Killowen

Killowen is a small, Irish small-batch distillery, founded by distiller Brendan Carty, located in the heart of Mournes, County Down, in Northern Ireland. It's an idyllic, maritime region where the horizon is framed by the rolling hills of the Mourne Mountains, which slope gently down to the sea. It's a place where ancient Irish traditions and the region's finest natural resources converge to create premium, authentic spirits. This Killowen Gloria Cask-Aged Coffee Liqueur is a new addition to the Killowen range. Rich, naturally ground coffee has been expertly blended with cask-aged Killowen Poitín. This was followed by six months of aging in a select ex-bourbon barrel to achieve the harmonious balance, complex depth, and unique flavor profile of a smooth yet intensely flavorful coffee liqueur. Killowen Gloria Cask Aged Coffee Liqueur offers a wonderful taste experience and is excellent to enjoy neat, but can also be used as an ingredient in cocktails or desserts to give them a special touch.

The Killowen Distillery in the Mourne Mountains is known for its bold approach to reinterpreting old Irish traditions. The Killowen Oats Amaze Balls Peated Poitín 0.5L is a unique project created for the Dublin festival "Poitín Now." The distillery used an exceptional mashbill of seven sacks of roasted corn, six sacks of oats, and one sack of peated, malted barley – a combination that blends historical recipes with modern experimentation. Killowen describes the aroma during mashing as reminiscent of fresh popcorn at the cinema, and this is precisely the aroma that is later found in the finished poitín. The nose reveals a distinct popcorn note, complemented by a subtle hint of menthol. On the palate, creamy impressions of cream and vanilla unfold, reflecting the high oat content and creating a smooth yet robust texture. The finish reveals notes of pine needles and warm custard cream, elegantly rounding off the overall impression. The combination of peaty accents, toasted grain, and creamy sweetness makes this Poitín a distinctive and exceptional creation.

If you're looking for the perfect spirit, Killowen Pangur Irish Poitín is the answer! It's an exceptional Irish spirit that highlights the distinctive character of Poitín. Named after Pangur, a happy and contented white cat, a master of his craft, who appeared in old tales told by an Irish monk, this Pangur Irish Poitín was created by the Killowen Distillery, the smallest distillery in Northern Ireland, located in the Mourne Mountains. It bears a strong resemblance to whiskey and also evokes vodka and grain spirits. The base is an intriguing mash made from pure cassy water and varying proportions of different grains. This is followed by double distillation in direct-fired copper pot stills. The result is a wonderfully clear and aromatic spirit. The nose and palate are delighted by its intense and fresh notes of earth, grass, and grain, supported by anise, licorice, ginger, cinnamon, chocolate, and pepper, with a dry, slightly bitter, and spicy finish. Killowen Pangur Irish Poitin was awarded Double Gold at the 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

The Killowen Distillery is one of the smallest distilleries in Ireland. Its distiller, Brendan Carty, has discovered his passion for reviving forgotten indigenous distillation styles. The Killowen Distillery works with two handcrafted stills, their flames fed by worm tub condensers. This Killowen Peated Single Malt Irish Whiskey Rum & Raisin was distilled in small batches and then matured in oak casks. It received its elegant finish in Pedro Ximénez butts and Killowen's own dark rum casks. A perfect combination to capture the taste of the Caribbean. On the nose, a slightly sweet smokiness with a hint of fresh apple juice, along with molasses and a generous helping of fruitcake. On the palate, juicy, sweet green apples with brown sugar, as well as a selection of dried fruits such as raisins, sultanas, and figs. A beautiful, balanced smokiness and hints of dark rum harmoniously unite all the aromas. The finish is long-lasting with caramelized Demerara sugar and candied apples, as well as a gentle smoky note reminiscent of the Irish countryside.

Producing Irish whiskey the way it used to be made was the stated goal of Brendan Carty, founder of the Killowen Distillery, one of Ireland's smallest distilleries, located in the heart of the Mourne Mountains in County Down, Northern Ireland. This Killowen Single Malt Irish Whiskey Rum & Raisin is distilled in small batches in copper pot stills. It matures in select oak casks before receiving its elegant finish, first in a former dark rum cask and then in a Pedro Ximénez sherry cask. The dark rum cask imparts a Caribbean touch to the single malt, while the Pedro Ximénez sherry cask contributes sweet notes. The nose detects aromas of fresh apple juice along with molasses and a scoop of warm Christmas pudding. On the palate, sweet, juicy green apples mingle with dark sugar. This is complemented by a selection of dried fruits such as raisins, sultanas, and figs, which blend perfectly with the dark rum. The finish reveals aromas of caramelized demerara sugar with caramelized apple and ground almonds, culminating in intense notes of Christmas cake. Awarded Double Gold at The Fifty Best 2022 & 2023!

Brendan Carty is the founder of Killowen Distillery, a small-batch distillery nestled in the heart of the Mourne Mountains in County Down, Northern Ireland. It's an idyllic setting where ancient Irish traditions and the region's finest natural resources converge to create premium, authentic spirits. Killowen Solera Cask Aged Dark Rum is made from 100% sugarcane molasses, first fermented at the distillery and then gently distilled two and a half times in direct-fired copper pot stills. It then undergoes a Solera maturation process, aging in three different cask types: heavy-charred Cabernet Sauvignon, ex-bourbon dark rum, and ex-Pedro Ximénez sherry, all of which contribute to its balanced, profound complexity. A perfect taste experience of the Caribbean, offering beautiful notes of coconut, vanilla, figs, plums, and raisins on the nose. On the palate, this rum is velvety and full-bodied, with a hint of smokiness and a fine balance between sweetness and spice, leading to a long, pleasant finish.

The Killowen Distillery from Northern Ireland is renowned for its uncompromisingly artisanal approach and passion for traditional distillation methods. With its Solera Cask Aged Dark Rum, the distillery proves that Irish rum can also offer exceptional quality and individuality. Made from molasses and demerara sugar through a long open fermentation of two to four weeks, this rum develops remarkable aromatic depth even during production. Subsequent maturation takes place using the Solera method in various casks, resulting in a complex and harmonious flavor profile. Distillation is carried out traditionally in copper pot stills with direct firing, which imparts additional character to the rum. The nose reveals intense notes of rum caramel, vanilla sugar, and subtle spicy hints. On the palate, flavors of honey, dark syrup, and toasted bread unfold, accompanied by sweet nuances reminiscent of creamy caramel candies. The finish is balanced and long-lasting with a pleasant dryness, notes of demerara sugar, spicy gingerbread, and subtle wood. This characterful dark rum is best enjoyed neat at room temperature or with a few drops of water, which further enhances its complex aromas.

The small Killowen Distillery in Northern Ireland is considered one of the island's most authentic distilleries. Nestled in the Mourne Mountains, exceptional spirits are handcrafted here, committed to uncompromising quality and innovative maturation. With the limited edition Spectrum Part I Dark Sauternes Cask Aged Rum, Killowen presents a high-ester rum that redefines the boundaries of traditional cask aging. The same base spirit as in Part II has been fully matured in dark Sauternes casks – a rare approach that combines intense depth and finesse. The combination of flame firing, thumper keg distillation, and aging in fine sweet wine wood gives this rum its distinctive aroma. On the nose, notes of candied fruit, toffee, honey, and ripe apricots emerge, accompanied by subtle spice and floral hints. On the palate, layers of dried fruit, dark sugar, and baked lemon unfold, balanced by a fresh acidity and velvety texture. The long, elegant finish reveals complex oak notes and a warm depth reminiscent of Killowen's signature style – bold, handcrafted, and unique.

The Killowen Distillery stands for uncompromising authenticity, meticulous craftsmanship, and the courage to push boundaries. Nestled in the rugged Mourne Mountains of Northern Ireland, they produce rum that blends tradition with a spirit of experimentation. The Killowen Spectrum Part II Dark Coffee Stout Cask Aged Rum is part of a limited series exploring the full spectrum of high-ester rum flavors. Using the same base spirit as Part I, this time it matured entirely in a former Two Stacks peated Irish whiskey ex-coffee stout cask – an exceptional cask choice that impressively combines depth and intensity. The combination of flame-fire distillation and thumper-keg aging results in a dense, aromatic structure. On the nose, creamy notes of crème brûlée, caramel, and roasted cocoa beans unfold, underscored by delicate malt tones and a hint of smoke. On the palate, rich aromas of toffee, mocha, and physalis unfold, supported by a full body and gentle spice. The long, elegant finish concludes with nuances of dark sugar and oak – a rum that masterfully embodies Killowen's artisanal philosophy.

Killowen is an Irish small-batch distillery that is presenting a special release for Lúnasa / Harvest 2026: the Tailtiu Irish Poitín. This small-batch special edition was crafted and distilled by Patrick Gray-Sloan and is dedicated to the goddess Tailtiu. The base is a mash bill consisting of four parts oats, six parts peated malted barley, and four parts rye. All the grains used are sourced entirely from Ireland and are freshly milled on-site during mashing. The poitín is then slowly double-distilled using direct flame heating. After distillation, the spirit is aged for five weeks in a PX sherry cask. This combination of Irish grains, peated malted barley, and the brief aging period in the sherry cask forms the foundation of this special Harvest Edition. The Killowen Tailtiu Irish Poitín is distilled and bottled in Ireland as a small-batch special edition, clearly highlighting the raw ingredients used and the traditional production methods.