Stories

Whisky is a passion to explore. From the history of the spirit to the evolution of the industry, the story of whisky helps fuel that passion. Often, it’s easy to forget that whisky is also a global multibillion dollar industry. The stories of whisky — from news and new releases to in-depth inquires and what goes on behind the label — blend together to help us appreciate the spirit of whisky.

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Feckin, A Saintly Irish Whiskey

Feckin Irish Whiskey. Image courtesy Feckin/Echlinville Distillery.

March 27, 2015 – Admit it, you’ve probably seen a bottle of Feckin Irish Whiskey on the shelf and snickered a bit…probably considered it a novelty and moved on. Turns out there really was a St. Feckin in Ireland, and even though he was a teetotaler, his name lives on in the whiskey Shane Braniff created in 2005. Braniff blends his whiskey from stocks distilled at Cooley Distillery, and while Feckin has achieved cult whiskey status, he’ll admit that there are places where his whiskey will never be sold because of the name.

Listen to Mark Gillespie’s interview with Shane Braniff:

In 2013, Braniff and his family opened Northern Ireland’s first new distillery in 125 years. The Echlinville Distillery’s spirit won’t be ready until at least August of 2016, but in addition to Feckin and its spiced variation, Braniff has also worked to revive one of Irish Whiskey’s legendary brands. Dunville’s hasn’t been produced since 1936, when the Belfast Distillery closed. The first release of Dunville’s is expected soon – an Irish malt whiskey finished in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks.

Tasting notes for Feckin

Links: Feckin Irish Whiskey | Echlinville Distillery