Limavady Single Malt Whiskey, made in Northern Ireland, is the only constantly available single barrel, single malt Irish whiskey. While other distillers there might do a limited edition or special bottling, only Limavady offers one in its permanent portfolio. Made from 100 percent Irish barley in small batches and triple-distilled in copper pot stills, the whiskey ages in former bourbon barrels and finishes in PX sherry casks. The end result, smooth on the palate, features warm tones of dried fruit over a sweet vanilla base and a lingering, satisfying finish. Each barrel produces only 846 bottles, lending an exciting level of variation for the dram fan.

The spirit is the brainchild of Darryl McNally, whose decades of experi- ence include 17 years as distilling operations manager of Old Bushmills Distillery. He also happens to be a descendent of the original Limavady distillers in County Derry, one of Ireland’s first licensed distilleries in 1608.

© Limavady Whiskey

On the horizon for Limavady are experimental bottlings aged in various wine casks (McNally is tight-lipped about the exact details, but expect a few surprising finishes). “Limavady” derives from the Gaelic léim an mhadaidh, translating to “leap of the dog” — chosen by the team as a symbol of bravery and goodwill as much as a leap of faith in bringing their vision to market. A current fun nod to the name (available on the distillery website) is a bottle of its flagship whiskey with a limited-edition dog collar boasting a mini cask adorned with the logo; proceeds support Best Friends Animal Society.