Old Comber Whiskey Celebrates 200 Years with Two Single Pot Still Releases
Old Comber Whiskey is celebrating its bicentenary with the revival of its famous Single Pot Still Whiskey.
Crafted from field to glass at The Echlinville Distillery, a FoodNI member, and distilled solely from barley grown and malted on the distillery farm, Old Comber is Ireland’s only completely single estate pot still whiskey.
Jarlath Watson, Head of Whiskey at Echlinville, said: “Echlinville is marking Old Comber’s 200th anniversary with two new releases – a seven year old Single Pot Still bottled at 46% abv, which will form part of the brand’s core portfolio; and a special edition Single Pot Still bottled at 50% abv and limited to just 2016 bottles, to celebrate Old Comber’s landmark birthday.
“Both whiskeys are double distilled and finished in Port and Sherry casks – a finish synonymous with Old Comber since 1825 and an important element of our commitment to stay true to the brand’s proud heritage and traditional approach to whiskey making. These new releases represent a taste of history, crafted for the future.”
One of the original Irish whiskey giants, Old Comber Whiskey was founded two centuries ago at The Comber Distilleries in County Down, which were located just ten miles from the brand’s modern-day home at Echlinville.
Comber Distilleries fell silent in 1953 and Old Comber joined the list of Ireland’s ‘lost’ whiskeys. In testament to their pledge to put County Down back on the world whiskey map, Echlinville revived Old Comber after a 70-year absence.
Speaking about Echlinville and Old Comber’s single estate approach, Jarlath continued: “From growing the barley and floor malting in the traditional way; to mashing and fermenting the grains; to distilling the new-make spirit, and casking, maturing and bottling the whiskey, Old Comber is produced from field-to-glass at our farm distillery.
“This is hugely important in the context of Old Comber’s proud sense of place and provenance, and its historic links with the local farming community.
“Comber Distilleries sourced its barley from local farms and Ards Maltings – one of Ireland’s largest malting houses, which was located just a few miles from Comber and is now owned by The Echlinville Distillery.
We are delighted to be able to restore the bond between Old Comber, Ards Maltings and the rich farmland that we call home, reviving a hugely important part of our proud whiskey heritage.”
Whiskey aficionados can also purchase their very own cask of Old Comber via Echlinville’s private reserve cask collective. Cask owners have a unique opportunity to become part of the Old Comber revival, with their own personal cask of Old Comber spirit, distilled, matured and bottled at Ireland’s first field-to-glass distillery.
