A momentous collaboration between The Last Drop Distillers and Louise McGuane
The Last Drop Distillers has launched its 32nd release – a 32-Year-Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey – in collaboration with the founder of J.J. Corry, Louise McGuane
Words: Jemima Wilson
In association with:
Sharing and savouring a glass of delicious, aged Irish whiskey and contemplating the stories behind it; the people who created it; and how the world has changed since it came off the still, is something to be treasured.
Irish Whiskey is one of the fastest-growing spirits categories in the world, and, with many of those involved in its renaissance being forward-looking, ground-breaking women, its future looks bright.
Case in point: The Last Drop Distillers, led by Rebecca Jago, has launched its first-ever Irish whiskey: a Signature 32-Year-Old Single Malt Whiskey, created in collaboration with Louise McGuane, founder of Irish whiskey bonder J.J. Corry. This momentous partnership - born from a tasting of J.J. Corry's exceptionally rare Irish whiskeys between Rebecca, Louise and Helen Mulholland, Master Blender of Lough Gill distillery and a legendary figure in Irish whiskey - showcases the evolution of whiskey bonding and some of the pioneering women working in the category.
Revolutionary ideas like this are ingrained within the philosophy of The Last Drop. Established in 2008 by the partnership of two icons of the drinks industry, Tom Jago and James Espey OBE, The Last Drop is an innovator within the world of rare and remarkable spirits, seeking out truly exceptional liquids from around the globe. Unfettered by category, their only criteria is that the spirit should be “old but fresh, and truly delicious”. With a philosophy of quality over quantity, the company has released just 32 limited bottlings to date, across Scotch Whisky, Cognac, Port, Bourbon, Rum and Japanese Whisky, comprising fewer than 14,000 bottles in total.
Today, Irish whiskey is added to this list - as The Last Drop's third Signature Creation, and 32nd release - and there has never been a more exciting time to write a new chapter in the company’s evolving story.
Louise McGuane
The number of distilleries and whiskey brands in Ireland has exploded in recent years; according to the Irish Whiskey Association, there are now over 40 distilleries in operation, compared to just four in 2010. In 2013, Louise McGuane began noticing this rise in production and popularity first-hand, and made it her mission to elevate the perception of Irish whiskey on the world stage.
Following a career working in the drinks industry across the world, including New York, London, Paris and Singapore, Louise returned to her family’s farm in Cooraclare, Ireland, where a chance discovery of a label on a 130-year-old label whiskey bottle in an antique shop would change her future. In two-colour, hand-drawn type, the label read: “Mature Irish whiskey, bonded & carefully bottled by J.J. Corry. Kilrush Co. Clare.” Louise threw herself into discovering more about J.J Corry and the art of whiskey bonding, and in doing so, revived the historic brand, which had ceased to exist in the 1930s.
As the first new Irish whiskey bonder for almost 100 years, the award-winning J.J. Corry is today one of the drivers of this re-emerging category, not least with the creation of The Last Drop's Signature 32-Year-Old Single Malt Whiskey.
Dromoland Castle, Ireland
This bold and exciting collaboration would not have been possible without The Last Drop Assembly, of which Louise is a founding member. The Assembly is a coalition of six experts from different spirit categories, with the collective aim of sharing expertise, ideas, experience, and knowledge with a group of people in pursuit of excellence in all that they do.
“The idea for The Assembly came from our passion for both the spirits industry, and the people making a difference within it,” explained Rebecca Jago, Managing Director of The Last Drop Distillers. “I have admired and been friends with Louise for several years now, and the opportunity to partner with her on the creation of our first Irish Whiskey release has been a defining moment for The Last Drop. To be able also to work with one of the most iconic of Irish Whiskey blenders, Helen Mulholland, has made the experience even more wonderful: as wonderful as the final whiskey!”
Indeed, the story behind this latest Signature Creation began thanks to the friendship and shared passion between Rebecca, Louise and Helen, which led the three to convene at J.J. Corry one evening to taste a range of exceptionally rare Irish whiskeys from Louise’s liquid archive.
Rebecca Jago, Helen Mulholland and Louise McGuane
Rebecca then asked Louise to create a special Signature whiskey which would become The Last Drop’s first-ever Irish whiskey release. Louise used a selection of casks from J.J. Corry’s flavour library, which had held ageing spirit for over 30 years. An olfactory curation of whiskeys categorised in ‘blocks’ by tasting notes were chosen, and the final array of vintage 1991 Single Malt whiskeys were married together, placed into an ex-Oloroso Sherry Butt for finishing, and finally bottled at 32 years old.
Louise described the experience of working with The Last Drop to create this Signature Release as a 'career highlight'.
“I have been inspired by the work of The Last Drop for many years, and its mission to discover and showcase these truly exceptional spirits speaks to my most fervent passion for this industry,” she says. “To be invited to become a member of The Assembly was an honour, and to be asked to collaborate with Rebecca and Helen - a true idol of mine - on the creation of this beautiful Irish Whiskey is a dream come true. This is a singular moment to celebrate the Irish Whiskey category, and the coming together of three women with a common passion and a common goal.”
Louise McGuane and Rebecca Jago
The tasting notes for Release No 32 - defined by Louise and Helen - are characterised by a smooth intriguing aroma on the nose, combining apple, dried fruit, warming cinnamon spice and burnt sugar sweetness. Meanwhile, a hint of oak signals you are about to taste something very special. Only a malt whiskey of this age could provide the smooth subtle warmth that builds on the palate. The years of maturation have rounded and refined this liquid, creating a lightness, with touches of rich creamy raisins, toasted almonds, sweet praline and dark chocolate. The comforting warmth remains in the finish, a dark chocolate bitterness comes through, and fruit cake combining the raisins and nuts returns before cleanly disappearing.
This is a rich and majestic Single Malt Irish whiskey to be savoured and remembered, worthy of ‘treasure-seeking’ status, and befitting of the collaboration between three of the industry's most passionate champions.
Bottled at 46.4% ABV, this exceptional whiskey comprises just 663 bottles worldwide, with a suggested retail price of £2,250 including VAT for 700ml plus a 50ml miniature.
Want more from The Last Drop Distillers? Learn about its Tawny Ports
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