History

Fore Distillery was founded in 2021 by Oliver Guirke and sits in the shadow of Fore Abbey in County Westmeath. Oliver, a Meath man, discovered his love of distilling while living in the United States and wanted to bring the distilling techniques he learned in Kentucky and other American states back home and merge them with the wild Irish landscape. The distillery sits on the edge of Fore Valley and Fore Abbey inspired him to realise his vision. The name Fore stems from the Gaelic word fobhair, describing the freshwater sources that feed the area. Fore Abbey's history dates back to the 7th century with St. Féichín and the Seven Wonders in the area; in the 12th century Fore Abbey was a Benedictine monastery; in the 17th century Uisce Beatha - Poitín was outlawed; in the 21st century, in 2021, Fore Distillery was established. Oliver is a local Meath man who returned home after learning in the USA and wanted to fuse the American methods with the Irish nature. The Barrel & Bean Café and Fore Valley-spirits followed later. Fore Distillery has also been part of regional initiatives such as Midlands Ireland Food & Drink Directory Launch and has received attention, as Mary Lou McDonald visited the distillery in April 2024.

Production / Manufacturing

Fore Valley spirits have been produced since 2021. The grains are grown in the Boyne Valley, and the water comes from Fore springs. The production uses a combination of pot stills and column stills to distill Fore Valley Golden Irish Rum, White Irish Rum and Irish Poitín. The rums are gently aged in ex-bourbon barrels and finished in Irish oak for colour and flavour. Poitín is made with a base of malted barley, unmalted barley and oats and the water is Fore fresh spring water, which gives roundness. Fore Valley spirits are produced in small batches to ensure high quality and a character unique to the area. A sustainable approach is also seen in Espresso Poitín Liqueur, where used coffee grounds from Barrel & Bean Café macerate in Fore Valley Irish Poitín to create a unique coffee profile.

Products / Whisky range

Fore Valley Golden Irish Rum – honey-coloured, aged in ex-bourbon barrels and finished in Irish oak for extra colour and flavour. Fore Valley White Irish Rum – made with local spring water and sugar syrup from molasses, distilled in a combination of pot still and column stills and rested for balance and smoothness. Fore Valley Irish Poitín – a smooth, full-bodied Poitín, distilled from malted barley, unmalted barley and oats and Fore water. Suitable neat, on the rocks or in cocktails. Upcoming Irish Pot Still Whiskey – Fore Valley Whiskey is maturing; first release expected around mid-2026. The whiskey is described as a traditional Irish pot still with a balance between malt and oats, and is matured in ex-bourbon barrels with a planned finish in Irish oak for a light fruity finish.

Visit / Experiences

Fore Distillery offers guided tours led by founder and distiller Oliver Guirke, including tastings of Fore Valley Golden Irish Rum, White Irish Rum and Poitín. Tours last about 45 minutes to 1 hour and are held Thursday to Sunday in the off-season and Tuesday to Sunday in the peak season. There are Tour & Lunch and Tour & Afternoon Tea packages booked online, and there is an onsite Barrel & Bean Café with views over Lough Glore. There are also Group Tours with 10% discount and 'Afternoon Tea & Tipple' and 'Tour & Lunch' packages. Barrel & Bean Café is open seasonally and offers breakfast, sandwiches and cakes. Address: Barrel & Bean Café, Moortown Fore – N91 TY06.

Philosophy

Fore Distillery emphasises high quality through the use of the finest ingredients in small-batch production to ensure consistency and a character unique to Fore Valley. The grains come from the Boyne Valley, the water is Fore spring water, and the distillation is done via a combination of pot and column stills for balance and smoothness. The products rest in ex-bourbon casks and finish in Irish oak for colour and flavour. The Espresso Poitin Liqueur demonstrates sustainability by using used coffee grounds from Barrel & Bean Café, and the distillery thus has a clear focus on the environment and local community engagement.