Sazerac introduces Irish whiskey distillery brand Hawk’s Rock ahead of new product launches

The Global spirits company’s renaming of Lough Gill Distillery in County Sligo, Ireland comes as it prepares to launch new-to-world Irish whiskey brands under the Hawk’s Rock name.

Apr 24, 2025 - 01:13

Global spirits company Sazerac has renamed its Lough Gill Distillery in County Sligo, Ireland to Hawk’s Rock Distillery.

The move comes as the company prepares to launch new-to-world Irish whiskey brands under the Hawk’s Rock name, the first of which will debut in June.

Flying high: The logo for Hawk’s Rock distillery is revealed. Below we see the see the inspiration for the distillery name – Hawk’s Rock in the Ox Mountains range in County Sligo on Ireland’s west coast.

Acquired by Sazerac in 2022, the distillery sits on a 100-acre site located in County Sligo and includes the nationally listed historic landmark Hazelwood House.

The new name comes from a prominent outcrop in the Ox Mountains that inspired Nobel Prize-winning poet William Butler (W.B.) Yeats’ play At the Hawk’s Well.

**A majestic aerial view of Hawk’s Rock Distillery**

Sazerac noted the name reflects the company’s vision for the future of Irish whiskey – the art and science of blending, innovation and respect for Sligo’s rich heritage.

Sazerac aims for Hawk’s Rock Distillery to become a global hub for Irish whiskey, while offering a gateway to explore the rich traditions of Sligo and the surrounding region.

Sazerac owns and operates other distilleries and homeplaces, including Buffalo Trace Distillery in Kentucky, US; Domaine Sazerac de Segonzac in Cognac, France; and Paul John Distillery in Goa, India.

**Modern Irish whiskey production equipment inside the Hawk’s Rock Distillery**

Sazerac President and CEO Jake Wenz said: “The renaming of Hawk’s Rock Distillery marks a new, yet familiar, frontier for us. Sazerac is known for its balanced approach to honouring tradition while embracing change in constant pursuit of crafting the world’s best spirits at our distilleries in America, India, Canada and France.

“Our mission holds true for Ireland, and we are excited to reveal how we are blending time-honored traditions with bold innovation to advance the art of Irish whiskey-making.”

Hawk’s Rock Distillery will continue to produce and age Irish whiskey under the eye of Master Blender Helen Mulholland.

**Hawk’s Rock Distillery Master Blender Helen Mulholland is the first female Master Blender in Irish Whiskey history, Chair of the Irish Whiskey Association and a Whisky Hall of Fame inductee**

Since the 2022 acquisition, the distillery’s team has upgraded and tripled its warehouse capacity, expanded production and is completing modernisation distillery projects.

“This rebrand is just the beginning for Hawk’s Rock Distillery,” Wenz concluded. “Throughout the changes at Hawk’s Rock, our vision remains the same – creating a track record for the aging and blending of award-winning whiskeys – and this name change brings us one step closer to bringing that vision to life.”

While Hawk’s Rock Distillery is closed to the public during renovations, Sazerac noted it has received planning permission to develop a visitor experience in Sligo, Ireland.