Cooley Distillery

John Teeling bought a former State-owned industrial potato alcohol distillery in 1985. In less than two years, Teeling converted the distillery to have two column stills. In 1998, Cooley received a trophy at the International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC) for outstanding quality, and for earning an impressive reputation over time. Cooley was the first distillery to be awarded the trophy.

On 16 December 2011 Beam Inc. announced plans to purchase Cooley for around US$95 million (€71 million). The sale closed on 17 January 2012. Beam was then purchased by Suntory Holdings of Osaka, Japan on 30 April 2014, and since became its Suntory Global Spirits subsidiary. Since the change of ownership, visitor access to the distillery is limited and public tours are not available.

Following the sale, John Teeling went on to found the Great Northern Distillery in the nearest town, Dundalk, and his two children, Jack and Stephen, established the Teeling Whiskey Company in Dublin, establishing their brands using stock acquired from Cooley under the terms of the sale agreement with Beam, while building and bringing into production the Teeling Distillery.

Current products

Kilbeggan – a blended whiskey, Kilbeggan was originally distilled at the Kilbeggan Distillery, which was bought by Cooley in 1987. Best known for its non-age-stated version, in 2007, a 15-year aged version was released. An 18-year aged whiskey has also been released.

Kilbeggan Single Grain – formerly marketed as Greenore, this is a single grain whiskey, made with corn alone, and aged in Bourbon casks. Kilbeggan Single Grain is found with several age statements; 6-, 8-, 15-, and 18-year versions are produced, although the 15- and 18-year releases are relatively rare (5,000 and 4,000 bottles, respectively).

Connemara – a peated single malt whiskey, Connemara is double-distilled rather than the more usual triple-distillation process that most Irish whiskeys undergo. It is aged in Bourbon casks. Several versions are found; single-cask, cask-strength, 12-year, and a high-peat version called "Turf Mór."

The Tyrconnell – a single malt whiskey, The Tyrconnell was acquired as a brand by Cooley in 1988 after being dormant since 1925, when the old Watt's Distillery (the original producers of The Tyrconnell) closed.