Proudly representing a salt-of-the-earth community who uphold the traditions of their people and place. Creating spirits founded on old styles of rural distilling and traditional ways of malting barley. From a distillery nestled in the beautiful setting of Carna Bay, a backdrop which will influence the taste, flavour and character of our whiskeys. Connemara is the very DNA of this whiskey.
Cnoc Buí (Yellow Hill), is named after the yellow lichen-covered boulders and gorse fields that cover the landscape in this area of Connemara.
This most beautiful and fascinating of locations is covered in these shades of yellow, brown and hints of gold for nearly eight months of the year. It is a scene that is simply synonymous with the peatlands of Connemara – where saffron-hued hills roll from the Twelve Bens Mountains down to the Atlantic Ocean.
There was no other name that could as proudly represent the landscape where we will make our whiskey.
OUR DISTILLERY
From the influence of barrels aged by the sea, and our unique use of barley and peat, to the people of ‘An Ghaeltacht’ who will craft this most Irish of Irish whiskeys. The inherently tough pace of life that is synonymous with Connemara is part of what will forge the character of our whiskeys, rooted in a spirit of defiance and unbroken tradition.
Our water will be drawn from Loch an Iarann (Lough Ierin), located in the hills overlooking Carna Bay. For centuries, Loch an Iarann has been known for the quality of its water, a place where seafarers took on fresh water before making the long journey across the Atlantic Ocean. This same water source will add to the character of each and every drop of whiskey released from our distillery.
A farmer and fisherman, Padraic Pheaits Anna lived in Tír an Fhia, a small village on Gorumna Island on the Connemara Coast.
PADRAIC WAS A HIGHLY REGARDED POITÍN DISTILLER, A NECESSARY SUBSISTENCE TO SUPPORT THE RAISING OF HIS GROWING FAMILY.
Padraic’s main trade routes were along the north shores of Galway Bay from Na hOileaín (The Islands) to the villages scattered along the shores of Galway City.
SAILING UNDER COVER OF DARKNESS, HE TRADED WITH FARMERS ON THE DAYS AFTER THE LOCAL FAIRS, WHEN HE KNEW THEY WERE FLUSH WITH MONEY AND A THIRST FOR A DROP OF HIS PEATED POITÍN.
A quiet man, he lived his entire life in Tír an Fhia, distilling Poitín well into his later years.
From the coastal village of Trá Bháin on Gorumna Island, Micil Phadraic Mhicheálín was a renowned illicit Poitín distiller and character.
MICIL WOULD ROW HIS CURRACH BOAT ACROSS THE OFTEN TREACHEROUS WATERS OF GALWAY BAY TO SELL HIS POITÍN CASKS TO DISTRIBUTORS ON THE ARAN ISLANDS AND VILLAGES DOTTED ACROSS NORTHWEST COUNTY CLARE.
Caught in the act of distilling by ‘Peelers’ sent from Galway, he was imprisoned on three separate occasions in the County Jail, now the site of the Galway Cathedral.
KNOWN ACROSS CONNEMARA FOR THE QUALITY OF HIS PRODUCE, HE HAD A REPUTATION FOR THE STRENGTH AND FLAVOUR OF HIS PRIZED POITÍN BATCHES.
Like Padraic, Micil lived a long life in his beautiful surroundings of South Connemara.
JOE CONNOLLY | FOUNDER
A native Irish speaker and former Hurling All Ireland winning captain with Galway, Joe is a true custodian of the unique traditions of Connemara.
JOE STANDS AS THE LINK BETWEEN THE CONNOLLY’S ILLICIT DISTILLING HERITAGE AND THE GENERATIONS OF DISTILLERS TO COME.
The story of our distilling heritage, combined with the rugged character of Carna as a location, will allow Cnoc Buí Distillery to create Irish whiskeys that will be appreciated by whiskey connoisseurs the world over.
BARRY CONNOLLY | FOUNDER
Barry represents the next generation of distillers in the Connolly family, who will proudly produce the finest quality of craft spirits.
By becoming fifth generation distillers we will join a select few families who have achieved this accolade.
.png){kind=logo}
