Yeats Irish Whiskey, a new premium Irish whiskey brand from County Sligo, Ireland, has released its inaugural expression; The Lake Isle of Innisfree. The debut is a limited run of 4,000 individually numbered bottles and is inspired by the life and literary legacy of poet W.B. Yeats.
The brand is the culmination of a project that began in 2015. The vision evolved through pauses and restarts over the past decade before entering its final phase in November 2025.
“This whiskey is the result of time, resilience, and respect for craft, for tradition, and for storytelling,” said founder Patrick Ward. “Like a true Irish whiskey, this is our third distillation of the idea and the one that mattered.”
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READ THE STORYThis is the first release from Yeats Irish Whiskey, with each subsequent release in the series set to take its name from a Yeats poem. From liquid to label, the brand positions itself as a tribute to Irish cultural heritage.
The debut expression is a blend of 90% aged Irish grain whiskey matured primarily in first-fill ex-bourbon American oak casks, 9% triple-distilled Irish malt whiskey finished in Ruby Port casks, and 1% peated malt. Components were matured separately for five to seven years before blending.
The Ruby Port cask finish remains uncommon in Irish whiskey. The official release notes explain how the casks adds a distinctive layer of red fruit, warmth, and texture to the whiskey.
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Official tasting notes from the brand describe vanilla, honey, and toasted oak on the nose, lifted by gentle red berry notes from the Ruby Port finish. The palate is smooth and rounded, with dark fruits and subtle wine sweetness balanced by soft spice. The finish is medium in length with lingering sweetness and warmth.
Yeats Irish Whiskey is bottled at 43% ABV and is lightly chill filtered. Packaging reflects the brand’s literary identity, designed to feel timeless rather than trendy.
The Lake Isle of Innisfree is the first in a planned ongoing series. Work has already begun on a second release, with future expressions exploring new cask finishes, styles, and poetic themes. Planned initiatives include curated tastings, cultural partnerships, and a collector’s trilogy box set following the first three releases.
The launch adds to a growing wave of premium and super-premium entrants in the Irish whiskey category, which has experienced significant global growth over the past decade. Ireland’s temperate maritime climate plays a key role in the maturation process, allowing for slow, even development and integration between spirit and wood.
Further information is available at www.yeatsirishwhiskey.com.
