The Copeland Distillery has released 26.1, a limited-edition five-year-old double-distilled single malt and its first whiskey release of 2026. The expression, which won Best Single Malt Irish Whiskey (11 Years and Under) at the Irish Whiskey Awards 2025, is bottled at cask strength (57.8% ABV) with only 860 bottles produced and priced at £125.
The whiskey was matured in a combination of ex-Pinot Noir and ex-Syrah barriques that previously held Copeland Overproof Rum. It was entirely mashed, fermented, distilled, and matured on the Ards Peninsula in Donaghadee, Northern Ireland, where the distillery is based.
The release comes as the broader Irish whiskey industry faces a slowdown in distillery production. The Copeland Distillery, however, has continued to distill five days per week while expanding its portfolio.
Quick whisky question
Single malt is everywhere, but what does it mean? We want to know what the word “single” means to you. Three quick questions, under a minute.
Gareth Irvine, founder of The Copeland Distillery, 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,” Irvine added. “Every element — from the design of our copper stills and our double-distilled philosophy to maximize the flavor of our spirit, to cask selection and our coastal maturation — reflects the hands-on approach that has shaped our success to date.”
Irvine said the distillery has grown from filling its first cask in late 2019 to maturing around 1,000 casks — equivalent to more than 300,000 bottles — in a bespoke warehouse near the distillery site.
What Will Whisky Look Like in 2027? Voices from Whisky Live Paris
READ THE STORY“We’re still a young distillery, but we’ve always believed that if we stayed true to craftsmanship, and to our heritage in Donaghadee, we could provide the market with a truly special whiskey experience,” he said. “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.”
Official tasting notes from the brand describe 26.1 as opening on the nose with bright, juicy fruits, a hint of nuttiness, Manuka honey, and barley. The palate delivers an oily, mouth-coating texture with heat, spice, rich woody tannins, and brown sugar layered over dark golden toast. The finish is long, warm, and dry with a lingering sweet floral character.
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 flavor profile that feels genuinely considered. That’s where 26.1 sits.”
The distillery released its first five-year-old single malt in 2024. By 2025, it had launched four limited-edition expressions including its first Chocolate Malt and Pot Still whiskeys. Several of those releases sold out within hours.
“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,” Prentice said. “We’re entering an exciting phase for the whiskey category of our business with six five-year-old Single Malt and Single Pot Still releases between now and December, including our first Peated release.”
Those upcoming releases will be available in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and for the first time, select export markets.
The 26.1 is now available through the distillery’s online and physical shop, off-licenses across Northern Ireland, and Celtic Whiskey Shop in Dublin.
Latest On The Whiskey Wash
