Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, which means it’s time to celebrate your one true love - be that a significant other, the finest whiskey…or perhaps both.
We celebrate our love for Irish single malt whiskey every day here at Lough Gill Distillery, but when 14th February comes around, it’s even more reason to enjoy a dram or two of Athrú.

But, it’s not just us at Lough Gill Distillery, or indeed Ireland that loves Irish whiskey. It’s now the fastest-growing spirit in the world, and has been named so every year for over 30 years.

It’s widely believed by many (us included, of course) that whiskey originated in Ireland. Concocted by monks in the 13th century, the spirit has since become synonymous with the country, and is one of our most treasured offerings, as well as one of the most sought-after. In 2020 alone, 144 million bottles were sold worldwide, and recent figures released by the Irish Whiskey Association show that sales of Irish whiskey are at an all-time high, with global sales likely to exceed 13 million cases for the first time ever. That’s a lot of people enjoying Irish whiskey.

Although our prized spirit faced a tough time in the past, with issues including prohibition and home brewing causing its demise, for the past 30 years the love for Irish whiskey has steadily been growing, with the spirit experiencing somewhat of a renaissance. Just 40 years ago there were a mere two distilleries in Ireland - now there are over 50, and that number looks set to rise as Ireland (and the world’s) love affair with Irish whiskey continues.

The popularity of Irish whiskey has grown exponentially due to its approachable and distinctive profile. While each whiskey has individual characteristics, factors including the triple distillation method often used, and the unique Irish climate all aid the unwavering love of our remarkable spirit.

Athrú Valentine’s Gift Guide

This Valentine’s Day, we’re celebrating the love of Irish whiskey with seven perfect gifts to give the Irish whiskey lover in your life.

For the person who has everything:

ATHRÚ ODYSSEY TRILOGY - TASTING AND VIRTUAL DISTILLERY TOUR

Need a gift with a difference? Treat someone special to our Odyssey Trilogy tasting and virtual distillery tour. Taking place on February 17th (perfectly timed for Valentine’s Day in fact), this event sees participants receiving an exclusive first look and taste of our new trilogy - the successor to our Creation Trilogy.

Tickets cost €48.

For the person who likes variety:

ATHRÚ MINI TRILOGY GIFT SET

Can’t decide which whiskey to buy your loved one? Don’t stress - pick our mini trilogy gift set instead, and let them sample three exceptional 14 year old single malts, all created using unusual casks. This set contains the Annacoona (Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso sherry), Knocknarea (Oloroso sherry) and the Keshcorran (Tokaji sweet wine casks).

The set costs €35

For the luxury lover:

ATHRÚ TRILOGY COLLECTOR'S EDITION

If travelling to the Maldives is off the table for Valentine’s this year, then perhaps this ultra-special trilogy collector’s edition set will suffice instead. This exquisite set brings together our three creation trilogy whiskeys - the Annacoona (Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso sherry), Knocknarea (Oloroso sherry) and the Keshcorran (Tokaji sweet wine casks). These superb whiskeys are packaged to resemble “First edition books”, telling stories of ancient Ireland as documented in the chronicles of medieval Irish history. The artwork on the boxes and bottles reflect the stories on the inside cover, each retelling a foundational story related to the creation of Ireland, the land of Saints and Scholars.

The set costs €629

For the whiskey-curious:

SINGLE CASK BOTTLINGS

Our single cask bottlings are all limited edition releases, with just a small number of each available. They make the perfect gift for someone looking to have a whiskey experience that's a little out of the ordinary.

Our 6 year old Oloroso is jam-packed with red fruit flavours and spices. It has been bottled at cask strength, while the 16 Year PX has been drawn from a single ex Pedro Ximenez sweet sherry barrel and oozes dark sugars and dried fruits.

Last but certainly not least, discover our 16 Year Tokaji. With just 250 bottles made, it is the most exclusive of our cask reserve bottlings. Constructed from spicy European oak (Quercus robur) it previously held Tokaji sweet wine produced in Hungarian vineyards originally planted in the 18th century for Catherine the Great. This sweet, fragrant whiskey is bursting with citrus and apricot notes and just a hint of honey.

Prices from €95

For the whiskey purveyor:

ATHRÚ SMALL BATCH RELEASE #1

If the whiskey lover in your life is looking for something they can treasure, then perhaps treat them to a bottle of our Small Batch Release #1. Inside the bottle, there’s a unique blend of three unusual cask finishes - 6yo Oloroso, 6yo Bourbon and 17yo Madeira.

We only made 3,000 bottles of this exquisite whiskey so it’s really something special to give to someone special.

Each bottle is €85

For the on-the-go connoisseur:

ATHRÚ LUXURY HIP FLASK

What’s the best way to transport your favourite Athrú whiskey to your favourite locations? In a stylish and sleek silver hip flask, of course. Our luxury hip flask is made by SWIG, who create the finest high-grade flasks. With dapper detailing including our Athrú logo and an individual serial number engraved onto the neck, this flask will bring a touch of refinement to every sip of single malt Irish whiskey.

Flasks cost €65 and hold 170ml

For the gift that keeps giving:

ATHRÚ CASK RESERVE

The ultimate whiskey gift that’ll make you the most popular person for years to come, our Athrú Cask Reserve programme affords you the luxury of your own personal supply of single malt whiskey for the future. For those who can’t wait to take their first sip, we are also releasing a select few individual casks.

Our programme offers the recipient the chance to become part of the Athrú story, and part of the exciting future of Irish whiskey. We can’t think of a better way to say ‘I love you’.

Celebrate a Love of Irish Whiskey This Valentine’s Day