excited for people to discover both of these excellent Donegal whiskeys in the months ahead.”
Throughout the evening, guests enjoyed guided tastings hosted by founders Kieran Davis and Conor McMenamin, and sampled both new releases while learning more about Croithlí’s traditional direct-fire distillation process using Charentais copper pot stills.
