Bringing whiskey making home to the town of Tullamore

We opened the doors of our state-of-the-art distillery on 17 September 2014, heralding the return of whiskey production to Tullamore for the first time in 60 years. 

Tullamore D.E.W. Irish whiskey has been distilled and matured in Tullamore since 1829, but in 1954 the original distillery was closed and production bounced between Dublin and Cork.

When we added Tullamore D.E.W. to our portfolio in 2010, we set out to return the distillery to its ancestral home. 

The path of greatest resistance

From the beginning, we wanted to create a new home that would reflect the quality of the craftsmanship within. And after a year-long search of more than 50 locations, we settled on the beautiful site on the outskirts of Tullamore.

Surrounded by forests of evergreens but boggy underfoot, the ambitious 58-acre project required the specialist skills of 1,200 distillery engineers. 

To lay the foundations, more than 250,000 tonnes of peat had to be excavated, which we then used to create the rolling landscape around the distillery.

Just 20 months after planning permission was granted, the first drops of whiskey flowed from our stills.

Preserving the taste

Set in the heart of Ireland, the new distillery draws on the same finest natural spring water from the Slieve Bloom mountains used in the original Tullamore D.E.W. This quality, soft spring water is ideal for the whiskey’s unique triple distillation process. 

Six handcrafted copper stills designed to resemble the original stills of the old distillery further preserve the exceptionally smooth taste the brand has become famous for.

And with 12 brew house fermenters, warehouse storage for up to 300,000 casks and a new bottling plant, the facility is one of only a few ‘grain to glass’ distilleries in Ireland. 

In 2020 we will also open our own onsite cooperage, further strengthening our craftsmanship credentials.

Located in the heart of the town, our historic visitors centre inhabits a late-19th century bonded warehouse belonging to the original distillery and is one of the region’s leading landmark attractions.

Long-term commitment

As well as doubling our production of the world’s second largest Irish whiskey, the distillery shows our commitment to Tullamore D.E.W., the town of Tullamore and Ireland.

Today, more than 90 people play a crucial role in sending our whiskey out to the world and we’re proud to be the region’s largest employer. 

The beauty of blend

Tullamore D.E.W. is a triple blend of three great whiskeys from Ireland. By combining three spirits the blend gives us three dimensions of flavour to explore: fruit, spice and sweet.

With the new distillery, we also have the freedom to experiment with new flavours and finishes.

Our award-winning range includes:

Tullamore D.E.W. XO Caribbean Rum Cask Finish

Tullamore D.E.W. 12 year Old Special Reserve,

Tullamore D.E.W. 14 Year Old Single Malt

Tullamore D.E.W. 18 Year Old Single Malt.