Ryan’s Beggars Bush on Dublin’s Haddington Road is one of the Irish capital’s most iconic pubs. It has been running for over 200 years, and in the hands of the Ryan family since 1913. Back then, Irish distillers wouldn’t bottle their whiskey themselves, but distributed casks to bonded wholesalers and individual pubs. Over time, these whiskeys themselves became distinctive brands in their own right, like Mitchell & Sons’ Green and Yellow Spot. They were known for the care and craftsmanship taken in the cask selection, maturation and blending process.

The original Ryan owner, Thomas, and later his son Jack, established a strong relationship with the Dublin Whiskey Distillery. The whiskey they produced became highly acclaimed throughout the city. The distillery turned off its stills in 1946, which enforced a hiatus on Ryan’s whiskey. However, in preparation for their centenary anniversary in 2013, the scions of the family saw the perfect celebration opportunity: a revival of the family whiskey.

Using their expertise and connections, the family rebuilt the strong distillery relationships that had made the original whiskey so renowned. First, they released a 12 Year Old Single Malt matured in ex-Bourbon barrels. The limited release was bottled at 46% and non chill-filtered, and swept the board for awards given to Irish Single Malts of 12 years or younger. There is also a cask strength release of only 250 bottles, and with the huge demand and historical value of the bottlers, they have become an immediate collectors favourite.