History

An Carn Distillery was founded by whiskey lovers – For Real Whiskey Drinkers. It sits at the foot of Carntogher Mountain in the Sperrins, a region known for its natural beauty and strong Gaelic culture. It is a family-farm distillery that strives to unite nature, culture and excellence in every bottle. The distillery's vision is to create a new kind of distillery that blends tradition with a modern approach and leaves a lasting mark. A timeless acorn metaphor is used: Tiny acorns grow into mighty oaks, and Irish whiskey is in a resurgence with rising demand and significant export growth.

Production / Manufacturing

An Carn uses traditional methods and equipment with a fresh approach. The production process is described in four stages: - Mashing: A specially built, hand-operated 1-ton mash run is used to extract fermentable sugars from the malt. - Fermentation: Fermentation lasts around 72 hours, almost double the industry standard, which promotes complex esters and a creamy fruitiness. - Distillation: Head distiller Bel (named after the Celtic god) is used in a double-distillation process in traditional copper pot-stills for a complete and deep spirit. - Maturation: A combination of cask types (American oak and sherry) as well as a special cask provides flexibility to create unique flavor profiles. The Master Distiller oversees each cask, and the process also includes a peated profile from the local peat, which adds smoky layers. The water comes from Lough Bann Spring, and the spring water through the area determines the whiskey's character.

Environmental and waste management are part of the ethos: the distillery is powered by a generator that uses waste oil (used cooking oil) as fuel. By-products are handled responsibly: draff is used as cattle feed, and the spent wash is stored as fertilizer on the farm. From field to glass describes the journey from grain to finished spirit.

Products / Whisky Series

An Carn focuses on creating something new and locally rooted. They have an Experimental Series and the An Carn Comhaltas Club, where members get early access to special releases and the opportunity to visit the distillery at special events. There is also an extensive Cask Programme: - Experimental Series: Membership gives priority to experimental and concept bottlings as well as access to tours and events through the Comhaltas Club. - An Carn Cask Programme: Opportunity to buy a cask of Sperrin Whiskey. Available cask types include 200 liter first-fill ex-bourbon and 100 liter first-fill ex-bourbon (both with new malt or pot still spirit). Each cask is numbered and personalized, and contains among other things five years of aging and transfer to bottling at 46% ABV or cask strength. The ticket package also includes an Owners Certificate and the possibility to visit the cask during aging. The prices and details show that a 200L cask starts around £4850 upfront, with an estimated 364 bottles at 46% ABV, plus additional costs (bottling, duty, etc.). There is also an option for An Carn to buy back the cask after the aging period.

There is also a larger Founders Programme, where a 200L First Fill Bourbon-spirit can be bought for around £8000 per cask (with 364 bottles at 46%), and where there is also 5 years of storage, equipment, and special benefits including samples of representative casks and a unique ownership certificate. Each cask-involved owner can visit and have the opportunity for cask bottling at a later date. Additionally, potential value appreciation is communicated through annual exhibitions and the possibility to sell back to the distillery under certain conditions.

The Sperrin Whiskey project aims to be the first functional whiskey factory in the Sperrins and focuses on single malt and pot still production with a peated character and various finish casks. The maturation strategy includes handling different cask types to create unique finished products and future limited editions.

Visits / Experiences

Memberships (An Carn Comhaltas Club) not only provide access to several limited-edition bottlings but also the opportunity to visit the distillery at special events and occasions. There is a focus on backstage experiences, meeting Makers, and walkthrough of the process from grain to glass. Members also receive early access to limited bottles and discounts in the distillery shop, and there are open invitations to visit the casks aging over the years.

Philosophy

An Carn operates as a true Irish farm distillery: rooted in nature, culture and a commitment to quality in every bottle. They aim to be a bridge between tradition and innovation and emphasize using locally grown barley and peat from the Sperrin region. The water source (Lough Bann Spring) and the local peat contribute to the whiskey's character. Environmental sustainability through the use of waste-based energy sources and reuse of by-products underscores their long-term ambition to be a modern, responsible producer of Irish whiskey.