Would you like to own a piece of regional history?

The first Irish Whiskey from Tyrone and Derry in over a century is set to make history when it is unbottled on the winter solstice, December 21. 

The opening of the inaugural cask of The IslandMen fittingly named the 1921 Release comes over a century after the closure of the region’s Watt Distillery in 1921. 

The IslandMen 1921 is the first whiskey release from award-winning Wild Atlantic Distillery based in Aghyaran, Castlederg. The exclusive release of the single malt Irish whiskey will see approximately 350 bottles drawn from Cask 001.  

Following the bottling on December 21, a lottery will take place for 195 bottles being made available to the public.

Those interested in their chance to secure one of the historic bottles can register up to 20^th December at wildatlanticdistillery.ie.

The remaining bottles are reserved for members of 1921 Whiskey Club, Wild Atlantic Distillery’s whiskey club. 

December 21, 2021 was chosen to distil the first IslandMen as a nod to Watt Distillery’s closure in 1921. Three years later to the day, the cask will be opened and bottling will begin.  Only then, will the exact bottle count be determined. 

Co-founder of the Wild Atlantic Distillery, Jim Nash says December 21 will mark a momentous occasion for the Northwest.

 “Over one hundred years after the last bottle of whiskey was distilled in the Tyrone/Derry region, we will bottle IslandMen for the first time. We are immensely proud to revive the rich tradition of Irish Whiskey making in the Northwest. IslandMen pays homage to the past, but we will be certain to raise a glass to the future. It’s a new beginning,” said Jim.  

Established in 2019, Wild Atlantic Distillers has won international awards for its Wild Atlantic gin and vodka. It has built a strong reputation for quality and a deep connection with place and heritage. 

All bottles from IslandMen Cask 001 will be numbered according to the order they were bottled. With only 195 bottles being released to the public, Jim’s fellow co-founder Brian Ash says there has been huge demand for the much anticipated first bottles. He encourages everyone interested to register by the deadline of Friday, December 20. The lottery is scheduled to take place on the evening of Saturday, December 21. 

“The reaction from across the island of Ireland and internationally has been amazing. An independent third party will randomly select the fortunate participants on the day, who will then have the opportunity to purchase. So, keep an eye on your emails to make sure you don’t miss out the chance to own a piece of history," Brian said.  

Proof of purchase of a numbered bottle of IslandMen 1921 from Cask 001 can be provided to anyone gifting the precious bottle for Christmas.  

For further information on Wild Atlantic Distillery, and to enter the solstice lottery, visit Wild Atlantic Distillery.