Blacks of Kinsale

Sam and Maudeline Black founded Blacks Brewery in Kinsale in 2013, establishing a craft brewing operation in the harbour town best known as a sailing destination and as the site of the 1601 Battle of Kinsale. Two years later, in 2015, they added a distillery to the site, making Blacks Ireland's first co-located brewery and distillery — a combination that remains unusual in Irish spirits.

The distillery's most significant achievement came in 2018 with the launch of a Spiced Rum, followed by the Black Beak Golden Rum — described as the first Irish rum distilled from start to finish on the island of Ireland. The rum won multiple international awards and attracted national attention. Blacks Irish Whiskey and Blacks Gin joined the portfolio as the operation grew. The distillery operates tours daily, showcasing both production processes through the licensed bar.

Blacks produces Irish whiskey, gin, and rum from its Kinsale site. The brewery and distillery operations share the same premises, with grain fermentation experience informing the spirit production approach. Rum is produced from start to finish on-site — a legally and logistically demanding operation in Ireland, where molasses must be imported and the spirit produced without blending with imported rum. Whiskey is produced in pot still style. No specific still size or capacity figures have been publicly disclosed.

Blacks Irish Whiskey carries a clean, accessible pot still character suited to a craft-scale operation. The Blacks Gin reflects the Wild Atlantic Way terroir of Kinsale's coastline. The Black Beak Golden Rum is the signature achievement: aged in oak with a full rum character developed from the distillery's own fermentation and distillation — a rare feat in Ireland. The Spiced Rum offers an approachable, flavoured variant. The on-site bar allows visitors to taste the full range in situ, paired with Blacks' own craft beers.

Tours of the production facility are available daily, including tasting sessions in the fully licensed on-site bar. The bar serves the complete Blacks spirits and beer range. Online shop available at blacksbrewery.com. Physical shop on site. Address: Kinsale, County Cork, on the Wild Atlantic Way.