Roe & Co. Irish Whiskey Released in U.S. Market

April 5, 2019 –The 19^th Century was regarded as the golden age of Irish whiskey and one of the most innovative distillers was George Roe. The Roe family began distilling whiskey in the 1700s, but it was George Roe in the mid-1800s who turned his family’s small distillery business into the largest distillery of its time, not only in Ireland, but in Europe.

Extending over 17 acres on Thomas Street in Dublin, George Roe and Co. was a neighbor of Guinness Brewing.  The distillery closed down in 1926 for reasons lost in history.  What remains of this once-thriving business, an old smock windmill and a pear tree, is now a historic landmark.  Amazingly, the pear tree, dating back to the 1870s, still flowers.

Moving into the 21^st Century, Diageo, the world’s biggest drinks maker and owners of Guinness, has converted the Guinness Power House into a distillery for a new Irish whiskey naming it Roe & Co. in honor of George Roe.  The Guinness Power House, adjacent to the old distillery, was built in the mid-1940s as part of a post-war modernization project across the Guinness estate, to provide energy from oil and gas to the brewery.

The vision for the new whiskey was to create a unique blend that will hold its own in cocktails.  To accomplish this Master Blender Caroline Martin, with more than 30 years of experience, partnered with five highly-regarded Dublin bartenders.

“After two years of experimenting with more than 100 prototype blends, the team landed on a smooth balance of quality malt and grain, aged in ex-bourbon casks, that truly personifies the spirit of a new frontier of Irish whiskey,” said Martin.

Roe & Co. is described as creamy, delightfully fragrant and remarkably rounded with notes of soft spice and mellow spun sugar along with warm hints of woody vanilla. The finish is lingering and gentle, ending with a light creaminess.  It can be enjoyed neat, on the rocks or as a base for cocktails.  For recipes click here .

Irish Whiskey is enjoying second golden era in the U.S.A. according the Distilled Spirits Council with high-end premium and super premium Irish whiskey growing a staggering 1,106 percent and 3,385 percent respectively since 2002.

Prices

Roe & Co. debuted in select markets in the U.S. in March: Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Washington, D.C.

Suggested retail price in the U.S. is between $32.99-$34.99.  No word on other markets opening up but obviously this will be a key move as stock becomes available.

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