Cooley Distillery is the only independent Irish-owned distillery. It is also the only distillery set up in Ireland this century. Located in the Cooley mountains there are 2 distilleries, between them capable of producing 12 million bottles a year. The pot still distillery produces single malts while the column still produces grain whiskey. The malt was first distilled in 1989 and grain distillation began in 1990.
Distillation is only part of the process.
Maturation and casks are vital. The whiskey is matured in oak barrels for up to 10 years in 200 year old granite warehouses in Locke's Distillery, one of the oldest distilleries in the world. Lockes which is has held a licence since 1757, is owned by Cooley. The horse's victory and its dream odds are still celebrated on its namesake's label today. It is a single malt, double-distilled Irish whiskey made by the Cooley distillery.