Ireland

Bushmills Single Cask 19 Year Old Rum Cask Finish

Filed under: Spirits

Looking for an extra special spirit to help celebrate St. Patrick's Day? New York's Park Avenue Liquor Shop is the first and only retailer in the country to obtain a unique Bushmills Single Cask Single Malt Irish Whiskey bottling finished in a rum cask and aged 19 years.

The cask in question produced only 420 bottles which have been bottled exclusively for Park Avenue Liquor; they're priced at $125 apiece. "We are happy to have this bottling, the second rum cask finished Bushmills for the shop," notes Park Avenue Liquor Shop owner Jonathan Goldstein. "An Irish whiskey finished in rum casks is pretty unusual."

Bushmills offers the following tasting notes on the precious spirit:

Nose - A clean crisp saltiness at first, and then notes of mellow rum, vanilla, toasted wood, faintly almondy. Some deeper tones too - dark chocolate, a touch of leather and black pepper.

Palate - A pleasantly dry maltiness in counterpoint to a rummy honeyed sweetness; then various wood, spice, some almond and dark fudge. Overall, a complex and rather unique taste that is achievable only by very long aging in a rum barrel.

Finish - A fading sweetness, and the gentle rum, wood and dry malty noted lingering pleasantly on the palate.

Tags: Bushmills, event, Ireland, Irish whiskey, New York, Park Avenue Liquor Shop, single malt, spirits, St. Patricks Day, whiskey, whisky

First U.S. Guinness Store To Open On The Las Vegas Strip

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

What better opportunity to open the first official Guinness store in the United States than St. Patrick's Day? Moodie Report says that the Guinness Store Las Vegas will open at the Shoppes at Mandalay Place on the Las Vegas Strip on March 17. The famous Irish stout is over 250 years old and is one of the world's most popular beers.

The 1,500-square-foot store will offer the largest selection of Guinness merchandise located in a single venue outside of Ireland. It will sell customized pint glasses, clothing, gifts and more. The store will also share information about the brewing process and the brand through visual and interactive exhibits.

Tags: beer, guide, guinness, ireland, st. patricks day

Michael Collins Irish Whiskey Debuts 10 Year Old Single Malt

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Michael Collins Irish Whiskey Debuts 10 Year Old Single Malt

Just in time for St. Patrick's Day, the last independent, Irish-owned distillery in Ireland has unveiled a Michael Collins 10 Year Old Single Malt and an attractive new bottle for its classic blended whiskey. The 10 Year Old Single Malt is double distilled in small, long-necked copper pot stills from both malted barley and peated malted barley and then matured in bourbon casks for a minimum of ten years. The result is rich and complex with hints of ripe fruit, meadow flowers and peat, a medium dry finish and lingering light smokiness. A refined blend of malt Irish whiskey and grain Irish whiskey, Michael Collins Blended Irish Whiskey is double distilled for proper balance of purity and character and then matured in bourbon casks from four to twelve years. Aromas of honey, citrus and malt give way to a delicate balance of these flavors with a fresh oak finish.

Tags: Cooley Distillery, distillery, Ireland, Irish, Irish whiskey, Michael Collins, Michael Collins Irish Whiskey, single malt, spirits, St. Patricks Day, whiskey, whisky

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An Aristocrat's View of Ireland's Great Country Houses

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Estates, Books

The country houses of Ireland are not as well known and celebrated as those of England, yet no serious student of the form can afford to miss what are undoubtedly some of the most stunning examples on the Emerald Isle. Ten exquisite Irish country estates are given lavish treatment in The Irish Country House, a beautiful new book by Irish aristocrat the Knight of Glin – whose own castle is among the finest – and James Peill from the Vendome Press. All of the historical houses and castles featured in the book are still owned and lived in by the original families, an increasing rarity, and many have never been published before. Specially commissioned photographs by James Fennell show grand but inviting living rooms, hallways lined with hunting prints, well-trampled mudrooms and richly-furnished libraries. The decor of the houses has "evolved over generations, furnished with heirlooms and cherished hand-me-downs, exuding the mossy scent of peat fires", full of telling details capturing the distinctive personalities of the colorful inhabitants whose stories are recounted in the text.

Gallery: The Irish Country House

Tags: aristocrat, books, castles, coffee table books, country house, English country house, estates, historic houses, Ireland, UK

Warm Up with Kellan Irish Whiskey

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

In cooler weather we often turn to whiskey and brandy to help keep us warm. Kellan Irish Whiskey is a relatively new and delectable addition to the U.S. market, so far only available in a handful of states but rapidly gaining ground.

Kellan is a unique blend of malt and grain Irish whiskey, double distilled and aged over four years in American oak barrels previously used to mature bourbon, a common practice with Scotch whisky but relatively rare with Irish blends, which can lack fullness as a result.

The double distillation method helps maintain the natural flavor of Kellan's raw ingredients, while the bourbon barrels help impart a rich character resulting a full-bodied Irish blended whiskey that has a smooth malty and sweet start, with a perfect balance ending in a tingle of honey citrus fruit.

Kellan is produced at the Cooley Distillery, one of the only three distilleries in Ireland, and the only independent distillery in the country. Cooley was recently honored with the prestigious title of World and European Distiller of the Year at the 2008 International Wine and Spirits Competition Awards.

Tags: brandy, Cooley Distillery, distillery, Ireland, Irish whiskey, Kellan Irish Whiskey, UK, whiskey, whisky

Gurthalougha House, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Billionaire John Paul Getty III has listed his Irish hideaway, Gurthalougha House in County Tipperary overlooking the river Shannon. Homes and Property UK reports that Getty and his mother Gail moved into the 12-bedroom Victorian shooting lodge 12 years ago and paid an estimated £1 million. Getty is also actor Balthazar Getty's father.

The home is on 100 acres that is brimming with wildlife and scenic beauty. The main home has been well renovated and is a mix of formal spaces as well as cozier alcoves full of antiques and interesting paintings and other works of art. There is also a two-bedroom guest house. This property is now listed for £4.5 million through Knight Frank.

Gallery: Gurthalougha House

Tags: balthazar getty, county tipperary, estate of the day, ireland, john paul getty iii

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Ireland's Largest Hotel In Receivership

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

The Citywest Hotel in Dublin, Ireland is the latest hotel to hit hard times. The four-star Citywest development has been placed into receivership by Bank of Scotland (Ireland). The property has over 1,700 rooms, two golf courses, a separate convention center and a helipad and the hotel website lists it as Ireland's largest hotel.

Ferris Associates has been appointed as receiver to HSS, which trades as the Citywest Hotel, Conference Centre, Leisure and Golf Resort and Jeffel, a land-holding company. The company owes the Bank of Scotland 180 million euros. Ferris associates has appointed Dalata Ltd, a hotel operating company, to run the hotel and Citywest's 400 staff will continue to be employed. The Citywest Hotel was founded by well-known and often controversial local businessman Jim Mansfield 18 years ago. His other properties including Palmerstown Golf Club, Finnstown Hotel and Weston Airport are not affected by the receivership. An executive for the hotel has called the move premature, saying the hotel is currently in talks for a buyout.

Tags: citywest, dublin, hotels in trouble, ireland, receivership

Waterford Opens New Visitors Center

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

Waterford Crystal welcomed in a new era with the official opening of the House of Waterford Crystal on the Mall in the heart of Waterford City in Ireland this week. The new compound includes a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, visitor center and a retail store. It has been 18 months since the former company plant at Kilbarry closed its doors after the brand went into receivership. The new center offers over 100 jobs for employees. The Irish Independent reports that it is hoped that at least 200,000 visitors will come to the new Waterford center rising eventually to equal the numbers for the old plant at Kilbarry. Much of Waterford's crystal is now created in central and eastern Europe but the new plant will produce around 40,000 pieces and will serve as a central hub for the brand's designers.

This new center is the result of an agreement between WWRD Holdings Limited , the luxury goods group which now owns and operates the Waterford Crystal, Wedgwood and Royal Doulton brands, and Waterford City Council (as shown above, the Irish, American and British flags fly outside the center). The new facility represents more than just a new place to showcase Waterford, it shows that the brand hasn't given up, that the tradition lives on. The House of Waterford is located two miles from the city center on the N25 Cork Road in Waterford, Ireland. Factory tours are open to the public all year round, Monday to Sunday and guided tours are also available seven days a week. For more details on scheduling a visit, www.waterfordvisitorcentre.com

Tags: crystal, ireland, waterford, waterford crystal

Ireland's Most Expensive House Gets A Price Cut

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Dramatic real estate price cuts aren't strictly an American thing. The Irish Independent tells the story of the Lyons Demesne estate in County Kildare which has a price drop from 80 million euros to 50 million euros. The 600-acre Lyons Demesne estate in Kildare was owned by the late Tony Ryan. He founded Guinness Peat Aviation and his son Cathal founded Ryanair. Tony Ryan is said to have spent 100 million restoring the state before his death in 2007. His restoration won several awards for refurbishment.

Ryan's sons, Declan and Shane Ryan put the property on the market last year with the highest price tag ever seen on an Irish house. The Georgian style house was originally commissioned by Lord Cloncurry in 1785 and is on nearly 600 acres. It has 19th-century Italian frescoes by artist Gaspare Gabrielli in its drawing room. other features include a cinema, gymnasium, indoor swimming pool, wine cellar and seven bedrooms in the main house as well as four other bedrooms in a guest wing and staff quarters. The property also has five lodges, formal gardens, and a spring-fed lake with a boathouse. The listing is being marketed internationally through Christie's Great Estates.

Tags: country kildare, ireland, ireland real estate, lyons demesne estate, most expensive house

Irish Governments May Wind up in the Luxury Business

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Three high-profile London hotels could wind up in the hands of the government soon. The Berkeley, Claridges and Connaught, all owned by Maybourne Hotel Group, are at risk of being controlled by the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA), due to the terms of a €16 billion loan. And, there wil probably be more.

In Ireland, five hotels could fall victim to the impact of economic woes on their developers. Loans totaling €80 billion could push the prestigious hotels – the Shelbourne, K-Club, Ritz-Carlton Wicklow, Radisson and G Hotel in Galway – into the hands of the state. Even if the loans don't go into default, the fact that they used government relief could push control to NAMA.

Depending on how the situation unfolds, NAMA could become one of the largest hotel owners in the world, a dicey proposition for the properties given the agency's lack hospitality experience. There's a shot that 100 hotels could find their way to NAMA's portfolio according to the Irish Hotel Foundation, and others in the industry put the potential at double that amount. The problem is that these assets aren't easy to manage.

Some of the properties that could wind up in NAMA's hands fall distinctly into the luxury sector. The lowest priced hotel in the Maybourne Group comes in at €643 a night (for the Berkeley). At the Connaught, you could wind up dropping more than £8,000 a night. Given the stakes involved, some the developers will be kept on to manage the new properties, though there are cases where NAMA will bring in a new team.

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Tags: hotel, hotels, ireland, london, luxury hotel, luxury hotels, radisson, RadissonHotelsAndResorts, ritz, ritz carlton, ritz-carlton

Billionaire Plans $100 Vouchers To Tempt Tourists To Ireland

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Big Givers

Billionaire Chuck Feeney has spread his philanthropy around the world as far as Australia and his latest plan is to help boost Irish tourism. The Irish-American philanthropist is working on a plan to give $100 vouchers to American tourists who visit Ireland. According to the London Times, tourism minister Martin Cullen said that Feeney got in touch with him after the Global Irish Economic Forum in Farmleigh, where business people got together to discuss the economy.

Feeney made his money through duty free products and in 1982 he set up Atlantic Philanthropies, which gives money to initiatives in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, as well as other places. Ireland's tourism industry slipped along with the rest of the world in 2009, falling by 12 percent. The vouchers which have a total value of up to $5 million, would be used for discount flights and hotel stays and could boost tourism numbers by 50,000.

Tags: atlantic philanthropies, AtlanticPhilanthropies, billionaire, chuck feeney, ChuckFeeney, ireland, tourism

Simply Red Singer In Complicated Land Dispute

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

I already knew that Simply Red singer Mick Hucknall had his own wine label, Il Cantante, in Italy but apparently the singer also is in the tourism business. Hucknall and his bandmate, saxophonist Christopher De Margary, have set up a business, the Glenmore Rivers Sporting Estate in northwest Ireland, that takes guests on hunting adventures. But the pair are currently embroiled in a dispute with a neighbor over land rights. The Glenmore River Sporting Estate is located across the River Finn from another game lodge Cloghan Lodge. Glenmore has accommodations for eight guests at a time in a newly built five-bedroom sporting lodge. According to the AP, Hucknall and De Margary say they bought the exclusive fishing and hunting rights to about 19,000 acres of County Donegal land for 1.3 million euros in 2005 but John Wilde, the proprietor of Cloghan Lodge says he already owns those rights and has been kicking Glenmore's guests off the land.

Hucknall's lawyers supplied an affidavit from the Mackie family attesting to their 2005 deal but the Wilde family says that the Mackies had already given them the exclusive right to hunt there. Judge John O'Hagan in Letterkenny Circuit Court has adjourned the case to December 11 to hear Wilde's side of the story. Hucknall's lawyer has said that his client is hoping that the lodges can coexist and simply keep to their own sides of the river.

Tags: glenmore, ireland, land, mick hucknall, MickHucknall, simply red, SimplyRed

Hirst College Collage Good for $50K

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Auctions, Art

A college project by artist Damien Hirst sold at auction last week for roughly $50,000. The collage, "Red Rubber Ball," sold at the low end of the estimate, which ranged up to $80,000. The piece includes a variety of found objects, such as a toy rabbit, a severed head from a doll and a dried out rose. Originally, Damien Hirst gave the piece to Julie Balmforth, who studied with him at Goldsmiths College.

The collage measures 39.5 inches by 31.5 inches and sold at Duke's of Dorchester, in Dorset. While the buyer's identity was not revealed, auctioneer Guy Schwinge would say that it went to an Irish collector "who is very excited at his purchase."

Whoever picked up the piece did buy something rare: a piece actually created with Hirst's own hands.

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Tags: art, art auction, art auctions, ArtAuction, ArtAuctions, artist, artwork, auction house, auction houses, AuctionHouse, AuctionHouses, damien hirst, DamienHirst, dorchester, dorset, dorset england, DorsetEngland, goldsmiths, hirst, ireland

Irish Island Getaway at Inishturkbeg

by Laura Malesich (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Off the western coast of Ireland with Croagh Patrick (or The Reek) Mountain within view, the secluded island of Inishturkbeg offers a sea-surrounded environment perfect for a family vacation or corporate getaway. Chock full of outdoor activities on land and sea with a variety of accommodations boasting scenic views and rustic yet luxurious island intimacy, Inishturkbeg could be the perfect answer to your need for a unique escape.

From archery and shooting to boating, ball games and animal husbandry this is not your typical resort. Enjoy the spa, roam the island's vast open space, or kick up a game of football on the pitch. You can choose between simply staying on the island among other retreat-ists or rent the entire island for your own private Irish excursion. For instance, rent Reek Cottage for two, four or seven days for just €2,250, €3,700 or €5,850 respectively. Likewise, you can rent the entire island exclusively for two, four or seven days for €17,400, €29,250 or €47,000 respectively.

All stays are fully catered utilizing the island's free range farm, home to chickens, rare Kerry Cattle, and over 100 sheep along with freshly grown fruits, vegetables and herbs. Additionally, the vast variety of delicious seafood available just beyond the edge of the island completes the menus. Lunch and dinner are provided while breakfast welcomes guests to help themselves to the fully-stocked kitchens. A wide selection of wines and spirits are also available of course.

Gallery: Inishturkbeg

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Tags: croagh patrick, CroaghPatrick, inishturkbeg, ireland, island getaway, IslandGetaway

Michael Collins Irish Whiskey Wins Double Gold in SF

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Michael Collins, which is distilled at Ireland's last independently owned distillery, Cooley, just won a Double Gold Medal in the Single Malt Irish Whiskey category at the 2009 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Michael Collins Irish Whiskeys are double distilled to retain the flavor characteristics of their premium ingredients. Aged in small bourbon seasoned casks, they are refined, flavorful and well-balanced. The brand is named after the Irish national hero.

Michael Collins handcrafted Single Malt is bold with a distinctive and unexpected lightly peated style. Aged for a minimum of 8 - 12 years, it has aromas of chocolate malt with light citrus and honeysuckle notes.

Well-rounded and complex with rich maltiness, it finishes long with a hint of chocolate and smoke that lingers on the palate, and comes in a distinctive tall bottle. Michael Collins blend also won honors in SF, bringing home a silver in the Blended Irish Whiskey Category.

Tags: Ireland, Irish whiskey, IrishWhiskey, Michael Collins, MichaelCollins, san francisco world spirits competition, SanFranciscoWorldSpiritsCompetition, single malt, SingleMalt, whiskey, whisky