Production places
Connections to water sources, peat places, maltings, cooperages, warehouses and maturation sites. Uncertain connections are labelled.
No documented production places are linked to this distillery yet.
History
Pearse Lyons Distillery is located in Dublin 8, in a beautifully restored 18th-century church - Church of St. James - in The Liberties. The distillery began distillation in 2012 as part of the brewing partners and opened in 2017 as home for Pearse Irish Whiskey. Behind the project are Pearse Lyons and his wife Deirdre, and the family has five generations of coopers. Pearse Lyons founded Alltech and continued to develop a business that binds brewing, distilling and coopering together. The aim was to preserve culture and craftsmanship while repurposing St. James's Church as the home for Pearse Whiskey. The Lyons family values tradition, innovation and commitment to craft highly, and the distillery draws on the historic connection to The Liberties and the city's whiskey history.
Production / Manufacturing
Pearse Lyons Distillery is a functioning distillery in a rebuilt church. Distillation activities began in 2012 as part of the brewery operation and became Pearse Lyons Distillery, which opened in 2017. Among production details highlighted is that part of the process takes place with open-top fermenters and pot stills, which lie as part of the church altar in a unique setting. Pearse 5-year-old single malt was described as the first single malt produced by a new distillery in Ireland in more than 25 years. The cask program is based on ex-Bourbon casks from Town Branch Distillery in Lexington, Kentucky, which mature Pearse products. Pearse Original 5 years and Pearse Distiller's Choice 7 years are blended Irish whiskeys, while Pearse Founder’s Choice 12 years is a single malt. In addition to whiskey, Ha'Penny portfolio includes gin and other products.
Products / Whiskey Series
-
Pearse Original 5 years — blended Irish whiskey of malt and grain, aged in Town Branch's ex-Bourbon casks in Kentucky, 43% ABV.
-
Pearse Distiller's Choice 7 years — blended Irish whiskey, primarily ex-Bourbon cask, a touch of Sherry, 43% ABV.
-
Pearse Founder's Choice 12 years — single malt Irish whiskey aged in bourbon cask from Town Branch, at least 12 years, 43% ABV.
-
Ha'Penny Four Cask Irish Whiskey — whiskey built from four different cask types and two styles, rich and spicy, 43% ABV.
-
Ha'Penny Original Irish Whiskey — a blended Irish whiskey in the Ha'Penny portfolio, 40% ABV.
-
In addition to these, Ha'Penny Dublin Dry Gin and Ha'Penny Rhubarb Gin are in the portfolio, which are not whiskey.
Visits / Experiences
Pearse Lyons Distillery is located in the heart of The Liberties and offers a range of bookable experiences such as Distillery Tour & Tasting, The Gin School Experience, The Art of Irish Whiskey Blending Experience and Cocktail Experience. All tours are guided in English by local storytellers. Children can participate, with certain price differences, and groups can receive discounts. Plan your visit, experience the history behind Pearse Irish Whiskey and the restoration of the church. The distillery is only a few minutes' walk from the Guinness Storehouse and is easily accessible by public transport.
Philosophy
The Lyons family has worked in brewing, distilling and coopering across five generations. The distillery's mission is to preserve cultural heritage and craftsmanship while building on a scientific approach and sustainability. Pearse Lyons Distillery illustrates a combination of heritage, innovation and family history in Dublin.