Croithlí Quercus Robur Single Malt Irish Whiskey

Fasten your seatbelts as we approach the wild Atlantic coast of County Donegal and the village of Croithlí (Crolly)—where Ireland’s whiskey story is being boldly rewritten.
At the center of this revival is The Crolly Distillery, the first licensed whiskey distillery in Donegal in over 180 years. Housed in a restored 1902 building, the distillery marries old stone, historic stories, and modern Irish craft. Inside, traditional Charentais copper pot stills, more commonly associated with Cognac, are used to distill spirits that carry both Gaelic soul and technical precision.
Your dram tonight, Quercus ROBUR, takes its name from European oak and reflects a deep focus on wood. The whisky is matured in ex-bourbon casks and finished in virgin oak, with carefully selected wood species shaping its flavor. The use of direct-fired stills creates the Maillard effect, developing rich layers of toasted wood, spice, and subtle sweetness. Expect notes of redcurrant, winter spice, wood smoke, and dark chocolate—Donegal’s rugged landscape translated into liquid form.
The distillery’s home has a storied past: carpets once woven here now lie in places like the White House and Buckingham Palace—and one even rests at the bottom of the Atlantic with the Titanic. Today, visitors can walk through that history, see the unique whiskey process up close, and taste the new chapter being written.
As the team says, “Uisce beatha do Chroi mór”—whiskey for open and warm-hearted people. Distillation in Donegal goes back to monks, St. Colmcille, and generations of poitín makers. With a grain-to-glass approach, Croithlí aims to reconnect this corner of Ireland with the world and preserve its culture through premium whisky."