A Year in Review – From our CEO Richard The Earl Of Tyrone: Curraghmore Whiskey in 2025

As the year draws to a close, we’ve taken time to reflect on what 2025 has meant for Curraghmore. It was a year of building foundations and reaching important milestones — new releases, new members, and expansion into 3 new markets both Florida, Australia and Alberta, Canada. But most importantly laying down more of our Curraghmore Single Estate Pot Still Irish Whiskey expertly harvested by Ned Morrisey and managed by Noel Sweeney. A testament to our long term strategy and vision.

A New Chapter: The 2025 Triple Cask Edition

One of the defining moments of our year was the release of the 2025 Triple Cask Edition. This was defining not only because it marked reaching new shores but also because it launched our newly designed packaging. This was a vigorous process which took 18 months from start to finish. Our team worked tirelessly to make sure that we encapsulated 858 years of history and heritage from Curraghmore Estate. Not an easy task as we quickly found out but we are now proud to say that we got to where we wanted to go. The box design and new logo reflects the Architecture of Curraghmore house and the inside shows a beautiful map of the estate and the fields from which Ned harvests the precious barley and oats every summer. The copy tells the story of our whiskey philosophy and motto, ‘Tandem fit surculos arbor’  which means from a small shoot grows a great tree. This saying is synonymous with laying down whiskey with a vision for the future and the generations to come.

We produced just 2,400 bottles, 1,900 of which pre-sold before bottling. This gave us confidence that our model was one that was desired in market.

The new bespoke bottle, sculpted to feel both grounded and enduring, bears the crest of my father the 9th Marquess of Waterford and is presented in a custom gatefold box that opens like the entrance to the estate itself. The new brand identity, bottle and packaging were developed in collaboration with Here Design in London, with the generous support of Bord Bia here in Ireland. Crafted using cotton-touch materials, embossed textures and soft gold foiling, it was designed to feel substantial and enduring — something to keep, not cast aside. We introduced the new edition with an intimate gathering at The Mint Bar in the College Green Hotel, Dublin — a fitting setting to share this next chapter with friends, collectors and supporters of the brand.

You can purchase a bottle here 

An Irish Oak First: Curraghmore Cask Update

In July, something rare happened on the estate. For the first time, casks made from Irish oak felled and seasoned on Curraghmore land were filled with Curraghmore spirit. Some of these trees had fallen naturally, others were selectively harvested to support long-term woodland health. Now, as casks, they hold spirit drawn from the same soil.

The journey from tree to cask took years. Once felled, the oak was seasoned in the open air before being handcrafted into casks by master coopers from Huberto Domeq in Jerez Spain. The result is a rare and deeply unique offering — casks whose wood was shaped by the same soil, wind and rain that nourished the grain inside them.

This closed-loop relationship between grain, wood and water is the essence of single estate whiskey. It brings us one step closer to capturing the full expression of place — not just in the spirit, but in the structure that holds it as it matures. These casks will rest for years before we even begin to assess their influence. But already, they mark something important: a return to a way of making whiskey that is slow, grounded and specific. A chapter we’re quietly proud to have begun.

The Mad Marquess: A Spirited Release

This year also saw the debut of The Mad Marquess, a new blended Irish whiskey that brings a different side of Curraghmore to the fore. Inspired by the notorious Henry de la Poer Beresford, the 3rd Marquess of Waterford, the release channels a legacy of boldness, charm and irreverent spirit.

The 3rd Marquess was as famous for his exploits and enthusiastic approach to life – he was full of mischief. In 1837, while on a raucous night out in the English town of Melton Mowbray, he and his companions painted doors, signposts and even a tollgate bright red — an escapade so infamous it’s widely credited with giving rise to the phrase “to paint the town red.” It was a night that would define his legend: chaotic, audacious, and somehow, enduringly charismatic.

Fittingly, the whiskey named in his honour is bright, fruit-forward and full of personality. Designed to be approachable and spirited, it offers notes of citrus, orchard fruit and gentle spice — a blend that’s as comfortable in a cocktail as it is served neat. It’s a whiskey made for lively occasions and good company, without sacrificing craft or care.

First introduced in export markets including the UK and US, The Mad Marquess arrived home to Ireland in autumn, where it’s already begun to earn its place behind the bar and on the shelf. For us, it brings a welcome contrast to the more contemplative nature of our pot still expressions — a whiskey with swagger, but also substance. Just like its namesake. Designed to bring the fun back into Irish Whiskey and capture the party market

Not only that but it brings diversity to our portfolio and allows us to connect with different types of consumers in different environments all over the world. This is an exciting brand with huge potential.

Discover more about it here. 

A Growing Membership Community

2025 marked another year of meaningful growth for our Legacy Cask Membership. We have broken the 100 mark and have now sold 104 private casks held by a total of 248 members — a community made up of individuals, families, and syndicates who have chosen to become part of the Curraghmore story.

Each new member begins their journey with a personal Whiskey Fitting™, where we guide them through the process of selecting a cask that matches their flavour preferences and long-term ambitions. From there, members choose from a curated range of casks — including first-fill bourbon, sherry, and French oak — all filled with spirit distilled from our estate-grown barley and oats.

But cask ownership here is about more than whiskey. It’s about belonging to something lasting. Members are invited to experience the estate in their own way — whether through a private tour, seasonal tastings, or simply walking the land their whiskey grows from. Some choose to mark a milestone; others begin a tradition. All become part of a story that unfolds slowly, as good whiskey should.

Cask membership includes:

• A 200ml whiskey sample every 12 months from your maturing cask
• Three years of bonded, insured storage included
• The option to partially bottle or finish the whiskey in another cask type
• Fully bespoke bottling and labelling when ready
• Invitations to private events at Ten Stalls, our converted 19th-century stable block
• Access to the Curraghmore team and estate year-round

Among our 248 members are long-time whiskey collectors, first-time cask owners, and small groups who’ve come together to share in something memorable — to each of them, thank you. This part of Curraghmore is built with patience and shared purpose — and it’s a privilege to have you with us on the journey.

Enquire about our Legacy Cask Membership here.

Carefully Expanding Our Reach

We also widened our distribution this year, with the 2025 Triple Cask Edition and The Mad Marquess now available in select new markets, including Ireland, the US, Canada, Australia and the UK. Every bottle that leaves the estate carries our story with it, and we’re careful about where and how we grow. This isn’t about reaching everywhere at once, but about finding the right places, and the right people.

A huge thanks goes to our distribution partners, Southern Eagle Distribution LLC, Imported Brands, Lighthouse Drinks, Amazon, Dayla, True Vine Imports, Gran Cielo Imports and Ulster Distribution. You are all incredible partners to have, and we are very excited about working with you all in 2026.

Building for the Future: A Warehouse at Curraghmore

As the Curraghmore story grows, so does the need for a space that can hold it all — literally. In 2026, we plan to break ground on a new bonded maturation warehouse within the historic farmyard of the estate. Designed by Sheehan & Barry Architects and engineered by Robert Fox, this purpose-built structure will house up to 2,100 casks and bring all our maturing spirit under one roof for the first time. More than just a functional space, the warehouse will be open to visitors, offering the chance to walk among the rows of resting casks and take in the scent of the angel’s share. It’s a meaningful next step — one that deepens our commitment to doing everything on the estate, from seed to spirit to cask. Completion is expected by mid 2026, but already it stands as a quiet promise: that what we’re building is meant to last.

For me, personally, the completion of the warehouse will be very meaningful. To be able to see our members visit their own casks on Curraghmore Estate will be truly magical, and, not only that, the fact that it’s being built is a testament to their long-standing support of our vision and growth. It will be an exciting moment to see them touch, smell and taste their whiskey straight from their cask.

We’ll also be welcoming a dedicated sales lead to help shape our next chapter of growth. This person will be influential on our growth in 2026.

And of course, the next edition is already resting in the warehouse, slowly becoming what it’s meant to be.

With Thanks

To everyone who supported us this year — by opening a bottle, joining a tasting, gifting a cask, or simply following along — thank you. We don’t take any of it for granted. Curraghmore has always been a place where things grow slowly, and this whiskey is no exception. We’re looking forward to what comes next and wishing you and your families a very happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Sláinte 🥃

Richard and the team at Curraghmore Whiskey