When it comes to places I have visited in West Cork, Clonakilty was not one of them.
I always assumed it was a place you would just pass through but how wrong I was.
Not only is it scenically beautiful, with lush fields that meet the ocean, it is full of nice restaurants, hotels and of course it’s new world renowned Clonakilty Distillery.
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My partner Elly and I based ourselves at the Clonakilty Park Hotel, smack bang in the middle of the town, and just a 45 minute drive west of Cork City.
Winner of Tripadvisor's Travellers Choice Awards in 2019, it caters for everyone from families to couples away for a lost weekend.
One of the main reasons we were in the area was to visit Clonakilty Distillery, which is located on the windswept southwestern coast and is home to one of the country’s most famous single malt Whiskeys.
The Scully family, who have farmed this coastal land for nine successive generations, decided to take on the mission of creating the best Whiskey they could by utilising the best resources nature has to offer.
After dropping our bags off at the hotel, we were picked up by Clonakilty Distillery founder and managing director Michael Scully, who lives and breathes the whole process of making this highly sought after drink.
A very warm and welcoming giant of a man, Michael drove us to Galley Head overlooking the Atlantic and to the family farm at Dunowen where the whiskey casks are stored.
The location is nothing short of breathtaking and Michael stopped off to show us a cove where dolphins swim and one regular humpback whale called Boomerang by locals, visits each year.
I was never much of a whiskey drinker if i'm being honest but was always fascinated by the whole process.
My other half on the other hand likes to splash a few quid on a decent tumbler of whiskey from time to time.
The location of the storage warehouse was breath-taking and as Michael put it is “crucial to the taste of the whiskey as well as its unique story.”
As he showed us around the various casks of whiskey, some which were maturing in old cognac barrels for example, the beautiful smell of oak and vanilla which filled the large storage facility was one of the most gorgeously unique smells I had ever had the pleasure of inhaling.
If you could bottle the smell alone you would be on to a winner!
Despite already being a huge success abroad, particularly in Japan, Michael and his dedicated team which consists of other family members including his wife, only started making whiskey in 2019.
After our personal tour of the warehouse, we headed back to the heart of Clonakilty town where the distillery is located.
Distillery Visitor Experience Manager, Ewan Paterson, who is also a whiskey and gin expert, showed us around the impressive facility where we learned about the background of the company's whiskey and gin making process.
To say that the Scotsman, who now regards West Cork as his home, knows a thing or two about Whiskey would be an understatement.
After filling us in on how the famous tipples are made and what makes Clonakilty whiskey and gin unique from all the others, Ewan put our pallets to the test by giving us various samples to try.
Following our epic personal tour of both the farm and distillery, we had both worked up quite an appetite and ventured off to a hidden gem close by for dinner.
Dunmore House Hotel, which hugs the coast, offered a large array of great food, from mouth watering fish dishes to tasty salads.
The charming staff were also more than happy to make us some very tasty vegan options which we inhaled.
After a fabulous day exploring just some of what the area has to offer, we decided there and then that we would be back to visit the stunning town sooner rather than later.
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