Blackwater Distillery — County Waterford Single Malt Whisky

Blackwater Distillery is an Irish whiskey distillery located in Ballyduff Upper, County Waterford, Ireland. It was founded in 2014 and is independently owned, operating from a converted 1950s hardware store on the banks of the Blackwater River. The distillery is best known for its award-winning gin range but also produces traditional Irish pot still whiskey, vodka and poitín, and has picked up multiple gold medals at the World Whiskies Awards.

History

Blackwater Distillery was established in 2014 in the village of Ballyduff Upper in West Waterford, taking its name from the Munster Blackwater river that runs alongside the site. The distillery is housed in a repurposed 1950s hardware store, and its founders — closely associated with Irish whiskey writer and industry figure Peter Mulryan — set out to revive small-batch, pot still production in a county with a long but largely forgotten distilling heritage. That heritage is referenced directly in the range: the Clashmore 1824 expression recreates the grain bill of the historic Clashmore distillery, which operated nearby before closing in the 1840s. Blackwater built its early reputation on gin, vodka and poitín while whiskey stocks matured, and began releasing its own pot still and single malt whiskeys as they reached bottling age. The distillery has since been recognised internationally, including gold medals at the International Wine & Spirit Competition (2017), the World Spirits Awards (2020) and, most recently, two category wins at the World Whiskies Awards 2025. It operates a visitor centre offering distillery tours and tastings.

Quick Facts

• Region: County Waterford, Ireland
• Founded: 2014
• Owner: Independently owned (Blackwater Distillery Ltd)
• Status: Active
• Visitor Centre: Yes — guided tours and tastings by booking

Core Range

Blackwater's whiskey range centres on small-batch pot still and single malt expressions, alongside its longer-established gins, vodka and poitín. Current whiskey releases include: Oaty McOatface (47.2% ABV), a non-chill-filtered pot still whiskey made with malt, malted oat, barley, turf-smoked malt, rye and peated oats, awarded Gold and Category Winner (No Age Statement Potstill) at the World Whiskies Awards 2025; Clashmore 1824 (47% ABV), a heritage pot still whiskey recreating the grain bill of the historic Clashmore distillery and finished in sherry wood, also a 2025 World Whiskies Awards category winner; PMD II: Return of the Dragon (59.2% ABV, cask strength), a five-year-old turf-smoked single malt made from 100% Irish barley; Five Grain 'Planxty Wilcox' (47.5% ABV); and Peated Rye 'Starburst Spice Bag' (50% ABV). The distillery also bottles a more accessible blend, Velvet Cap Irish Whiskey (40% ABV), sold with a branded hip flask.