Achill Island Distillery

John McKay founded the business in 2015 on Achill Island, recognising that the island's exceptional natural environment — including Lough Corrymore, Europe's highest mountain lake, naturally filtered through quartz sandstone and amethyst crystal — offered a unique terroir for whiskey production. The distillery gained national recognition when it was officially launched on 14 June 2019, with the Minister for Rural and Community Development opening the visitor centre and Barley Field Bar. Four master distillers — Mick Gallagher, Ken Quinn, Sean McKay, and Michael McKay — trained under world-renowned distiller Jack O'Shea, grounding the operation in traditional craft. The distillery produced the first peated single malt Irish whiskey to be distilled, matured, and bottled on an island. Multiple international awards followed: WSWA medals in 2017–2019 and Double Silver at the San Francisco World Spirits Awards in 2018.

Water is sourced from Lough Corrymore, which sits at elevation and is naturally filtered through quartz sandstone and amethyst crystal on its way to the distillery. The island microclimate — maritime, cool, and exposed to the full force of the Wild Atlantic — is cited as a key factor in maturation character. The distillery produces double and triple distilled expressions, with both peated and unpeated variants. Achill Island's peated single malt holds the distinction of being the first of its kind distilled, matured, and bottled on an Irish island. Production capacity has not been publicly disclosed.

The IrishAmerican range spans a Classic Blend, a 10 Year Old Single Malt, and a 19 Year Old Single Malt, reflecting both blended and aged single malt styles. The Achill Island Single Malt is released in multiple cask finishes including bourbon, sherry, and port. The peated variant carries Atlantic smoke and brine alongside the fruit character typical of Irish pot still whiskey. The island micro-climate contributes a distinctive maritime influence — sea salt, coastal heather, and wild herbs — that sets the Achill expressions apart from mainland Irish whiskeys. Keem Bay Gin uses locally sourced island botanicals. The Bodán Achill Island Poitín is bottled at 60%.

The visitor centre and Barley Field Bar are open to visitors, offering tours with tastings of award-winning expressions and cocktails — including the "famous Mayo Mojito Cocktail." The tasting experience covers peated and unpeated expressions. A physical shop and online shop at irishamericanwhiskeys.com are both available. Cask investment programmes are also offered.