Tullamore D.E.W. — Ireland's Most Characterful Irish Whiskey
Tullamore D.E.W. is one of Ireland's most celebrated, historic, and distinctive whiskey brands — a spirit of extraordinary smoothness, complexity, and character that has been produced in the heart of Ireland since 1829. With a heritage spanning nearly two centuries, a unique triple blend of three different whiskey styles, and a triple cask maturation process that imparts layers of flavour and depth, Tullamore D.E.W. is a whiskey of genuine distinction that has earned a devoted following of whiskey lovers around the world.
History & Heritage
The story of Tullamore D.E.W. begins in 1829, when the distillery was established in the town of Tullamore — the county town of County Offaly, in the heart of the Irish Midlands. The distillery was founded by Michael Molloy, and over the following decades it grew to become one of the most important and productive distilleries in Ireland, drawing on the finest local ingredients and the pure, soft water of the Irish Midlands to produce whiskey of exceptional quality.
The initials D.E.W. are one of the most celebrated and distinctive elements of the Tullamore brand — they stand for Daniel E. Williams, the extraordinary general manager who joined the distillery in 1887 as a young stable boy and rose through the ranks over the following decades to become the distillery's general manager and, eventually, its owner. Williams was a visionary figure who transformed Tullamore into one of Ireland's most celebrated and successful distilleries, and his initials were incorporated into the brand name as a permanent tribute to his extraordinary contribution to the distillery's history and success.
The distillery closed in 1954 and the brand was maintained by other producers for several decades before William Grant & Sons — the Scottish family spirits company behind Glenfiddich and Balvenie — acquired the Tullamore D.E.W. brand in 2010 and built a new, state-of-the-art distillery in Tullamore in 2014, returning production to the town of its origin for the first time in 60 years. Today, Tullamore D.E.W. is produced at this modern distillery in Tullamore, combining the latest distilling technology with the traditional methods and recipes that have defined the brand for nearly two centuries.
The Triple Blend: Three Whiskeys, One Extraordinary Spirit
The defining characteristic of Tullamore D.E.W. — and the innovation that sets it apart from virtually every other Irish whiskey on the market — is its unique triple blend of three different whiskey styles, each contributing its own distinctive character to the final blend:
Grain Whiskey — produced in column stills from a mash of corn and malted barley, grain whiskey is lighter, sweeter, and more neutral in character than malt or pot still whiskey. In the Tullamore D.E.W. blend, grain whiskey contributes the characteristic sweetness and approachability that makes the whiskey so immediately enjoyable.
Malt Whiskey — produced in pot stills from 100% malted barley, malt whiskey contributes the fruity, floral, and complex character that is the hallmark of the finest Irish and Scotch malt whiskies. In the Tullamore D.E.W. blend, malt whiskey provides the fruit flavours and aromatic complexity that give the whiskey its distinctive character.
Pot Still Whiskey — the most distinctively Irish of the three styles, pot still whiskey is produced in traditional copper pot stills from a mash of both malted and unmalted barley — a uniquely Irish production method that produces a whiskey of characteristic spice, creaminess, and complexity. Pot still whiskey is found almost exclusively in Irish whiskey, and it is the component that gives Tullamore D.E.W. its distinctive spicy, creamy character and sets it apart from Scotch whisky and American bourbon.
All three whiskey styles are triple distilled — a process that removes impurities and produces a spirit of exceptional smoothness and purity — before being blended in carefully considered proportions to create the characteristic Tullamore D.E.W. flavour profile.
Triple Cask Maturation
Tullamore D.E.W.'s maturation philosophy is as distinctive as its triple blend. The whiskey is matured in three different cask types — traditional refill barrels, ex-bourbon barrels, and ex-sherry butts — each imparting its own distinctive character to the maturing spirit. The refill barrels provide a neutral, gentle oak influence that allows the natural character of the whiskey to express itself; the ex-bourbon barrels add vanilla, caramel, and the characteristic sweetness of American oak; and the ex-sherry butts contribute dried fruit, spice, and the rich, complex character of Oloroso sherry. The combination of three cask types produces a whiskey of greater complexity, depth, and balance than any single cask type could achieve alone.
Our Range
Tullamore D.E.W. Original Irish Whiskey — 700mL & 1L — 40% ABV — The classic expression of Tullamore D.E.W. — a perfectly balanced harmony of the three whiskey styles (grain, malt, and pot still) and the three cask types (refill barrels, ex-bourbon, and ex-sherry). Fruity and spicy on the nose with the characteristic sweetness of grain whiskey, the fruit of malt whiskey, and the spice of pot still. Balanced complexity on the palate with fruity and spicy notes in perfect harmony. Smooth and approachable — a whiskey of genuine character that is as at home in a classic cocktail as it is sipped slowly neat. Available in both 700mL and 1L formats.
Tullamore D.E.W. 12 Year Old Irish Whiskey — 700mL — 40% ABV — The aged expression of Tullamore D.E.W., crafted from a carefully selected blend with a high proportion of pot still and malt whiskeys, triple cask-matured in bourbon and sherry casks for a minimum of 12 years. The extended maturation in two premium cask types produces a whiskey of greater depth, richness, and complexity than the Original — creamy, chocolate notes and robust spice on the palate, with the characteristic smoothness and balance of triple-distilled Irish whiskey. A whiskey of genuine sophistication and critical acclaim, recognised by whiskey connoisseurs worldwide.
How to Enjoy Tullamore D.E.W.
The Original is one of the world's most versatile whiskeys — outstanding neat at room temperature, over ice, or as the foundation of classic Irish whiskey cocktails. For a classic Irish Coffee, combine 45mL Tullamore D.E.W. Original with hot, strong coffee, a teaspoon of brown sugar, and a layer of lightly whipped cream floated on top. For a Whiskey Sour, combine 45mL Original with 30mL fresh lemon juice and 15mL sugar syrup, shake over ice, and strain into a chilled glass. The 12 Year Old is best enjoyed neat or with a few drops of still water to open its full aromatic complexity — a whiskey to be savoured slowly in appreciation of the 12 years of careful maturation that have produced it.
Explore our full Tullamore D.E.W. range below and discover why this Offaly distillery — with its 1829 heritage, its unique triple blend of grain, malt, and pot still whiskeys, and its triple cask maturation philosophy — is one of Ireland's most beloved and internationally celebrated whiskeys.
