Irish whiskey’s revival is in full pour

Irish culture is having a moment, and not just on our screens or playlists.

From Oscar-nominated actors to globally adored musicians and the rise of trad sessions across the world, Ireland’s cultural standing has never been higher.

Meanwhile, Irish whiskey is enjoying a renaissance of its own and few people are better placed to talk about the spirit’s remarkable revival than Barry Chandler, the man who proudly calls himself a ‘whiskey evangelist’.

“I’m devoting my life to spreading the gospel of Irish whiskey,” he said.

Barry has built a global community of whiskey fans through tastings, storytelling events, livestreams and his hugely popular subscription club, Three Drams. Along the way, he has become one of Irish whiskey’s most passionate ambassadors, picking up several awards.

Now the ‘evangelist’ is returning to Irish shores this summer to host ‘Stories from Sea to Still’, an immersive whiskey tasting in partnership with Swedish ferry company, Stena Line.

The ‘Stories from Sea to Still’ event on board Stena Estrid on Saturday, August 29 will depart from Dublin Port, which is steeped in whiskey export history.

“Whiskey has always had strong maritime connections,” Barry explains. “Whether it’s barrels shipped from Spain and Portugal to Ireland, or stories like the SS Bushmills, the sea shaped whiskey in ways many people don’t realise.”

The onboard tasting will blend history, storytelling and rare pours in Barry’s signature style - informal, engaging and rich with fascinating detail.

“It’s a story-driven whiskey event,” he says. “I want people to understand that whiskey is more than just something you drink on a night out. It’s part of Irish history and something we should be proud of.”

Barry’s introduction to the industry came almost accidentally back in 2006 while living in America. At the time, he was taking part in an annual charity cycling fundraiser for a cancer hospital. After several years, fundraising was becoming increasingly difficult and a friend suggested he host an Irish whiskey tasting to raise money.

“There was only one problem,” Barry laughs. “I didn’t know anything about Irish whiskey.”

However, his friend pointed out one very important detail: “You have an Irish accent.”

“Good enough,” Barry decided.

He headed to a local shop, bought six bottles of Irish whiskey, went home and Googled absolutely everything he could find about them. Guests paid $50 a ticket to attend the tasting and Barry did his best to answer their questions.

“At the end of the night, people had loads of questions and I realised I hadn’t a clue how whiskey was actually made,” he says. “So, I wrote all the questions down, went home and Googled the answers.”

One tasting became two. Then companies began inviting him to host charity events. Before long, whiskey brands themselves began taking notice.

“It all grew very organically,” he says.

That curiosity eventually evolved into a full-time career. When Covid came and lockdown followed, Barry’s audience exploded.

At a time when musicians couldn’t tour and whiskey distillers were stuck at home, Barry launched weekly livestreams that blended music, whiskey and chat. Every Friday night, viewers from around the world tuned in for three-to-four-hour sessions featuring distillers, whiskey makers and live musicians performing virtually from their homes.

“Upwards of 4,000 people would join me every week and I did that for 63 weeks in a row without fail,” he says.

The livestreams helped create a global whiskey community and sparked several new ventures. His Three Drams subscription club now sends whiskey samples to members every month, who join in online tastings featuring the makers behind the bottles.

He also launched luxury whiskey tourism experiences with two of his whiskey friends, including what he proudly says is the world’s first Irish whiskey cruise in the Caribbean.

A Mediterranean cruise is already planned for 2027.

Barry’s passion for Irish whiskey arrives at a perfect moment for the industry itself. Once reduced to just a handful of operational distilleries, Irish whiskey has staged one of the biggest comeback stories in food and drink.

“There are now almost 50 distilleries around Ireland,” Barry explains. “Twenty years ago, there were probably three or four. Irish whiskey was once the most consumed whiskey on earth back in the 1800s and we’re trying our best to reclaim that title again.”

According to Barry, part of the revival comes down to variety.

“If you go back to the 1980s, there were only two distilleries operating, Midleton in County Cork and Bushmills in Antrim. All Irish whiskey came from those places at that time.

“If you didn’t like those whiskeys, that was it. Today, there’s incredible variety and range.”

It has helped to attract a whole new generation of drinkers who are increasingly interested in craftsmanship and storytelling.

And it is in that storytelling where Barry truly shines.

With 15 years of hospitality experience, including at the world-famous Adare Manor and sourcing food and drink for luxury cruise ships, Barry brings a global perspective to Irish whiskey while keeping the atmosphere relaxed.

“I don’t think whiskey should have rules,” he says. “If someone wants to drink it with cola or ginger ale, that’s completely fine. Whiskey is for everybody.”

For first-time whiskey drinkers, his recommendations include a Black Bush from Bushmills or a Jameson Black Barrel.

“I’d sit down and walk you through how it’s made in a non-pretentious way,” Barry explained.

While whiskey can sometimes feel intimidating to newcomers, Barry’s approach centres around stories. He’s also passionate about championing smaller producers, such as the “small but mighty” Killowen Distillery in County Down.

And while Ireland’s whiskey scene continues to grow rapidly, Barry insists quality remains central to the industry’s identity.

“There has never been a bad Irish whiskey,” he says firmly. “The industry knows if one bad apple spoils the lot, everybody suffers. There’s great camaraderie between distilleries and the larger producers will even help smaller distilleries get up and running.”

BARRY’S FIVE TOP ARTISINAL DISTILLERIES

Ardara Distillery, Co. Donegal - Dedicated to producing rich, characterful, smoky whiskeys contrary in style to those of the rest of Ireland, the Ardara Distillery is once again putting Donegal at the forefront of Ireland’s distilling reputation.

Killowen Distillery, Co. Down - Seated in the heart of the Mournes in County Down where horizons are framed by sweeping hills that slope gently into the sea. , old traditions and the finest natural resources are blended at Killowen to produce world class craft spirits.

Rademon Estate Distillery, Co. Down - Shortcross Irish Whiskey is carefully crafted at Rademon Estate Distillery. In a time honoured tradition the Shortcross Irish Whiskey journey began in 2015 when they distilled our first Shortcross whiskey on Ireland’s smallest copper pot still and they have been distilling our very own Irish Whiskey ever since.

Blackwater Distillery, Co. Waterford - Situated in the village of Ballyduff Upper in beautiful West Waterford, they claim to make “the kind of Single Pot Still whiskey Ireland was once famous for, and not the neutered, revisionist spirit that has hijacked the name”.

Boann Distillery, Co. Meath – An independent, family-run distillery, born from the entrepreneurial spirit of Patrick and Marie Cooney, alongside their children, they take immense pride in creating a whiskey of distinctive character, deeply rooted in its sense of place.

For more information follow Stena Line @stenalineukie and for the latest on Barry Chandler’s adventures in the world of Irish whiskey visit @irishwhiskeybarry.