Coleraine Irish Whiskey  £23.60

COLERAINE IRISH WHISKEY

Previously one of the most respected of Ireland's distilleries, Coleraine fell victim to the decline and rationalisation of the Irish whiskey industry in the 20th century.

Distilling had been going on in the Coleraine area since the early seventeenth century, although the distillery itself did not become operational until over two hundred years later. Its reputation was high in the later nineteenth century, to the extent that Coleraine supplied whiskey to the House of Commons, subsequently selling their product under the name of Old Irish HC.

But like so many Irish distilleries, Coleraine suffered badly in the twentieth century, eventually being bought by the owners of Bushmills. Production continued very intermittently, latterly in grain whiskey, until closure came in 1978.

This Whiskey was produced by the Bushmills Distillery until 2005 when the brand was sold and is now continued under the Coleraine name by Irish Disillers in Cork.

■ Ireland
■ 40% ABV
■ Try in a
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