Clonakilty Galley Head Irish Whiskey
Irish Whiskey (Blended) | 750mL | 40% ABV (80 proof) — Clonakilty Galley Head is named for the lighthouse built in 1875 on the Atlantic headland just outside Clonakilty, Co. Cork — and it tastes like where it's made: a marriage of Clonakilty Single Pot Still and Irish grain whiskey, matured in hand-selected ex-bourbon casks and matured, finished, and bottled at the family distillery. The family grows its own barley on its own farm overlooking those Atlantic waters. Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.
The coastal-warehouse story is real here: maritime air and sea mist do the talking in the whiskey. US importer (Marussia Beverages USA) notes: raspberry and baked green apples on the nose; vanilla, gentle wood spice, rich raisin, and ginger spice on the palate; a finish of elderberry. The distillery is also a sponsor of whale and dolphin conservation — a fitting cause for a whiskey named after a lighthouse. (Do not confuse this with the 2021 launch release, which was a single malt finished in red-wine casks; the current expression is the pot-still-and-grain blend.)
Tasting notes
Nose: raspberry and baked green apples (importer). Palate: vanilla, gentle wood spice, rich raisin, ginger spice. Finish: hints of elderberry. Irish retail corroborates: tropical fruit and apple crumble aromas, spiced honey and clove.
Why buy it from Del Mesa Liquor
- 750mL, 40% ABV — Irish whiskey blending Clonakilty Single Pot Still with grain whiskey
- Matured in ex-bourbon casks at Clonakilty Distillery, Co. Cork — a family farm distillery
- Named for the 1875 Galley Head Lighthouse on Ireland's Atlantic coast
- Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor
How to serve it
Serve neat or with a splash of water — the pot-still spice rewards slow sipping; it also makes a refined Irish Old Fashioned.
Frequently asked questions
Is Galley Head a single malt?
The current expression is a blend of Clonakilty Single Pot Still and Irish grain whiskey. (The 2021 launch release was a single malt — check the bottle label.)
Where is it made?
Clonakilty Distillery in Co. Cork, Ireland — a family business that grows its own barley.
What casks are used?
Hand-selected ex-bourbon casks.
Why is it called Galley Head?
For the Galley Head Lighthouse (built 1875), which overlooks the family's barley fields from 53m above the Atlantic.