Cu Chulainn Irish Whiskey

Cu Chulainn is our premium Irish Whiskey which is an original blend of the finest grain and malted barley. Pronounced ‘’Coo Cullen’’, this brand is a truly traditional Irish which is named after Ireland’s greatest mythological warrior who means as much in Ireland’s history to Irishmen and women as does Hercules to Greeks and Genghis Khan to Mongolians.

Blended and Bottled in small batches by the Cu Chulainn Irish Whiskey Company, a subsidiary of the family owned Terra Spirits & Liqueurs, this golden amber coloured Irish Whiskey can be best described as smooth in mouthfeel and easy drinking with background notes of nut, spice, smoke and honey.

Cu Chulainn - The Legend:

Legend has it that circa 1BC, Setanta, the son of the Celtic God of Light “Lugh” was born.

As a young boy, Setanta, who possessed superhuman characteristics, killed the fierce hound guarding the Blacksmith Chulainn’s home in self defense. Feeling remorseful, he took on the role of the hound until a suitable replacement could be found. In doing so, he became forever known as Cu Chulainn meaning “the Hound of Cullen”.

In later years, as a young warrior, he heroically defended Ulster in a war known as the “Cattle raid of Cooley” where, he conquered the opposing army by invoking the right of single combat and defeating warrior after warrior in one on one contests that continued for months. It is on these same grounds of Ulster that this finest Irish Whiskey is blended and bottled following maturation in American Oak bourbon casks.

The result is this exceptionally smooth Irish Whiskey which is full of character, reflecting the legend that is Cu Chulainn.

Enjoy Ch Chulainn Irish Whiskey on Ice, with your favourite mixer, in coffee or straight up with a dash of spring water which truly releases the flavours……

Release the hound in you

Frequently asked questions about Irish Whiskey and Cu Chulainn:

What is Whiskey?

The word whiskey comes from the Irish word “Uisce Beatha” – Water of Life Whiskey or whisky (Scottish spelling) refers to a broad category of alcoholic beverages that all involve Grains (malting / mashing); Distillation and Maturation in wooden casks.

What is Whiskey Made from?

Whiskey is made from water, yeast and a variety of cereals (grains) depending on the type. These cereals are Barley, Corn; Rye and Wheat. To be called an Irish whiskey, it must be made from barley or corn, distilled in Ireland and matured for a minimum of three years and traditionally uses warm air is used to dry the malt. Irish whiskey allows more of the natural flavours of the barley to rise to the front than Scotch whisky. And typically has a softer, more rounded flavour than its Scottish counterpart.

What is the history of Irish Whiskey?

The art of distilling is believed to have been brought to Europe through Irish missionary monks about 1500 years ago and Ireland has the oldest operating licensed distillery in the world. By the 18th century, there were in the region of 2000 distilleries in Ireland and up until the early 20th century Irish Whiskey dominated Global Whiskey sales. However there was a dramatic drop in sales when, under British rule, Irish exports were curtailed and to some extent replaced by non Irish Whiskeys (mainly Scotch). Sales were also greatly affected by US prohibition. Today there are just a handful of Irish Whiskey distilleries left in Ireland with more in the plans following recent growth in the category.

How many brands of Irish Whiskey are there?

There are many brands of Irish Whiskey and many more in the pipeline following a resent resurgence in sales with young consumers. Our brand 'Cu Chulainn' Irish Whiskey is a traditional blended Irish Whiskey with a smooth, sweet finish.

What is the Taste Experience with Cu Chulainn?

Aroma (Nose): Pleasant floral sweet oaky nose, with the grain and oak mingling together, Soft toffee and citrus fruits even cinnamon and butterscotch appear when it is opened up with some water. Taste: Complex fresh sweet vanilla and oak combine with light floral notes balanced with a hint of malt. There is a good hint of spice also. Finish: As the elegance of the taste softens you are left with soft oak and lingering sweet malt finish

What is the Alcohol Strength of Cú Chulainn Irish Whiskey?

40% ABV/ 80 Proof

What is the best way to drink Cu Chulainnn Irish Whiskey?

Cu Chulainnn Irish Whiskey is served in the following ways: Straight Up as a shooter, on ice, neat with a little water on the side or over ice with mixers including Ginger Ale.

On the Cu Chulainn front label, what does “Scaoil amach an cu ionat!” mean?

The phonetic pronunciation is "scale amok on coo init" and it means "Release the Hound in You".