Tullamore Dew. Irish Blended Whiskey

Tullamore Dew Distillery History

The Tullamore Distillery was founded in1829 by Michael Molloy, located in Tullamore, County Offaly Ireland.

The name Tullamore derives from Tulach Mhór meaning ‘big hill’. This is, a rich agricultural area in the centre of Ireland, providing both the fine barley and pure water essential to the creation of good whiskey.

The distillery and the town prospered throughout the 19th century. The Grand Canal, that connects Tullamore with Dublin, was the main thoroughfare through the town and vitally important in bringing goods and materials to the town and distributing the whiskey to wider markets.

In 1887, following the death of Mr Molloy, the distillery passed into the hands of the Daly family with Captain Bernard Daly in charge of the business. A keen sportsman, Captain Daly left the routine running of the distillery to one of his colleagues, Daniel E Williams, who eventually became general manager of Tullamore.

Daniel E Williams was the major influence on the expansion and development of the distillery and his family became joint shareholders in Tullamore with Captain Daly.

His initials, D-E-W, inspired the whiskey to be named ‘Tullamore Dew’ with the slogan "Give every man his Dew" appearing on the bottles for many years. Tullamore Dew was at the forefront in the heyday of Irish whiskey, well established in several European countries, such as Germany, France and Denmark as well as the USA.

The American Prohibition started in 1919, combined with a trade war with England, which denied sales to the then “British Empire” during the 1930s badly affected sales of Tullamore Dew. The situation was made worse with the advent Second World War.

By the time Europe was emerging from the Second World War, Tullamore Dew, in common with many Irish Whiskey companies were finding trading difficult.

Tullamore Dew Blended Whiskey

In 1947, D.E. Williams’ grandson, who also worked for the distillery, visited the United States, one of Tullamore Dew’s most important markets. He returned home with an idea for a new product, Tullamore Dew Blended Whiskey, which was to become the first blended Irish whiskey to be introduced. The whiskey was popular. However the company continued to find trading difficult.

In 1959 the Tullamore distillery closed and the brand was subsequently sold to Powers with production transferring to a distillery nearer Cork.

Whilst distilling no longer takes place in Tullamore, the Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre will take you through life in a small Irish town from the early 1800s onwards as well as showing how whiskey is made.

No longer distilled on site.

The distillery is now a heritage centre

Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre

Bury Quay,

Tullamore,

Co. Offaly.

Tel. +353 57 9325015

Please Contact the Visitor Centre For Opening Times Before Travelling

Tullamore Dew Standard Blend

This is the original blend known the world over for its smooth and gentle flavour. This mild blended whiskey has spicy, lemony and malty notes with charred wood undertones giving a soft, buttery, rounded flavour that lingers in the mouth.

Tullamore Dew is also widely acclaimed by whiskey connoisseurs; in 2005, it won a much-prized trophy at the International Spirits Challenge, the highest accolade in the drinks industry. The trophy was one of only four awarded to over 700 drinks products entered by companies all over the world

Colour: - Pale amber with an orange tinge

Nose; - A mild blend of spicy, lemony and malty notes with charred wood undertones

Body: - Soft, buttery, rounded

Palate: - Warming, sweetish spices, pleasant maltiness with toasted wood hints

Finish: - Smooth and gentle, the complex flavours lingering

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