26.1 Single Malt Whiskey Milestone for the Copeland Distillery
The limited-edition whiskey earned “Best Single Malt under 11 years old” at the Irish Whiskey Awards 2025 –
The Copeland Distillery has announced the release of its first whiskey release of 2026 – 26.1 which joins the Distillery’s growing portfolio of limited-edition whiskeys.
26.1 is a 5-year-old double-distilled Single Malt, matured in a combination of ex-Pinot Noir and ex-Syrah (Shiraz) barriques that previously held Copeland Overproof Rum. 100% mashed, fermented, distilled and matured on the Ards Peninsula, and shaped by the coastal influence of Donaghadee where the distillery is based, the Single Malt reflects both place and innovation. And in recognition of this, the whiskey was awarded the coveted title of ‘Best Single Malt Irish Whiskey (11 Years and Under)’ at the Irish Whiskey Awards 2025, further enhancing The Copeland Distillery’s growing reputation in premium spirits.
The launch of 26.1 comes at a significant time for the industry. Despite a slowdown in distillery production across the island of Ireland, The Copeland Distillery has continued to distil 5 days per week, expanding its portfolio and releasing limited-edition bottlings designed to provide its local and global following with new whiskey experiences. With only 860 bottles produced and bottled at cask strength (57.8% ABV), 26.1 stands as one of the Distillery’s most premium small‑batch expressions to date.
On the nose, 26.1 opens with a bright and authoritative character, rich in juicy fruits with a hint of nuttiness, Manuka honey and barley. The palate delivers an oily, mouth-coating texture that develops with heat and spice, complemented by rich woody tannins and brown sugar layered over dark, golden toast. The finish is long, warm and dry, with a sweet floral character that lingers.
Founder of the Copeland Distillery, Gareth Irvine said, “26.1 is the kind of whiskey that reminds us why we do what we do. It shows the full depth of our craft. When we moved into an abandoned cinema back in 2019 and invested in it as our permanent home, whiskey was always at the heart of the plan. Every element – from the design of our copper stills and our double-distilled philosophy to maximise the flavour of our spirit, to cask selection and our coastal maturation – reflects the hands‑on approach that has shaped our success to date. We’re still a young distillery, but we’ve always believed that if we stayed true to craftmanship, and to our heritage in Donaghadee, we could provide the market with a truly special whiskey experience.
“In just a few years we’ve gone from filling our first cask in late 2019 to creating a bespoke cask warehouse just a few miles from the distillery which is currently maturing around 1000 casks – equivalent to over 300,000 bottles – and each release has pushed us to innovate. The industry is changing, and it’s not without its challenges, but our ambition hasn’t shifted. We remain committed to building a legacy Irish whiskey brand, available to both our domestic customers and our international export markets.”
2024 saw The Copeland Distillery release its first 5‑year‑old Single Malt and by 2025 saw four limited-edition releases including its first Chocolate Malt and Pot Still whiskeys, with many of the releases selling out within a matter of hours such was the demand from whiskey enthusiasts.
Mark Prentice, Commercial Director at The Copeland Distillery, said, “The demand we’re seeing for our small‑batch releases shows that consumers are looking for more than just another Irish whiskey; they want authenticity, clarity of provenance and a flavour profile that feels genuinely considered. That’s where 26.1 sits. The rarity and scarcity of each of our releases is something which has struck a chord, both with retail consumers, bars, hotels and restaurants and of course it’s great to achieve such recognition at the 2025 Irish Whiskey awards.
“While parts of the industry are slowing production, we’re continuing to grow both from the launch of our new whiskey releases and from our core range of gin, rum, vodka and blended whiskeys. Each of our Copeland 5-year-old limited-edition releases helps us build long‑term credibility in a competitive category, and the incredible response in our home market continues to be instrumental to our success. We’re entering an exciting phase for the whiskey category of our business with six 5-year-old Single Malt and Single Pot Still releases between now and December, including our first Peated release, which will be available in NI, the Republic of Ireland and, for the first time, a number of our export markets.”
26.1 double-distilled Single Malt is bottled at 57.8% ABV and priced at £125 available to purchase from the distillery shop (online or in the distillery), off-licences across Northern Ireland and Celtic Whiskey shop in Dublin.
