Kinsale Spirit Co. Red Earl Irish Whisky – RRP 37,95

Kinsale Spirit Co.’s Red Earl Blended Irish Whiskey is a blend of grain Irish whiskey aged in ex-bourbon barrels and triple-distilled malt aged in ex-sherry casks. After maturing for 45 months, these whiskeys are combined and then aged for at least an additional 4 months in ex-Rioja casks. The choice of Rioja casks, known for their spicy fruit notes, pays homage to the final resting place of Red Hugh, which is close to Spain’s Rioja region.

‘As bold as the hero that inspires it’ Red Hugh O Donnell is known as one of the great heroes of our Irish history. As chieftain of a powerful Irish dynasty in north west Ireland, he led the success of numerous battles against the forces of Queen Elizabeth I. The valiant young man became Earl of Tyrconnell after escaping five years of captivity in Dublin Castle at the hands of the English army.

He fled across large mountains and the harsh Irish landscape in the height of winter and as a result suffered severe frostbite, resulting in the loss of a big toe on each foot. As chieftain, he formed a number of alliances with various Irish clans to challenge English power in Ireland. This included the powerful alliance with rival clan, the O’ Neills, led by his future father-in law and courageous leader Hugh O’ Neill.

Together they fought in the ‘Nine Years War’ to drive their common enemy out of Ireland. It began promisingly as the Irish won a grave amount of victories! After persuasion from O Donnell and O Neill, in 1601 Spain’s King Philip III sent Don Juan del Águila and Don Diego Brochero to Ireland with thousands of Spanish men to help fight their common enemy.

However when they arrived at the port of Kinsale they were surrounded by English troops which resulted in Irish defeat. The battle of Kinsale saw the loss of many Irish and Spanish lives! The Irish army returned to Ulster and our hero Red Hugh set off to Spain to seek further help as Ireland was now completely under British rule. Red Hugh died after just nine months of being in Spain, where it is believed he was poisoned by a British spy while he slept. Today he is buried near the Rioja wine region in Spain.