Sazerac, which owns and operates distilleries including Buffalo Trace in Kentucky, has announced the renaming of its Irish whiskey distillery to Hawk’s Rock Distillery.

Formerly known as Lough Gill Distillery, Hawk’s Rock will continue to produce and age Irish whiskey under the watchful eye of Master Blender Helen Mulholland at the more than 100-acre site in County Sligo, Ireland.

Helen is the first female Master Blender in Irish whiskey history, Chair of the Irish Whiskey Association and a Whisky Hall of Fame inductee. She and her carefully selected team will lead the creation and blending of Hawk’s Rock’s Irish whiskey brands, the first of which is set to launch in June 2025.

The distillery name change is said to reflect Sazerac’s vision for the future of Irish whiskey – the art and science of blending, innovation and respect for Sligo’s rich heritage.

Named after a prominent outcrop in the Ox Mountains that inspired Nobel Prize winning poet William Butler (W.B.) Yeats’ play “At the Hawk’s Well”, Hawk’s Rock Distillery aims to become a global hub for Irish whiskey, while offering a gateway to explore the rich traditions of Sligo and the surrounding region.

Sazerac acquired Lough Gill Distillery in 2022, drawn by its historical significance and the cultural richness of Ireland. Since then, the team has upgraded and tripled its warehouse capacity, expanded production and is modernizing the distillery, ensuring continued growth while maintaining its commitment to quality.

Commenting on the news, Jake Wenz, Sazerac President and CEO, 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-honoured traditions with bold innovation to advance the art of Irish whiskey-making.”

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