Irish Whiskey Festival takes a bite out of Big Apple

After a two-year pandemic hiatus the Irish Whiskey Festival in New York City is back.

After an inaugural festival in 2019, the Belfast boys behind the famous Dead Rabbit, Sean Muldoon and Jack McGarry, are bringing two tasting sessions to The View at Battery Park on March 12.

The even comes after the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States revealed Irish whiskey sales were up 16.3% in the United States in 2021, from $185 million to $1.3 billion.

There are now 40 operational Irish distilleries, according to the Irish Whiskey Association, whose director William Lavelle said: “The fact that there is now a second dedicated Irish whiskey festival in NYC is testament to the seemingly unstoppable rise of Irish whiskey across the United States.

“It is clear that Irish whiskey is going to be an increasingly competitive player in the higher-end whiskey market, taking on Scotch single malts.

“The increase in Irish whiskey sales in the U.S. last year was greater than the cumulative growth experienced by Scotch over the past 10 years. This puts Irish whiskey on course to achieve the Irish Whiskey Association’s projection that sales of Irish whiskey in the U.S. can overtake sales of Scotch in this current decade.”

The festival will be a great place to check out some of the new things that are in the marketplace and ettendees will be able to experience the very latest and best from the plethora of brands that are participating from Bushmills to Redbreast, and to newer brands like The Quiet Man and Sexton

In addition to being a chance to try new whiskies, event founder Moira Breslin said tit will also be celebration of all things Ireland, right before St. Patrick’s Day.

“The festival feels like it’s for everyone,” she added.  “When I looked around, I truly felt like it was a festival dedicated to what’s great about Ireland rather than a traditional whiskey event.”