New Irish whiskey celebrates 1916 Proclamation

Proclamation Blended Irish Whiskey has been launched in Ireland, from the company behind the Grace O’Malley Whiskeys and Grace O’Malley Gin.

Triple distilled and aged in new American oak, Proclamation Blended Irish Whiskey is a smooth whiskey of complex character with a refined, clean taste. Matured in bourbon casks, the blend includes a touch of sherry finished malt to give a rounded, toasted finish.

The idea for Proclamation Blended Irish Whiskey was originally conceived to honour the history of and the people behind the birth of the 1916 Proclamation.

“We wanted to celebrate Ireland’s independent spirit through a quality Irish whiskey, one that also tells the story of some of the unsung heroes of this time. Proclamation Blended Irish Whiskey pays tribute to the three printers of the Proclamation, William O’Brien, Michael Molloy and Christopher Joseph Brady and acknowledges the important role they played during a hugely significant time in Irish history,” said historian, author, and publisher Mícheál Ó Doibhilín.

The design reflects the physical attributes of the original document. As the printers had insufficient type to print it all at once it had to be printed in two parts. The label includes blind embossing, while fonts were specially redrawn to emulate those of the Proclamation, such as the spurious ‘e’ that features in the original document.

Master Blender for Proclamation Irish Whiskey is internationally renowned spirits expert, Paul Caris, an independent consultant who has worked in the wine and spirits industry for over 20 years, honing his expertise in maturation, wood management and distillation over the last decade.

Speaking about the launch, Managing Director Stephen Cope said: “We have worked with our team of spirits experts, some of Ireland and the world’s leading technical specialists  craftspeople and spirits professionals. From the concept, historical reference and labelling through to the blending and creation of the finished liquid, this whiskey has been expertly crafted through collaboration. This is a beautifully presented whiskey, an original Irish blend of singular taste and exceptional quality, one we are proud to bring to market.”