Hawk’s Rock Distillery Archives | The Whiskey Lifestyle https://thewhiskeylifestyle.com/tag/hawks-rock-distillery/ Celebrate life's journey with us Fri, 21 Nov 2025 17:42:08 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9 https://i0.wp.com/thewhiskeylifestyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/cropped-FavlogoW.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Hawk’s Rock Distillery Archives | The Whiskey Lifestyle https://thewhiskeylifestyle.com/tag/hawks-rock-distillery/ 32 32 96977830 Sazerac Brings Back Its Cognac https://thewhiskeylifestyle.com/sazerac-brings-back-its-cognac/ Fri, 21 Nov 2025 19:31:19 +0000 https://thewhiskeylifestyle.com/?p=12589 Sazerac de Forge & Fils Cognac has unveiled three new expressions crafted to capture the essence of Cognac…

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Sazerac de Forge & Fils Cognac has unveiled three new expressions crafted to capture the essence of Cognac as it was centuries ago.

Sazerac de Forge XO consists of selected eaux-de-vie to showcase a blend that is 86 proof and includes Cognacs aged for over two decades in French oak barrels. As the flagship expression from domaine, the XO bottle features a rounded silhouette of clear glass that showcases the spirit’s golden hue. A natural cork stopper with a wooden cap and a satin blue ribbon, resurrecting the ‘Sazerac Blue’ hue once stamped on chinaware exported worldwide from the original Sazerac de Forge pottery house.

The first vintage release from Sazerac de Forge & Fils Cognac, Grande Champagne 2000 represents over two decades of maturation in the soils of Cognac’s most celebrated cru. Distilled from a single harvest and matured in French oak barrels without blending, it is bottled at 89.6 proof. The bottle, made of clear glass with a curved silhouette and natural cork stopper, is complemented by a matching carton detailed in cream and blue with gold accents.

An blend of three rare vintage eaux-de-vie distilled in 1970, 1971, and 1974, Sazerac de Forge 50-Year-Old is the domaine’s oldest expression to date. Each vintage was hand-sealed in wax and left undisturbed for more than fifty years in small French oak barrels before being blended and bottled at 86 proof. The decanter, formed from curved crystal glass with a matching lid and the Sazerac de Forge family crest etched in gold, pays homage to the original Cognac domaine.

“At Sazerac de Forge, every expression is crafted with care to showcase the unique character of its carefully selected eaux-de-vie,” says Sazerac de Forge & Fils Cellar Master Denis Lahouratate. “Our blends are patiently shaped over time, developing complexity and depth. Others are released as vintages, capturing their singular qualities. In every case, the goal is the same: a Cognac that reveals individuality and artistry.”

“Cognac’s richness lies not only in flavor, but also in the generations of knowledge behind its craft,” adds Jess Scheerhorn, Vice President, Sazerac de Forge. “We created these expressions for those who seek to experience Cognac the way it was originally intended in 1782.”

Revived in 2019 by, owners of Buffalo Trace Distillery and Hawk’s Rock Distillery, Sazerac de Forge & Fils carries forward the legacy of the 1782 domaine founded by Bernard Sazerac de Forge. The pioneering house earned a reputation for refinement, shipping Cognac across Europe and America and lending its name to the famed Sazerac cocktail of New Orleans before fading in the late 19th century during the phylloxera epidemic. Today’s domaine cultivates its estate in Segonzac, the heart of Grande Champagne, using organic practices and a diversity of grape varietals. Beyond the estate, it curates rare, aged stocks from across the region, inspired by the methods and character of pre-phylloxera Cognacs.

Sazerac de Forge XO is now available for $149.99. Sazerac de Forge Grande Champagne 2000 is available for $449.99. Sazerac de Forge 50-Year-Old is available now for $3,999.99.

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Hawk’s Rock Takes Flight With Garavogue https://thewhiskeylifestyle.com/hawks-rock-takes-flight-with-garavogue/ Wed, 04 Jun 2025 19:30:04 +0000 https://thewhiskeylifestyle.com/?p=12122 Hawk’s Rock Distillery, Sazerac’s recently acquired Irish whiskey distillery, has just announced its inaugural release, Garavogue 20 Year Old…

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Hawk’s Rock Distillery, Sazerac’s recently acquired Irish whiskey distillery, has just announced its inaugural release, Garavogue 20 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey.

Crafted by Master Blender Helen Mulholland, the first female Master Blender in Irish Whiskey history, the expression is named after the river that flows past the distillery through Sligo town into the Atlantic Ocean. Double-distilled and initially aged for a minimum of 14 years in ex-bourbon American oak casks, the whiskey was then transferred into a variety of finishing casks including French Muscat, French Sauternes, Spanish Pedro Ximénez Sherry and Barbadian Rum casks for further maturation. The result is a 94 proof whiskey that embodies Sazerac’s dedication to world class distillation, aging and blending.

“The current trend is for whiskey to have a rich sherry finish, but Garavogue is purposefully different,” says Hawk’s Rock Distillery Master Blender Helen Mulholland. “We believe that complexity and subtlety can work hand in hand. It is unusual for a whiskey to be blended with this number and variety of casks, but just as the river ebbs and flows, the flavors create a wonderful blend as they weave together in this 20-year-old single malt.”

Garavogue is a small-batch release and will experimental in nature, exploring different ages, maturation techniques and possibly even different types of Irish whiskey. Release #1 is housed in a distinctive reversed crescent shape bottle with a blue label reflecting the Garavogue River’s influence including subtle wave patterns that mirror the motion of water. The label also features imagery and coordinates for the Hazelwood House Windmill – an enduring landmark on the grounds of Hawk’s Rock – in tribute to the historical figures who lived and worked along Garavogue’s banks.

“We hope that Garavogue Whiskey invites Irish Whiskey fans to linger, explore and uncover the hidden stories of Sligo,” remarks Jess Scheerhorn, Vice President at Sazerac. “The Garavogue River shaped this beautiful landscape for millenniums, and Garavogue Irish Whiskey aims to shape new experiences, connections and traditions – one sip at a time.”

Hawk’s Rock Distillery’s Garavogue Whiskey will begin rolling out in limited quantities this month for $199.

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Sazerac Goes Irish For Hawk’s Rock https://thewhiskeylifestyle.com/sazerac-goes-irish-for-hawks-rock/ Wed, 30 Apr 2025 18:21:42 +0000 https://thewhiskeylifestyle.com/?p=12051 Sazerac Company has announce the renaming of its recently-acquired Irish Whiskey Distillery to Hawk’s Rock Distillery. Formerly known…

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Sazerac Company has announce the renaming of its recently-acquired Irish Whiskey Distillery to Hawk’s Rock Distillery.

Formerly known as Lough Gill Distillery, Hawk’s Rock will continue to produce and age Irish Whiskey under the watchful eye of Master Blender Helen Mulholland on the over 100-acre site located in County Sligo, Ireland, which includes the nationally listed historic landmark Hazelwood House.

The name change reflects Sazerac’s vision for the future of Irish Whiskey – the art and science of blending, innovation and respect for Sligo’s rich heritage. Named after a prominent outcrop in the Ox Mountains that inspired Nobel Prize winning poet William Butler (W.B.) Yeats’ play “At the Hawk’s Well”, the distillery aims to become a global hub for Irish Whiskey, while offering a gateway to explore the traditions of Sligo and the surrounding region.

“The renaming of Hawk’s Rock Distillery marks a new, yet familiar, frontier for us,” says Sazerac President and CEO Jake Wenz. “Sazerac is known for its balanced approach to honoring tradition while embracing change in constant pursuit of crafting the world’s best spirits at our distilleries in America, India, Canada and France. Our mission holds true for Ireland, and we are excited to reveal how we are blending time-honored traditions with bold innovation to advance the art of Irish whiskey-making.”

Mulholland, the first female Master Blender in Irish Whiskey history, and her carefully-selected team have been entrusted with leading the creation and blending of Hawk’s Rock’s innovative new-to-world Irish whiskey brands, the first of which will debut in June.

Sazerac acquired Lough Gill Distillery in 2022, drawn by its historical significance and the cultural richness of Ireland. Since then, the team has upgraded and tripled its warehouse capacity, expanded production and is modernizing the distillery, ensuring continued growth while maintaining its commitment to quality.

“This rebrand is just the beginning for Hawk’s Rock Distillery,” says Wenz. “Throughout the changes at Hawk’s Rock, our vision remains the same – creating a track record for the aging and blending of award-winning whiskeys – and this name change brings us one step closer to bringing that vision to life.”

While Hawk’s Rock Distillery is closed to the public during renovations, Sazerac has received planning permission to develop a future visitor experience in Sligo.

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