Copeland

Founded in 2016 by Gareth Irvine after achieving financial backing through crowdfunding, the Copeland Distillery is based a small town named Donaghadee, 40 miles east of Belfast on the Ards Peninsula, overlooking the Copeland Islands. In the summer of 2019 the business moved into a dedicated space in an abandoned cinema, increasing their output of rum, gin and whiskey.

Merchant's Quay was launched in May 2021 - given the timescale, it's more than safe to assume this is using sourced spirit from other distilleries in Ireland, but it is possible some early stock of Copeland's own liquid is involved and will increase in proportion as time goes on.

The blend has 3 parts to it - grain whiskey matured in virgin oak casks is then finished in re-charred ex-Bourbon barrels, joining a double-distilled malt whiskey aged in ex-Bourbon barrels and a triple-distlled malt matured in Oloroso Sherry casks.

The grain is cetainly forward on the nose, bringing forth a juicy blackberry note. On the palate there's a silken honey mouthfeel which is again very fruit forward, full of ripe apple, sweet oranges and a touch of tropical fruit before a nice hit of spice arrives at the finish. It's VERY easy drinking and a great example of what people talk about when describing Irish whiskey as 'easy drinking'!