A Visit to the new Hawks Rock Distillery, Co.Sligo by Santina Kennedy.
I went out to the hazel wood,
Because a fire was in my head,
And cut and peeled a hazel wand,
And hooked a berry to a thread;
And when white moths were on the wing,
And moth-like stars were flickering out,
I dropped the berry in a stream
And caught a little silver trout.
From ‘The Song of The Wandering Aengus by W.B. Yeats’
Hazelwood has long been a place of poetry. For W.B. Yeats, who captured the rugged, wild and ethereal landscape of this part of Ireland in his work, Hazelwood was a place of calm, contemplation, and creative stirring.
I’ve been lucky enough to walk through Coillte’s Hazelwood Forest many times in recent years, and it’s certainly a place that holds deep intrigue. As someone who is endlessly fascinated by folklore and the layered histories that dwell in Ireland’s landscapes, I have found this special part of Sligo particularly inviting, nestled where the shores of Lough Gill meet the River Garavogue. It sits under the watch of Sligo’s iconic mountains, Benbulben and Knocknarea, the latter said to be the final resting place of Queen Maeve. These ancient presences give the land a charged, almost mythic quality. It’s no wonder that Yeats found inspiration here—and no surprise that Hazelwood continues to spark creativity today.
Hazelwood House, which adjoins the forest, has always been intriguing to me. As a fan of Richard Cassels’ Palladian architecture in Ireland ( His other works include Powerscourt House, Russborough House and Leinster House, among many others), I was keen to see the interior. Coupled with the fact that developments were happening in the onsite distillery, previously known as Lough Gill Distillery, which had recently been acquired by Sazerac, my walks through Hazelwood have, of late, included a peep over the gates of this historic Palladian gem with the distillery building in the background.
Hawks Rock Distillery is the new name announced this year and is part of a thoughtful transformation of the historic Hazelwood Estate, now home to an ambitious rebrand and the launch of Garavogue—a 20-year-old single malt Irish whiskey. Yeats fans will know that this name is inspired by a prominent rock formation in the Ox Mountains known as The Hawks Rock. It is a wonderfully considered name, strong enough to hold its own on the international whiskey stage yet deeply rooted in its extraordinary home and holding fast to the legacy of Sligo’s favourite son.
I was absolutely delighted to be invited to the launch of this whiskey, with a wonderful visit to the distillery, including a tasting by the river Garavogue that gives the whiskey its name. This wasn’t just a distillery visit; from the moment we arrived, it was an immersion into landscape, legacy, and a peek at the future plans for this whiskey brand and this estate.
From the outset, the experience felt special. Our group was warmly welcomed by Helen Mulholland, the first female Master Blender in Irish Whiskey history, who is at the helm of this distillery. Her new role is one that she embodies with clear passion and pride, which was evident throughout the day.
A very much appreciated coffee from Driftwood Coffee Cart set the tone for the hospitality for the day, generous, welcoming and place-conscious. We began with a riverside tasting, appropriately, as Helen and Lead Distiller Ollie Alcorn introduced us to Garavogue, the new release, with its namesake river meandering alongside us. As the local rowing club gracefully glided by, and the water lapped the shore, we listened to how this river inspired the creation of the whiskey of the same name. This double-distilled single malt spent 14 years in ex-bourbon barrels before finishing in an inspired range of casks. The result? A whiskey of grace and complexity—rich with spun sugar and warm stone fruit on the nose, with a palate full of citrus, buttery apple, and tropical notes, all rounding out to a long, elegant finish. Sipping the dram in great company on the riverside, watching a white horse grazing on the far shore, the scene would have inspired the poet himself.
Next came a talk with Beatrice MacDonald, whose storytelling brought the history of the estate vividly to life. Her family once lived and worked on the land, and her tales, laced with memory and emotion, reminded us that whiskey, like folklore, is distilled from people, place, and time.
The whiskey is presented in a distinctive, reversed crescent-shaped bottle with a blue label reflecting the Garavogue River’s influence, including subtle wave patterns that mirror the motion of water. The label also features imagery and coordinates for the Hazelwood House Windmill, an enduring landmark on the grounds of Hawk’s Rock, in tribute to the historical figures who lived and worked along the Garavogue’s banks, including Beatrice and her family.
A gentle stroll back through the woods brought us to lunch, which was prepared by local Shells café at a table styled by a Sprig of Myrtle, and it was indeed a celebration of local bounty. Every element, from the flowers to the linens to the carefully sourced ingredients, reflected the sense of place that defines the distillery. The memory of the flavour of that Ben Bulben lamb served with roasted vegetables and salad from Knocknarea farm will linger for a long time. This dining experience was a masterclass in placemaking.
After lunch, we were treated to a talk from Susan O’Keefe, Director of the Yeats Society in Sligo, while we sipped expertly made Irish coffees. Susan deepened our appreciation for Yeats’ connection to Hazelwood and the broader Sligo landscape. Her insights painted a fuller picture of the poet’s creative world, linking his visionary words to the land under our feet.
And finally, we stepped into Hazelwood House, a moment I had long awaited, a chance to admire the ongoing restoration of this elegant 18th-century mansion by Richard Cassels. To walk into its long-hushed reception hall, which had once welcomed distinguished guests for elegant entertainment, was a quietly powerful experience. The view through the front door is the perfect portal to peek at Ben Bulben, a mountain steeped in folklore. The walls of this house hold memories of many centuries of the lives of its inhabitants and guests, a fitting backdrop for the whiskey ageing nearby.
Our day continued with a tour of the distillery itself, and nothing could have prepared me for the scale. This enormous building has capacity matched by the plans for Hawks Rock and is already an impressive line-up of rows and rows of sleeping casks, their past stories already seeping into the liquid, making their own history. We passed copper stills, oak barrels, with the sights and sounds of a working distillery to ignite the senses. All this was before the most fascinating part of the day, a deconstructed tasting, led by Helen Mulholland herself, at a beautifully set table inside the maturation warehouse.
There, surrounded by the aroma of spirit and wood, we tasted each of the individual casks that made up Garavogue’s final blend—ex-bourbon, PX sherry, French Muscat, Sauternes, and Barbadian rum. Each told its own story, yet the final blend is harmonious, balanced, subtle yet complex, where each flavour complements the next. This was certainly one of the finest whiskey tastings I’ve ever attended, with each participant showing so much appreciation for every element before enjoying the final extraordinary masterpiece, which is even more than the sum of its parts.
Hawks Rock is more than a distillery. It’s a living homage to Sligo’s culture, history, legends and creative spirit. Here, under the gaze of Ben Bulben and Queen Maeve’s cairn, tradition and innovation meet in harmony. It’s a place where spirit, literal and poetic, finds a home. A place Yeats might well have toasted to.
Sláinte.
Garavogue Whiskey will be available at a suggested retail price of €199 (700ML) in limited quantities through Sazerac’s distributor networks across the United States, Ireland, the United Kingdom and Duty-Free. It is available to enjoy in the iconic Thomas Connolly Pub in Sligo on the banks of the Garavogue River, as well as from Foleys Off Licence in Sligo and the Celtic Whiskey Shop.
WINE SPIRIT WOMEN 