Tullamore Dew
Encyclopedia
Tullamore Dew is a blended
Irish whiskey
. It was originally a pot still whiskey
, first distilled
in 1829 in the small town of Tullamore
, County Offaly
, Ireland
. The name derives from the initials of an early manager of the concern, Mr. Daniel E. Williams: D.E.W. Tullamore Dew is the second best-selling Irish whiskey
in the world, after Jameson
. Formerly owned and marketed by Irish company, C&C Group, the label was sold to the Scottish Company William Grant & Sons
in a €300 million deal in 2010.
The town of Tullamore
has a proud tradition of distilling whiskey. The first modern factory distillery can be traced back to 1829, founded by Michael Molloy. When he died, the distillery passed into the hands of the Daly family with Captain Bernard Daly in charge of the business. One of his colleagues, Mr. Daniel E. Williams, took over as General Manager
and had a huge impact on the business. By 1890, he had the distillery in full swing producing the now famous whiskey, Tullamore Dew. It was actually Daniel’s initials (D. E. W.) that inspired the whiskey's name. Williams was very enterprising: he brought electricity to Tullamore in 1893, had the distillery install the town's first telephones and introduced motorised transport. He ran a commercial empire throughout the Irish midlands – drinks businesses, importing tea, selling seed and grain and a network of 26 general stores.
But there were tough times ahead for Irish whiskey: Prohibition in the United States
, an economic war
with Britain
in the 1930s and World War II
all hurt the industry. Tullamore was one of many distilleries affected by a general decline in Irish whiskey sales worldwide, but after World War II, Edmund Williams, grandson of Daniel E. Williams, used modern marketing techniques and re-established Irish whiskey as a world leader. Edmund proved as enterprising as his grandfather. In 1947, Tullamore also developed Irish Mist, an Irish liqueur
based on an early recipe known to Ireland’s ancient chieftains. A blend of whiskey, herbs and honey, the recipe disappeared in the late 17th century, only to be rediscovered in a manuscript 250 years later. Edmund also capitalised on the Irish coffee craze, and perhaps most importantly recognised the potential of blended whiskies. The smooth, mature and distinctive taste of Tullamore Dew can be attributed to his foresight.
In 1963, the brand was sold to Powers
and the Tullamore distillery was closed with production moved to the New Midleton Distillery
in the south, along with Jameson, Powers, Paddy
and the rest of the Irish Distillers
products. In 1994 by the C&C Group plc, and in 2009, Tullamore Dew released a single malt whiskey that was distilled by Cooley, instead of Irish Distillers. In 2010, C&C sold Tullamore Dew to William Grant & Sons
in a €300 million deal. Most of the current product is made at the Pernod Ricard
owned Midleton Distillery
, Grant & Sons have expressed an interest in establishing an entirely new distillery of their own to produce Tullamore Dew. The location of this distillery has not been confirmed but the current manufacturing plant in Clonmel
, Tipperary
has been suggested as the likeliest site.
Several Tullamore Dew whiskeys are available:
Blended whiskey
A blended whisky is the product of blending different types of whiskies and often also neutral and near-neutral spirits, coloring, and flavorings...
Irish whiskey
Irish whiskey
Irish whiskey is whiskey made in Ireland.Key regulations defining Irish whiskey and its production are established by the Irish Whiskey Act of 1980, and are relatively simple...
. It was originally a pot still whiskey
Pot still
A pot still is a type of still used in distilling spirits such as whisky or brandy. Heat is applied directly to the pot containing the wash or wine . This is called a batch distillation ....
, first distilled
Distillation
Distillation is a method of separating mixtures based on differences in volatilities of components in a boiling liquid mixture. Distillation is a unit operation, or a physical separation process, and not a chemical reaction....
in 1829 in the small town of Tullamore
Tullamore
Tullamore is a town in County Offaly, in the midlands of Ireland. It is Offaly's county town and the centre of the district.Tullamore is an important commercial and industrial centre in the region. Major international employers in the town include 'Tyco Healthcare' and 'Boston Scientific'. In...
, County Offaly
County Offaly
County Offaly is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Uí Failghe and was formerly known as King's County until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. Offaly County Council is...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. The name derives from the initials of an early manager of the concern, Mr. Daniel E. Williams: D.E.W. Tullamore Dew is the second best-selling Irish whiskey
Irish whiskey
Irish whiskey is whiskey made in Ireland.Key regulations defining Irish whiskey and its production are established by the Irish Whiskey Act of 1980, and are relatively simple...
in the world, after Jameson
Jameson Irish Whiskey
Jameson is a single distillery Irish whiskey produced by a division of the French distiller Pernod Ricard. Jameson is similar in its adherence to the single distillery principle to the single malt tradition, but Jameson combines malted barley with unmalted or "green" barley...
. Formerly owned and marketed by Irish company, C&C Group, the label was sold to the Scottish Company William Grant & Sons
William Grant & Sons
William Grant & Sons Ltd. is an independent, family-owned Scottish company which distills Scotch whisky and other selected categories of spirits. It was established in 1887 by William Grant, and is now run by the descendants of the founder. It is the largest of the handful of Scotch whisky...
in a €300 million deal in 2010.
History
Tullamore
Tullamore is a town in County Offaly, in the midlands of Ireland. It is Offaly's county town and the centre of the district.Tullamore is an important commercial and industrial centre in the region. Major international employers in the town include 'Tyco Healthcare' and 'Boston Scientific'. In...
has a proud tradition of distilling whiskey. The first modern factory distillery can be traced back to 1829, founded by Michael Molloy. When he died, the distillery passed into the hands of the Daly family with Captain Bernard Daly in charge of the business. One of his colleagues, Mr. Daniel E. Williams, took over as General Manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
and had a huge impact on the business. By 1890, he had the distillery in full swing producing the now famous whiskey, Tullamore Dew. It was actually Daniel’s initials (D. E. W.) that inspired the whiskey's name. Williams was very enterprising: he brought electricity to Tullamore in 1893, had the distillery install the town's first telephones and introduced motorised transport. He ran a commercial empire throughout the Irish midlands – drinks businesses, importing tea, selling seed and grain and a network of 26 general stores.
But there were tough times ahead for Irish whiskey: Prohibition in the United States
Prohibition in the United States
Prohibition in the United States was a national ban on the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcohol, in place from 1920 to 1933. The ban was mandated by the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution, and the Volstead Act set down the rules for enforcing the ban, as well as defining which...
, an economic war
Anglo-Irish Trade War
The Anglo-Irish Trade War was a retaliatory trade war between the Irish Free State and the United Kingdom lasting from 1932 until 1938...
with Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in the 1930s and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
all hurt the industry. Tullamore was one of many distilleries affected by a general decline in Irish whiskey sales worldwide, but after World War II, Edmund Williams, grandson of Daniel E. Williams, used modern marketing techniques and re-established Irish whiskey as a world leader. Edmund proved as enterprising as his grandfather. In 1947, Tullamore also developed Irish Mist, an Irish liqueur
Liqueur
A liqueur is an alcoholic beverage that has been flavored with fruit, herbs, nuts, spices, flowers, or cream and bottled with added sugar. Liqueurs are typically quite sweet; they are usually not aged for long but may have resting periods during their production to allow flavors to marry.The...
based on an early recipe known to Ireland’s ancient chieftains. A blend of whiskey, herbs and honey, the recipe disappeared in the late 17th century, only to be rediscovered in a manuscript 250 years later. Edmund also capitalised on the Irish coffee craze, and perhaps most importantly recognised the potential of blended whiskies. The smooth, mature and distinctive taste of Tullamore Dew can be attributed to his foresight.
In 1963, the brand was sold to Powers
Powers (whiskey)
Powers Gold Label is a brand of Irish whiskey. Originally a pure pot still whiskey, it is now produced from a blend of pot still and grain whiskey. It is the most popular Irish whiskey sold in Ireland, selling over 6 million measures per annum. - History :...
and the Tullamore distillery was closed with production moved to the New Midleton Distillery
New Midleton Distillery
The Midleton distilleries complex is situated outside Midleton, Co. Cork, Ireland. It is owned by Pernod-Ricard. Located alongside is the Old Midleton Distillery which was established in the early 17th century.-History:...
in the south, along with Jameson, Powers, Paddy
Paddy Whiskey
Paddy Whiskey is a brand of 80-proof blended Irish whiskey produced in Cork, Ireland, by the company Irish Distillers. The brand is Ireland's third best selling whiskey.-History:...
and the rest of the Irish Distillers
Irish Distillers
Irish Distillers is a subsidiary of the French drinks conglomerate Pernod-Ricard S.A.. It was acquired in 1988 in a friendly takeover.-History:...
products. In 1994 by the C&C Group plc, and in 2009, Tullamore Dew released a single malt whiskey that was distilled by Cooley, instead of Irish Distillers. In 2010, C&C sold Tullamore Dew to William Grant & Sons
William Grant & Sons
William Grant & Sons Ltd. is an independent, family-owned Scottish company which distills Scotch whisky and other selected categories of spirits. It was established in 1887 by William Grant, and is now run by the descendants of the founder. It is the largest of the handful of Scotch whisky...
in a €300 million deal. Most of the current product is made at the Pernod Ricard
Pernod Ricard
Pernod Ricard is a French company that produces distilled beverages. The company's eponymous products, Pernod Anise and Ricard Pastis, are both anise-flavoured liqueurs and are often referred to simply as Pernod or Ricard...
owned Midleton Distillery
New Midleton Distillery
The Midleton distilleries complex is situated outside Midleton, Co. Cork, Ireland. It is owned by Pernod-Ricard. Located alongside is the Old Midleton Distillery which was established in the early 17th century.-History:...
, Grant & Sons have expressed an interest in establishing an entirely new distillery of their own to produce Tullamore Dew. The location of this distillery has not been confirmed but the current manufacturing plant in Clonmel
Clonmel
Clonmel is the county town of South Tipperary in Ireland. It is the largest town in the county. While the borough had a population of 15,482 in 2006, another 17,008 people were in the rural hinterland. The town is noted in Irish history for its resistance to the Cromwellian army which sacked both...
, Tipperary
County Tipperary
County Tipperary is a county of Ireland. It is located in the province of Munster and is named after the town of Tipperary. The area of the county does not have a single local authority; local government is split between two authorities. In North Tipperary, part of the Mid-West Region, local...
has been suggested as the likeliest site.
Brands
The Tullamore Dew whiskies contain both malted and unmalted barley-based whiskeys, triple distilled and aged between 12 to 15 years in old bourbon or sherry casks. Some pot still whiskey is included in the blend.Several Tullamore Dew whiskeys are available:
- Tullamore Dew Original: Tullamore Dew is described as "a premium IrishIrelandIreland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
whiskey with a distinctively smooth taste."
- Tullamore Dew Black 43: 7 year old, with pot still whiskey aged in oloroso sherry casks. 43% of alcohol.
- Tullamore Dew Single Malt: 10 year old single malt whiskey.
- Tullamore Dew 10 Year Old Reserve: Tullamore Dew 10 Year Old Reserve is triple-distilled and aged in Spanish and American oak casks for a minimum of 10 years.
- Tullamore Dew 12 Year Old Special Reserve: The 12 Year Old was once described as "full of complex flavours, married to give a drinking sensation full of depth, character and maturity." This blend won gold medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2006, 2007 and 2008 as well as at the International Spirits Challenge in 2006. Other significant awards include the Trophy for Best Irish Whiskey at the International Spirits Challenge in 1999 and 2000.
- Tullamore Dew Heritage: The special Heritage blend of Tullamore Dew was launched in 2000 to mark the opening of the Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre in County Offaly. It is exclusively for sale in the Heritage Centre in Tullamore, County Offaly. This blend won the Trophy for Best Irish Whiskey in 2001, and gold medals at the International Spirits Challenge in 2002 and 2003.
External links
- Tullamore Dew official site
- Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre - learn how Tullamore Dew whiskey was made in Tullamore
- Whiskey Bards Official Website
- The Whisky Guide-Tullamore Dew