Connemara 12 Year Peated Single Malt Irish Whiskey 750ML

Connemara 12 Year Peated Single Malt Irish Whiskey 750ML is a 40% ABV, 12-year-old peated Irish single malt widely recognized as the only peated single malt Irish whiskey of its kind in broad distribution. It earned 94 points from the Beverage Testing Institute and Gold medals at the International Wine & Spirit Competition in both 2011 and 2013.

Quick Facts: ABV: 40%  |  Origin: County Louth, Ireland  |  Age: 12 Years  |  Distillery: Cooley Distillery

Production & Heritage

Cooley Distillery was founded in 1987 by John Teeling on the Cooley Peninsula in County Louth, Ireland, and was acquired by Beam Inc. (now Beam Suntory) in 2011. Connemara 12 Year is double-distilled in small copper pot stills from a 100% peated malted barley mashbill at approximately 20 parts per million (PPM) phenol — a deliberate nod to an older Irish distilling tradition that largely disappeared in the 20th century. The 12-year maturation distinguishes this expression from the core no-age-statement Connemara, allowing more time for the wood influence to integrate with and temper the peat smoke.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Light orchard fruit — apple and pear — opens the nose, followed by a layer of creamy custard and gentle malt sweetness. Underneath, traces of camphor, honey, and a subtle peatiness build without overwhelming the lighter fruit tones.

Taste: The entry is soft and malty, giving way to a mid-palate of rustic, earthy peat layered over rhubarb and custard. Granary toast with melted butter and a driftwood-smoke character emerge as the whiskey develops. The balance between fruit sweetness and restrained peat is the hallmark of this expression.

Finish: Medium in length with a light, approachable texture. Vanilla and tangy fruit linger alongside traces of oily smoke and a gentle spice that fades gradually.

How to Drink Connemara 12

Neat or with a few drops of water is the ideal primary serve; the water opens up the custard and fruit notes while softening the peat. A single large ice cube also works well for warm-weather drinking without drowning the whiskey's subtlety.

• Penicillin: The moderate peat and fruit character slots in naturally as the smoky scotch component in this modern classic, adding an Irish twist.
• Rob Roy: Connemara 12's earthy malt and light smoke hold up against sweet vermouth, creating a layered, savory variation.
• Irish Coffee: A more complex take on the classic — the peat and vanilla add depth that pairs well with coffee's bitterness and the cream's richness.

Best For

• Scotch drinkers curious about a lighter, fruit-forward approach to peated whiskey
• Gifting to an Irish whiskey enthusiast looking for something outside the unpeated mainstream
• After-dinner sipping alongside dark chocolate or aged cheese
• Building a comparative tasting flight of peated expressions from different countries

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Connemara 12 taste like? Connemara 12 delivers a moderate, earthy peat smoke balanced by orchard fruit, creamy custard, and malty sweetness, with a medium-length finish of vanilla and gentle spice. It is noticeably lighter and more fruit-driven than most peated Scotch single malts.

How does Connemara 12 compare to Lagavulin? Lagavulin is significantly more peat-forward and intense, typically around 35–40 PPM compared to Connemara's approximately 20 PPM. Connemara 12 trades that heavy maritime smoke for a lighter, fruitier profile shaped by double distillation in copper pot stills rather than the traditional Islay approach.

Is Connemara 12 good for sipping neat? Yes — the 12-year maturation rounds off the peat, making it smooth and approachable enough for neat sipping while still offering enough complexity to reward attention. A few drops of water further open up the fruit and custard notes.

Where is Connemara 12 made? Connemara 12 is produced at Cooley Distillery on the Cooley Peninsula in County Louth, Ireland. Despite its name referencing the Connemara region of western Ireland, the distillery itself is located on Ireland's northeast coast.

What foods pair well with Connemara 12? Smoked salmon benefits from the whiskey's complementary peat and fruit character. Dark chocolate (70%+ cacao) draws out the custard and vanilla notes. Aged cheddar or Gruyère mirrors its earthy, malty depth. Grilled lamb chops echo the smoky, rustic quality. Pear tart or poached pears connect directly with the orchard-fruit nose.

What sizes does Connemara 12 come in? Connemara 12 Year Peated Single Malt is available in the standard 750ml bottle size.

Is Connemara 12 worth the price? Connemara 12 positions as a mid-premium expression — priced above the no-age-statement Connemara but competitive with 12-year single malts from Scotland. Its rarity as the only widely available peated Irish single malt with a meaningful age statement gives it a unique value proposition within the broader whiskey category.

Why Connemara 12?

No other Irish single malt in wide distribution occupies this space — a peated, pot-still-distilled whiskey with a 12-year age statement. That alone makes it a genuine outlier in a category dominated by unpeated triple-distilled expressions. The Beverage Testing Institute's 94-point rating and back-to-back IWSC Gold medals confirm that the whiskey delivers on substance, not just novelty. For anyone who appreciates the interplay between fruit sweetness and smoke but wants something gentler and more approachable than Islay single malts, Connemara 12 fills a gap that nothing else on the Irish shelf currently does.