(Credit: Sazerac)
The Sazerac Company is now releasing its inaugural Irish whiskey following its acquisition and rebranding of its Irish Whiskey outpost, Hawk’s Rock Distillery: Garavogue 20 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey. The ultra-aged Irish single malt was crafted by Master Blender Helen Mulholland, the first female Master Blender in Irish Whiskey history, having earned the title while working at Bushmills.
This first very small-batch release will be part of a series under the Garavogue name, with each successive release being limited and experimental in nature, exploring different ages, maturation techniques and possibly even different types of Irish whiskey.
For its inaugural and limited release expression, Garavogue 20-Year-Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey is double-distilled and initially aged for a minimum of 14 years in ex-bourbon American oak casks, the whiskey was then transferred into a variety of unique finishing casks including French Muscat, French Sauternes, Spanish Pedro Ximénez Sherry and Barbadian Rum casks for further maturation. The result is a 94 proof whiskey with aromas of vanilla, warm peach, and spun sugar from the Sauternes cask influence, while floral and raisin notes from the Muscat and Sherry casks emerge on the nose. On the palate, vanilla and citrus sweetness complement buttery ripe apples, while fresh fruit flavors from the rum cask create a prominent sweet finish.
Keeping in mind that the whiskey is a malt, the double distillation production and age of the whiskey in mind, the source of the whiskey is either Bushmills or Cooley. These are the only two potential sources for whiskeys matching that description distilled in 2005, if not earlier. Mulholland’s involvement suggests Bushmills. Before becoming Hawk’s Rock, the Sazerac property was called Lough Gill and that was founded in 2015.
“The current trend is for whiskey to have a rich sherry finish, but Garavogue is purposefully different,” says Master Blender Helen Mulholland. “We believe that complexity and subtlety can work hand in hand. It is unusual for a whiskey to be blended with this number and variety of casks, but just as the river ebbs and flows, the flavors create a wonderful blend as they weave together in this 20-year-old single malt.”
Garavogue Whiskey will begin rolling out in limited quantities as of June 2025 at a suggested retail price of $199 (700ML) through Sazerac’s distributor networks across the United States, Ireland, United Kingdom and Duty-Free. A limited supply will also be available for purchase directly via Legacy de Forge, a new Sazerac branded global platform powered by Blockbar for purchasing some of the world’s most coveted bottles. Please visit LegacydeForge.com for more information.
Garavogue Whiskey is the first release from Sazerac’s recently rebranded Hawk’s Rock Distillery, which is named after a prominent outcrop in the Ox Mountains known for inspiring Nobel Prize winning poet William Butler (W.B.) Yeats, who called Sligo his “spiritual home.” In April 2025, Hawk’s Rock owner, Sazerac Company, announced the renaming of Hawk’s Rock Distillery from Lough Gill Distillery, referring to the name change as a reflection of the company vision for the future – blending curiosity, innovation and respect for Sligo’s heritage.
