Skibbereen whiskey to sponsor hockey club

A SKIBBEREEN whiskey is to sponsor a well-known Cork city hockey club.

Hyde Irish Whiskey – aged in the West Cork town – announced this week that it is the official sponsor of one of Cork’s best known sports clubs – the Church of Ireland Hockey Club, based at the Garryduff Sports Centre in Rochestown.

The premium whiskey is a limited edition, single malt, Irish whiskey – the first to be aged in West Cork in over 100 years. 

‘Hyde Irish Whiskey is very much a family business,’ says Alan Hyde. 

‘It was born and reared’ in West Cork ,where eight generations of our family were local vintners and blacksmiths.’ 

Alan describes Hyde whiskey as a ‘presidential quality’ Irish whiskey – available in 14 markets – crafted in small batches to celebrate the inaugural appointment of Ireland’s very first president Douglas Hyde on 25th June 1938. 

‘Our single malt Irish whiskey is aged for 10 years - matured in Skibbereen, nestled in the spectacular landscape of West Cork,’ he explains. 

The whiskey is distilled in a traditional copper pot still and aged for 10 years in flame-charged, first fill, oak Bourbon barrels and then finished off in toasted Olosoro Sherry from the Cadiz region of Spain or in Rum casks to give it a smooth but rich flavour. 

This limited edition Irish whiskey is non-chilled filtered and cut using pure, natural West Cork spring water which gives it a unique character. Each bottle carries a unique serial number and can be traced right back to its original cask. 

Alan Hyde says Hibernia Distillers and Hyde Irish Whiskey are proud to be at the forefront of bringing artisan Irish whiskey back to the global market: ‘There is a global trend towards smaller independent spirits with a real story behind them,’ says Alan. 

‘Consumers are increasingly turning towards premium, niche products that offer something different. Hyde is made on a small scale, with local Irish ingredients and pure West Cork spring water.’

HYDE No2; a 10-year-old Rum Cask finished version, is due for a launch shortly, to accompany the original HYDE No1 Sherry Cask finished single malt.

The Church of Ireland Hockey Club in Garryduff is an open, mixed club that traces its history back to 1911.

Home to two senior Irish international cricketers, the southside city club has over 200 adult members drawn from all age groups and encourages new talent through its award winning youth section, led by a former Olympic cricketer.