Family Lore & Tradition
The History
At least 12 generations of the Walsh family are known to have farmed on the foothills of Croagh Patrick in Mayo.
The earliest available census from 1901 records a family of 9 in a two-roomed thatched cottage, quaintly described as “second class”. The head of the household, my great grandfather Patrick, listed his occupation as a tenant farmer, rather that his actual vocation of Poitin maker, for which he had a first class reputation throughout the County of Mayo.
A tradition passed on through multiple generations. The small family farm adjoins the commonage on the often mist-shrouded mountain, which would have hidden the smoke of the turf-fired copper still. If detected by Revenue, all he had to do was jump over his wall. Patrick is believed to have been incarcerated and charged with illicit distillation on several occasions, but no record of any conviction can be found.
My late father – also Patrick – often reminisced about hiding bottles in the cabbage patch as a child whenever a raid was rumoured. He would have been immensely proud to see the family tradition acknowledged and finally legal.
Located in the old St. Patrick’s Woollen Mills, in Douglas, Cork, we believe that our company is a confluence of serendipity, tradition, modern technology and a worldwide appetite for authentic products, people and experiences.
Our “Spirit” is a homage to my forebears and their endeavours.
- Cyril Walsh, Co-Founder -
Taste the Difference
Our goal is to produce spirits of character, taste and personality. Most of the spirits we consume today are produced from grains, as they contain high levels of easily converted sugars. We have instead chosen potato as the alcohol base for our Vodka and Gins because of its unique natural sweetness, and its amazing versatility.
As potato has just 20% available dry starch matter, this makes the process much more expensive, but more than compensates for the extra time and effort with its unique taste, aroma and smoother mouth-feel.
Using small batch artisanal methods, we produce 100% Potato Vodka and a variety of Potato Gins. The added feature of a grain-free distillation is that it’s also naturally gluten-free.
We source New Make and Mature Whiskeys from a number of other Irish distilleries, and mature in carefully hand-selected oak casks in our bonded warehouse until ready for blending and bottling. This rare flexibility affords us the opportunity to patiently curate, nurture and craft our very own signature whiskeys. All of our whiskeys commence maturation in first-fill bourbon barrels, finished in either port, sherry, rum or cognac casks.
The proof is in the bottle.
Appreciated by many.
Awards & Milestones
April 2014: Company Incorporated An Práta ion Teoranta
Aug 2014: Company renamed – St. Patrick’s Distillery Limited
April 2015: Launched Potato Vodka & Potato Classic Juniper Gin
May 2015: Launched Potato Sloe & Honey, Potato Elderflower and Potato Extra Dry Gin
July 2015: Launched Oak Aged Irish Whiskey
Oct 2015: Silver Medal, Blas na hÉireann Awards, Potato Elderflower Gin
Oct 2015: Silver Medal, Blas na hÉireann Awards, Oak Aged Irish Whiskey
Oct 2015: Bronze Medal, Blas na hÉireann Awards, Potato Classic Juniper Gin
Oct 2015: Gold Medal, Irish Whiskey Awards, Potato Vodka
Nov 2015: First Export order to Germany
June 2016: Awarded Origin Green Status
July 2016: Gold Cup Winner, European C2C Spirit Awards held in Germany, Elderflower Gin
Oct 2016: First Export order to USA
Oct 2016: Silver Medal, Blas na hÉireann Awards, Potato Elderflower Gin
Oct 2016: Silver Medal, Blas na hÉireann Awards, Oak Aged Irish Whiskey
Oct 2016: Best Irish Cask Strength Whiskey, Irish Whiskey Awards, Cask Strength Irish Whiskey
Oct 2016: Bronze Medal, C2C Spirits Cup, Germany, Oak Aged Irish Whiskey
Oct 2016: Bronze Medal, C2C Spirits Cup, Germany, Single Malt Irish Whiskey
Oct 2016: Gold Medal, C2C Spirits Cup, Germany, Cask Strength Irish Whiskey
Dec 2016: First Export order to Russia (Including our Gold Medal Award Winning Potato Vodka)
March 2017: Approved as a Guaranteed Irish member
March 2017: First Export order to UK
June 2017: First Export to Canada
Oct 2017: Irish Cask Strength Whiskey Blas na hÉireann Finalist
Oct 2017: Moonshine Blas na hÉireann Finalist
July 2018: Potato Vodka – Silver Medal International Wine & Spirit (IWSC)
July 2018: Classic Gin – Silver Medal International Wine & Spirit (IWSC)
July 2018: Extra Dry Gin – Silver Medal International Wine & Spirit (IWSC)
Oct 2018: 7 Year Old Irish Whiskey – Silver Medal Blas na hÉireann
Feb 2019: Launch in UK – PUB19 Exhibition with Moonshine Inc Ltd.
Feb 2019: Irish Spirit Distillery of the Year 2019 – AI Global Media
March 2019: First Export to China
May 2019: 2019’s Most Outstanding Spirits Distillery, Ireland – CV Magazine / the Corporate Excellence Awards
Oct 2019: Gold Medal, Blas na hÉireann Irish Food & Drink Awards – 10 Year Old Irish Whiskey
Oct 2019: Gold Medal, Blas na hÉireann Irish Food & Drink Awards – Irish Cream Liqueur
Oct 2020: Silver Medal, Blas na hÉireann Awards, 7 Year Old Irish Whiskey
May 2021: Silver Medal, London Spirits Competition, Oak Aged Irish Whiskey
May 2021: Silver Medal, London Spirits Competition, 7 Year Old Irish Whiskey
May 2021: Silver Medal, London Spirits Competition, Single Malt, Cognac Cask Finish
May 2021: Silver Medal, London Spirits Competition, Irish Cream Liqueur
May 2021: Silver Medal, London Spirits Competition, Salted Caramel Irish Cream Liqueur
May 2021: Bronze Medal, London Spirits Competition, Potato Vodka
June 2021: Gold Outstanding Medal (98) (IWSC) Peated Single Malt Irish Whiskey
June 2021: Silver Medal (IWSC) 10 Year Old Irish Whiskey
June 2021: Bronze Medal (IWSC) Cognac Cask Finished Single Malt Irish Whiskey