Powerscourt Distillery
A brief overview of the distillery
Powerscourt Distillery is located on Powerscourt Estate in Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow, and combines Irish whiskey production with a visitor experience set within a historic stately home setting. Here, Fercullen is the name of the house whiskey, and the range spans from the accessible blended Fercullen Falls to older single malts and special limited editions. It is particularly interesting because the distillery marks whiskey’s return to Wicklow after more than 100 years.
History
Powerscourt Distillery’s modern history begins in 2018, when a plan was put in place to convert the old Millhouse on Powerscourt Estate into a distillery and a whiskey experience. The Millhouse building dates back to the 1730s, and the project was envisioned as a way to actively use the site’s history while also securing a new future for Irish whiskey in Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow. The ambition was not just to open a production facility, but to bring whiskey production back to the area after more than a century without it. From this framework grew Fercullen Irish Whiskey, which the distillery describes as an expression of both the estate’s character and a determination to create distinctive whiskey. The development of the range shows how the distillery has gradually built its identity—from the first Fercullen Single Malt to older vintage whiskies and experimental limited editions.
Raw materials and production
Powerscourt Distillery works with several clearly defined style directions in its production. Fercullen Single Malt is made with 100% malted barley and is described as the first single malt that has been distilled and released from County Wicklow in over 100 years. The Cask Strength bottling is triple-distilled, made with locally sourced barley and pure Wicklow mountain water, and is matured on-site at Powerscourt Estate in ex-bourbon barrels. Fercullen Falls is a blended whiskey with a high malt component, composed as a 50/50 blend of malt and grain whiskey, where the grain portion is matured in both ex-bourbon and new heavy char oak casks. The 15-year-old single grain is distilled from a mash of corn and malt, while the 21-year bottlings build on malt whiskey distilled in 2001. Several releases are non-chill filtered and bottled with natural colour, and it is precisely the consistent use of local raw materials, clear malt emphasis, and a direct connection to Powerscourt Estate that helps shape the distillery’s style.
Maturation and cask types
Maturation at Powerscourt Distillery is especially focused on the clean vanilla and woody character of bourbon casks, but the range also shows clear experiments. The 15-year-old single grain is first matured in first-fill ex-bourbon barrels and then finished in second-fill Madeira casks. The 16-year limited edition is aged in fresh bourbon barrels and finished in a Sicilian Marsala wine cask. The 21-year bottlings combine bourbon-matured malt whiskey with sherry finishes in Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez, while the Estate Series 3 blends bourbon- and Amarone-matured whiskies. Cask Select takes the whiskey in another direction with ex-barley wine and stout barrels from Wicklow Wolf Brewery, resulting in a clearer brewed and collaboration-driven cask profile. It is a program that balances classic bourbon maturation with more distinctive finishes.
Whiskeys
The core range is built around Fercullen Falls, Fercullen Single Malt, Fercullen Single Malt Cask Strength, and Fercullen 15 Year Old Single Grain. In addition, there are the more premium and distinctive releases such as Fercullen 21 YO Single Malt, Estate Series 3: The Gates, and Fercullen Cask Select. The range shows a clear range of expressions: from an accessible blended whiskey with a high malt proportion to older, more complex single malts and limited editions with special cask journeys. Across the portfolio, the focus is on balance, malt character, and a clean, fruity style with bourbon as the main underlying note, while certain releases dial up sherry, Marsala, Amarone, or beer-related cask finishes.
| Whisky | Type / series | Alcohol | Age | Cask and style | Tasting profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fercullen Falls – Small Batch, Blended Irish Whiskey | Blended Irish Whiskey | 43 % | First-fill ex-bourbon barrels and Ex-bourbon and new heavy char oak casks | A 50/50 blended Irish whiskey with a high malt proportion, and the distillery’s own whiskey included in the blend for the first time.; Nose: Cinnamon and fresh orchard fruits, herbaceous with brown sugar, toffee and a distinct maltiness.; Taste: Rich, soft and sweet. Vanilla icing and malt spice with a peppery clove finish.; Finish: Warming malt spice with good length, drying at the extremities of your tongue. | Current; Core range; Available | |
| Fercullen Single Malt Irish Whiskey | Single Malt Irish Whiskey | 46 % | Bourbon barrels | First release: 100% distilled in Powerscourt and the first single malt whiskey distilled and released from County Wicklow in over 100 years.; Nose: Toffee, baking spices, vanilla, dessert apples, pears, soft leather, cinnamon, nutmeg, baked buttered pastry crusts.; Taste: Vanilla Custard, soft oak, salted caramel, digestives, tarte tatin.; Finish: Warming oak spices, soft leather, honeyed almonds, stewed fruits. | Current; Core range; Available | |
| Fercullen Single Malt Cask Strength | Single Malt Irish Whiskey | 56.6 % | Ex-bourbon barrels | Triple-distilled and made with pure Wicklow mountain water and locally sourced barley.; Nose: Brown sugar glazed pie crust, stewed apple and rhubarb, toffee and custard.; Taste: Dulce de leche, browned butter shortbread, poached pears.; Finish: Thick custard, cracked peppercorn, nutmeg, leather. | Current; Core range; Available | |
| Fercullen 15 Year Old Single Grain Irish Whiskey | Single Grain Irish Whiskey | 41.5 % | 15 Year Old | First-fill ex bourbon barrels and Second-fill Madeira casks; finish: Madeira cask finishes | Distilled from a mash of corn and malt, initially matured for 15 years in first-fill ex-bourbon barrels and then finished in Madeira casks.; Nose: Vanilla, fudge, honeyed almonds, dried apricots and mango.; Taste: Hot buttered popcorn, orange and lime marmalade, dry oak spice.; Finish: Creamy vanilla fudge with candied orange and lime peels. | Current; Core range; Sold out |
| Fercullen 21 YO Single Malt Irish Whiskey (2022 Release) | Single Malt Irish Whiskey | 46 % | 21 YO | Bourbon barrel matured whiskeys and Spanish Oloroso Sherry and Pedro Ximénez finished whiskey; finish: Sherry finished whiskey | The oldest expression released by the distillery to date in 2022; annual release with the vintage year on the label.; Nose: Honeydew melon, lychee, rich vanilla fudge, pear drops and soft leather.; Taste: Vanilla fudge with dried fruits, dark chocolate with orange oil, cracked hazelnuts.; Finish: Sweet fudge, candied cherries, fruit cake and drying-spices. | Current; Available |
| Fercullen 21 YO Single Malt Irish Whiskey (2023 Release) | Single Malt Irish Whiskey | 46 % | 21 YO | Bourbon matured malt whiskey and Spanish Oloroso Sherry and Pedro Ximénez finished whiskey; finish: Sherry influence | The second batch of the older single malt, bottled again at 46% and with natural colour and non-chill filtration.; Nose: Honeydew melon, lychee, rich vanilla fudge, pear drops and soft leather.; Taste: Vanilla fudge with dried fruits, dark chocolate with orange oil, cracked hazelnuts.; Finish: Sweet fudge, candied cherries, fruit cake and drying-spices. | Current; Sold out |
| Fercullen Estate Series 3, The Gates Single Malt | Single Malt Irish Whiskey | 46 % | Bourbon and Amarone matured whiskeys; finish: Amarone cask influence | Limited edition single malt with Amarone cask influence; third and final release in Estate Series.; Nose: Summer fruit meringue, strawberry, cherry, plum, lime, mint, apple, cut hay.; Taste: Vanilla, honey, custard drizzled over poached summer fruits with digestive biscuits.; Finish: Fruit pudding giving way to soft oak spice. | Current; Sold out | |
| Fercullen Cask Select – Wicklow Wolf Release | Irish Whiskey | 48.5 % | Ex-barley wine barrels and Stout barrels; finish: Barley wine casks and Stout barrels | A limited-edition whiskey crafted from 2019 malt whiskey and bottled in 850 bottles.; Nose: Toffee, orange blossom honey, lime sherbet, tropical fruit oils.; Taste: Chocolate orange candy, lime drizzle cake, custard.; Finish: Tropical fruits, milk chocolate biscuit cake. | Current; Sold out; 850 bottles | |
| Fercullen Single Malt 16 Year Old | Single Malt Irish Whiskey | 54.8 % | 16 Year Old | Fresh bourbon barrels and Sicilian Marsala Wine Cask; finish: Marsala Finish | Limited edition, originally released for Cask Programme members in 2019, with 1,306 bottles produced.; Nose: Sweet vanilla and honey with a twist of lemon, layered with malty notes, walnuts, almonds, cinnamon, and bursts of tropical fruit—pineapple, mango and banana.; Taste: A rich, silky complexity unfolds with layers of sweet malt, fruit, and nut flavours, offering a perfectly balanced mouthfeel.; Finish: Long-lasting sweetness from ripe fruits and a delicate nutty warmth to close. | Limited; Sold out; 1306 bottles |
| Fercullen Trilogy Gift Pack | Irish Whiskey Gift Pack | Three 50 ml bottles of Fercullen Falls, Fercullen Single Malt and Fercullen 15 Year Old. | Current; Available |
The style and tasting profile of the whiskies
The overarching style is light, fruity and malt-forward, but with several layers. Apple, pear, orchard fruits and stewed fruits appear again in the younger and classic expressions, while vanilla, fudge, vanilla custard and salted caramel provide a clear sweetness. The older and special releases add darker directions such as dried fruits, dark chocolate, fruit cake, candied cherries and sherried fruit flavours. At the same time, spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, clove and peppercorn show up, so the whiskies move between fresh fruit, creamy malt and a clearly spiced interplay of oak.
Visiting the distillery
The distillery can be visited, and the place is described as a whiskey experience at Powerscourt Estate with the option to book a tour. The visit is intended as a trip from grain to glass, and there is both a visitor centre gift shop and a regular shop with Fercullen whiskey. Accessibility is public, and the visit is aimed at whiskey enthusiasts who want to experience the distillery as a full-day outing rather than just a shop visit.
See times and book a visit.
Philosophy and craft
Powerscourt Distillery places emphasis on going beyond standardized production and creating whiskies with character. The philosophy is closely linked to Powerscourt Estate and to the desire to elevate heritage, place and craftsmanship into the bottle. At the same time, the selection shows a clear preference for non-chill filtration and natural colour in several of the releases, supporting a focus on a more direct and undisturbed whiskey style.
Latest news
Distillery News: Fathers Day ’26 – 2026-06-12
A news update marked with the date 12 June 2026 about Fathers Day ’26.
Distillery News: Fercullen – awarded world’s best grain – 2025-03-25
A news update marked with the date 25 March 2025 about Fercullen and a prize for the world’s best grain.
Distillery News: PoWERSCOURT DISTILLERY – New owner – 2025-01-22
A news update marked with the date 22 January 2025 about a new owner of Powerscourt Distillery.
Distillery News: WHISKEY LIVE DUBLIN 2025 – 2025-05-09
A news update marked with the date 9 May 2025 about Whiskey Live Dublin 2025.
Distillery News: Powerscourt Distillery – Forbes Weather Warning Update – 2025-03-10
A news update marked with the date 10 March 2025 about a weather warning update.