Craft Irish Whiskey Company
An Irish whiskey producer focused on limited releases that combine mature whiskey, elaborate cask programs, luxury presentation, and collectible decanters.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
The Craft Irish Whiskey Company is an Irish whiskey-producing company established in 2018 by Jay Bradley. The business presents itself at the intersection of premium spirits, luxury goods, and design, concentrating on small-volume releases supported by elaborate decanters, presentation boxes, and collaborations. Its products are positioned less as conventional mass-market whiskey and more as collectible, high-value editions aimed at luxury-spirit buyers, enthusiasts, and collectors. The company’s first release was The Devil’s Keep, a whiskey distilled in 1991 and introduced in November 2020. The expression uses triple distillation and maturation or finishing in American, French, and Hungarian oak casks. A decanter from the release sold at auction in Texas for $60,000, an event described in the company’s reference material as making it the most expensive debut whiskey at the time. The release established the company’s emphasis on scarcity, presentation, and auction visibility as part of its commercial model. The second release, The Emerald Isle, was developed in collaboration with Fabergé and launched in February 2021. Described as a 30-year-old triple-distilled single malt, it was matured in an ex-bourbon barrel and finished in a Pedro Ximénez sherry barrel. One Emerald Isle set sold for $2 million at a United States auction in 2021. The proceeds from the first Emerald Isle box were donated to the Correa Family Foundation, which supports children affected by cancer. The collaboration linked the whiskey to Fabergé’s luxury-jewelry heritage and reinforced the brand’s strategy of treating packaging and objects associated with the whiskey as important parts of the offering. The company followed with The Brollach, distilled in 2001 and introduced in the summer of 2021. It is described as double distilled and double casked in bourbon casks before being finished in French Oak Madeira barrels. The Taoscán, the fourth release, was introduced in October 2021. Its cask program combines American oak bourbon casks and Sherry Oloroso hogsheads, with the whiskey subsequently divided for finishing in Tawny Port and chestnut casks. In 2021, the company reported 32 awards across taste and design categories for four releases, making it the most awarded new company of the year according to the cited reference material. Its accolades included medals from The Luxury Spirits Masters, design recognition from the A’Design Awards, and awards for individual expressions at the World Whiskies Awards, the International Wine & Spirit Competition, and other spirits and packaging competitions. In 2022, the company received the Best Innovation category at the Best Business Awards. It also served as the exclusive Michelin Plaque Distribution Partner for the Michelin Guide Star Revelation Great Britain and Ireland 2022, extending its presence into hospitality and luxury-brand partnerships. The company’s public profile is therefore built around a combination of Irish whiskey production, premium maturation and finishing, collectible design, auction-led price signaling, luxury collaborations, and awards. Publicly available reference material provides limited information about its ownership, precise production facilities, distribution structure, current leadership beyond its founder, and current product range. Those details require further verification.
History
The Craft Irish Whiskey Company was formed in Ireland in 2018 by Jay Bradley. From its beginning, the company adopted a luxury-oriented approach to Irish whiskey, emphasizing mature liquid, unusual cask programs, scarce releases, and presentation objects rather than a broad-volume portfolio. The public reference material does not identify a specific distillery facility or provide detailed information about the company’s production ownership, so its role is best described as an Irish whiskey-producing company whose brand proposition is centered on premium and collectible releases. The company’s first whiskey was The Devil’s Keep. The whiskey was distilled in 1991 and launched in November 2020. Its production profile includes triple distillation and triple casking in American, French, and Hungarian oak, a combination intended to create a layered flavor and aroma profile. The release also established the company’s interest in luxury packaging: a decanter sold at a Texas auction for $60,000. The company’s reference material characterizes this as the most expensive debut whiskey at the time, helping create early attention around both the liquid and the object in which it was presented. In February 2021, the company released The Emerald Isle in collaboration with Fabergé. The whiskey is described as a 30-year-old, triple-distilled single malt matured in an ex-bourbon barrel and finished in a Pedro Ximénez sherry barrel. Its presentation connected Irish whiskey with Fabergé’s luxury craft and jewelry tradition. One Emerald Isle box sold for $2 million at a United States auction in 2021. The proceeds from the first box were donated to the Correa Family Foundation, a charity supporting children affected by cancer. This release broadened the company’s identity from a whiskey producer into a luxury-collaboration brand. The third release, The Brollach, was distilled in 2001 and introduced in summer 2021. It was double distilled and double casked in bourbon casks before finishing in French Oak Madeira barrels. The Taoscán followed in October 2021. Its maturation and finishing program used American oak bourbon casks and Sherry Oloroso hogsheads, after which the whiskey was split for finishing in Tawny Port and chestnut casks. These releases demonstrated the company’s recurring use of secondary finishing and differentiated wood types as central parts of product storytelling. The brand gained recognition in both tasting and design competitions. In 2021, it was reported as the most awarded new company of the year, with 32 awards across four whiskey releases and across taste and design categories. The company received Masters and Gold Medals at The Luxury Spirits Masters 2021 and won design recognition at the A’Design Awards. The Emerald Isle received a perfect score and Platinum recognition in the cited awards material. In 2022, The Devil’s Keep was named Best Irish Single Malt whiskey in Ireland across all categories at the World Whiskies Awards, while also receiving awards from the A’Design Awards, the International Wine & Spirit Competition, The Spirits Business Luxury Masters Awards, and the Luxury Packaging Awards. The Brollach and The Taoscán received World Whiskies Awards medals in the Best Single Malt category. The company also pursued partnerships beyond ordinary spirits distribution. It was identified as the exclusive Michelin Plaque Distribution Partner for the Michelin Guide Star Revelation Great Britain and Ireland 2022. In design, Chief Design Officer Tiago Russo received a 2023 Kyoto Global Design Awards Industrial recognition for the Finn Whiskey Glass, The Aodh, and The Donn. Together, these activities illustrate the company’s strategy of combining whiskey, industrial design, luxury packaging, hospitality visibility, and charitable or cultural associations. Available reference material does not establish the company’s current ownership, exact headquarters, production scale, complete distribution network, or the current status of each named release. Its present public profile is therefore most securely defined by its known limited-edition releases, luxury collaborations, design-led presentation, and award record.
- 2023
Design award for Tiago Russo
[1]Chief Design Officer Tiago Russo received Kyoto Global Design Awards recognition for three design works associated with the company.
- 2022
Best Innovation award
[1]The company won the Best Innovation category at the Best Business Awards.
- 2021
The Emerald Isle launched
[1]The company released The Emerald Isle in collaboration with Fabergé.
- 2021
The Brollach and The Taoscán introduced
[1]The Brollach arrived in summer, followed by The Taoscán in October, expanding the company’s limited-release portfolio.
- 2021
Award recognition expands across taste and design
[1]The company was reported to have received 32 awards across taste and design categories for four releases.
- 2020
The Devil’s Keep launched
[1]The company introduced its first release, a whiskey distilled in 1991 and presented with a triple-distillation and triple-cask profile.
- 2018
Company founded
[1]Jay Bradley formed the Craft Irish Whiskey Company in Ireland.
Products and positioning
Luxury Irish whiskey combining limited production, mature stocks, distinctive cask finishing, collectible decanter design, high-end collaborations, and auction-oriented scarcity.
Limited-edition Irish single malt whiskey · 2020
The Devil’s Keep
The company’s debut release, distilled in 1991 and launched in November 2020. It is described as triple distilled and triple casked in American, French, and Hungarian oak to develop its flavor and aroma. The expression became closely associated with the company’s luxury positioning after one of its decanters sold for $60,000 at auction in Texas. It later received multiple taste and design awards, including recognition at the 2022 World Whiskies Awards.
Luxury collaborative Irish single malt whiskey · 2021
The Emerald Isle
A 30-year-old triple-distilled single malt released in February 2021 through a collaboration with Fabergé. The whiskey was matured in an ex-bourbon barrel and finished in a single Pedro Ximénez sherry barrel. It was sold as a highly collectible presentation, and one box reached a $2 million auction price in the United States in 2021. Proceeds from the first box were donated to the Correa Family Foundation.
Limited-edition Irish single malt whiskey · 2021
The Brollach
The company’s third reported release, distilled in 2001 and introduced in summer 2021. It is described as double distilled and double casked in bourbon casks, followed by finishing in French Oak Madeira barrels. The expression received a medal in the Best Single Malt category at the 2022 World Whiskies Awards.
Cask-finished Irish single malt whiskey · 2021
The Taoscán
Introduced in October 2021, The Taoscán uses American oak bourbon casks and Sherry Oloroso hogsheads before the whiskey is split for finishing in Tawny Port and chestnut casks. The multi-stage cask treatment is a central part of the expression’s product identity. It received a medal in the Best Single Malt category at the 2022 World Whiskies Awards.
Marketing campaigns
- 2022Michelin Guide Star Revelation partnership
Great Britain · Ireland
The company served as the exclusive Michelin Plaque Distribution Partner for the Michelin Guide Star Revelation Great Britain and Ireland 2022, linking the whiskey brand with restaurant recognition and hospitality culture.
Outcome. The cited material confirms the partnership but does not provide further performance or campaign metrics.
- 2021Fabergé collaboration for The Emerald Isle
United States · International luxury spirits market
The company partnered with Fabergé to present The Emerald Isle as a luxury collectible whiskey edition, combining mature Irish single malt with an elaborate presentation and a high-end craft and design association.
Outcome. One Emerald Isle box sold for $2 million at a United States auction. Proceeds from the first box were donated to the Correa Family Foundation.
Brand decisions
2021
Fabergé collaboration for The Emerald IsleM&ABackground
The company pursued a luxury-goods association to distinguish its second whiskey release from conventional spirits launches.
Action taken
It collaborated with Fabergé on The Emerald Isle, a mature single malt presented as a collectible luxury edition.
Aftermath
One box sold for $2 million at auction, while proceeds from the first box were donated to the Correa Family Foundation.
Auction price for one Emerald Isle box. $2 million (2021)
2021
Expansion through sequential limited releasesStrategyBackground
Following its debut, the company used a numbered-release-style progression to broaden its portfolio while retaining a limited and design-led identity.
Action taken
It introduced The Brollach in summer 2021 and The Taoscán in October 2021, each using distinct maturation or finishing programs.
Aftermath
The four-release portfolio received substantial recognition across whiskey tasting, packaging, and design competitions.
2020
Launch of The Devil’s KeepProduct launchBackground
The newly established company needed an initial product capable of defining its luxury and collectible positioning.
Action taken
It selected a whiskey distilled in 1991 and presented it through triple distillation, triple casking, and high-end decanter design.
Aftermath
A decanter sold for $60,000 at a Texas auction, generating early attention for the brand’s scarcity and luxury-oriented model.
Auction price for one decanter. $60,000 (2020)
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. and Fabergé partner on Emerald Isle Collection[2]
Reported:
The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. debuted the Emerald Isle Collection in partnership with Fabergé. The collection consists of seven custom-made whiskey sets.
The Craft Irish Whiskey Co and Fabergé partner on Emerald Isle Collection[3]
Reported:
The Craft Irish Whiskey Co and Fabergé partnered on the Emerald Isle Collection, a series of collectible whisky sets that launches on February 1, 2021.
Sources3 sources
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