OUR WAY - THE SPIRIT OF REASON & STRENGTH

Whiskey made the O’Connell way

Throughout history, Kerry people – and the O’Connell family in particular - have been known for doing things their own way. From our early trading history to the successful smuggling enterprise of Maurice ‘Hunting Cap’ O'Connell to the powerful civil rights agitation of Daniel O’Connell, ‘The Liberator’.

Perched at the end of Europe we have had to be outward facing - our ancestors left to become hugely decorated soldiers and to set up trading businesses around the world. Independence of spirit, grit and resourcefulness are in our DNA. This has sometimes rubbed authority up the wrong way - British PM Robert Peel bemoaned the trouble caused by "that wayward Irishman", Daniel O’Connell. We have decided to own that insult with pride.

Our family (O'Connells and, on my maternal side, the MacCarthys) has been on this land for over 900 years and with the creation of Wayward Irish Spirits we celebrate the generations that have come before us and seek to create an enduring legacy for the future. Whiskey making is more than a business for us – we mark our time in generations rather than months or years. Our family motto ‘Ciall agus Neart, Reason and Strength’, informs our thoughtful, individual and determined approach.

As our lakeside estate’s unique microclimate influences our Whiskey so too does our family attitude and history dictate the way we do things.

What makes us different?

It's the way we choose to do things Our Way, as the O’Connell family have always done. Instead of a modern industrial facility, we have re-purposed our farm buildings, where the 300 year old stone walls and the famously changeable Lakeview microclimate combine to give us fantastic maturation conditions. We grow and harvest our own barley when it would be far cheaper just to buy it in. We personally source source the finest freshest finishing casks that connect with our family and with our history.

Our Way is small batches - each one is an original. We take the time to do things properly, cutting to bottling strength gently over 5-6 weeks, so as not to stress the Whiskey. We don't chill filter; we don't add colour or otherwise mess with our Whiskey.

Our way is not the cheapest or the quickest but delivers you a unique, characterful and individual Whiskey.

This is Whiskey the O'Connell Way. We hope you enjoy it. Slainte!