Cooley named best whiskey in world

A WHISKEY maker which revived Ireland’s almost forgotten traditions has beaten some of the biggest names in the business to be named the world’s best.

The Cooley Distillery, opened 21 years ago in Riverstown, Co Louth, was praised for bringing the peat smoking technique back, giving its spirits a virtually unique flavour.

Cooley is the first Irish firm to win the prestigious International Wine and Spirit Competition.

David Hynes, managing director, said: “This success has been built over 20 years by our focus on innovation and quality. This focus has led to new products, new finishes and the reintroduction of the concept of peated malt to Ireland.”

Cooley won world and European best at an awards ceremony in London with the winner picked for demonstrating the highest quality across a range of spirit brands.

The distillery opened in 1987 in an old industrial alcohol plant on the Cooley peninsula.