Garavogue 20 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey

Garavogue 20 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey is the inaugural Irish release from Sazerac's Hawk's Rock Distillery in Sligo — a two-decade single malt aimed squarely at the drinker who prizes deeply aged, multi-cask Irish whiskey and wants a landmark first bottling on the shelf.

Process & Profile

Bottled at 47% ABV (94 proof), the whiskey was double-distilled and matured a minimum of 14 years in ex-bourbon American oak before being moved into a rotation of finishing casks — French Muscat, French Sauternes, Spanish Pedro Ximénez sherry, and Barbadian rum — across a full twenty years. It was assembled by Helen Mulholland, the first female Master Blender in Irish whiskey history, and takes its name from the River Garavogue, which runs past the distillery through Sligo town to the Atlantic.

On the nose, honeyed malt meets dried fruit and raisin, warm peach and spun sugar from the Sauternes influence, vanilla, and mellow oak.

On the palate, it is smooth and rounded, with orchard fruit, honey, toffee, and a soft curl of spice drawn out by the sherry and rum casks.

The finish is long and elegant, with lingering oak, honey, and a gentle warmth.

What sets this bottling apart is its provenance: it is the very first whiskey Sazerac has released under the Garavogue name, blended across an unusually wide finishing regime for aged Irish single malt and rolled out in limited quantities. For collectors, a debut 20-year release rarely arrives this fully formed.

Serve neat in a Glencairn, adding a few drops of water to open the fruit and oak.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this whiskey?
A 20-year single malt Irish whiskey, the debut release from Sazerac's Hawk's Rock Distillery in Sligo, blended by Master Blender Helen Mulholland.

What are the specs?
47% ABV (94 proof), aged 20 years (minimum 14 in ex-bourbon oak, then Muscat, Sauternes, PX sherry, and Barbadian rum casks), 700mL.

What does it taste like?
Honeyed malt, dried fruit, peach, and vanilla on the nose; orchard fruit, honey, toffee, and soft spice on the palate, closing long and elegant.

How should you enjoy it?
Neat in a Glencairn, with a few drops of water to open it up.

Why is this release notable?
It is the inaugural Garavogue bottling and the work of the first female Master Blender in Irish whiskey history.