The Donn
Matured across Bourbon, Tawny Port, Hungarian Oak and finished in Pedro Ximinéz, The Donn 2023 Inaugural Edition possesses a depth of flavour and rich complexity far beyond its years. The Donn is the perfect representation of how our innovative barrel crafting techniques dictate flavour and quality, not an age statement.
POWERFUL. LEGENDARY. UNBOUNDED.
The Donn is a contemporary masterpiece, embodying our pioneering approach. It’s not about the age or the label – it’s about the experience.
AGE IS JUST A NUMBER
Age is just a number, which is exactly why we avoid putting age statements on our labels. It’s not that we’re trying to hide anything; we happily offer up all production details in our packaging notes. It’s that we know the merits of a whiskey are owed to the quality of the juice and the expertise of its crafters.
The Donn is a perfect example of this adage. It includes liquid that spends not much more than seven years in the barrel. But those barrels are beautiful. And that maturation is masterful. And The Donn shows a deep amber colour. It pours into the dram with the weighty aromatics of freshly ripened red berries. Atop the palate is a complex assortment of praline, Christmas cake and marzipan. It rides a rich and creamy texture for a soulful, candied citrus finish that fades ever so slowly from the back of the mouth.
You savour exceptionality in every sip.
CHALLENGING AGE-OLD NOTIONS
The Donn is a relative newcomer to shelves and yet it has already amassed a treasure chest worth of accolades. Among the top honours received includes a Double Gold at the John Barleycorn Awards—one of the most prestigious annual competitions in the industry—as well as being named the World’s Best Irish Whiskey at the 2023 Global Spirits Masters Blind Tasting.
TASTING NOTES
Triple-distilled for a smoother, more refined spirit, The Donn possesses a palette of pure luxury.
Nose: Orange zest, digestive biscuits, caramel, pecan nuts and marzipan
Palate: Dark chocolate, caramel and toasted walnuts with great viscosity
Finish: Continued profile dark chocolate and prune
By Master Of Whiskey, Jay Bradley
The awards of distinction didn’t arrive by chance. They are the result of the very meticulous barrel craftsmanship of The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. founder and master blender, Jay Bradley. To achieve the sublime intricacies of The Donn, he began with the highest quality Irish Single Malt available, entered it into ex-bourbon barrels for four years of primary maturation, prior to re-racking the liquid in Tawny Port Pipes. The whiskey went back into heavily toasted ex-bourbon casks, before a final submersion into a series of Pedro Ximenez barrels ranging from 64 litres to 225 litres in size. That’s six different barrels across seven years of maturation.
Taste Awards
By Tiago Russo, Chief Design Officer
The Donn, inspired by its namesake Irish god and his homeland of Tech Duinn, shows how design, taste and storytelling can merge into creating disruptive differentiation.
As with all releases from The Craft Irish Whiskey Co., The Donn proudly sits in an elegant decanter, fashioned by our award-winning team of designers—led by world-renowned artist Tiago Russo. For this particular expression, the artisans have opted for a sleek bottle with sharp, beveled edges, capped under a hefty obsidian enclosure. Using mythology to shape The Donn’s unique bottle, it has become individual and iconic, making it the perfect addition behind any bar.
Design Awards
Where to find The Donn?
You can enjoy a glass of The Donn along with a selection of our other Single Malts at one of our incredible partner venues.
Click below to find your closest location.
OUR PARTNER VENUES