Waterford is Ireland’s oldest city and was founded by the Vikings in the 9th century. By this time it is believed that Irish monks brought the technique of distilling back to Ireland from their travels to the Mediterranean countries and through experimentation had invented the first distillate called Uisce Beatha – water of life.

The oldest known written record of whiskey in its current form comes from Ireland in 1405 in the Irish Annals of Clonmacnoise, Co. Offaly, right around the time King Richard II visited Waterford. Waterford was a vital trading port to the country of Ireland and no doubt had a large hand in the exporting of whiskey from Ireland where until recently hadn’t distilled and created whiskey in over 200 years. Though Waterford and the Irish Whiskey industry suffered greatly in the early 20th century due to the Irish Civil War and the American prohibition era, the Irish whiskey industry survived and was eventually sold worldwide.

While both Waterford and Irish Whiskey have had a long, interesting and sometimes difficult history, we have recently seen the resurgence and revival of Irish Whiskey. We now have many new distilleries setting up around the country along with the distilleries that have weathered the test of time, both of which we eagerly await tasting what they have to offer in the future.