Garavogue 20-Year-Old: Hawk’s Rock Distillery Debuts with a Bold Irish Single Malt

The winds of change are blowing through County Sligo with the launch of Garavogue 20-Year-Old, the inaugural Irish whiskey from Sazerac’s newly rebranded Hawk’s Rock Distillery. Crafted by renowned master blender Helen Mulholland, this small batch release blends time-honored Irish traditions with bold innovation, and it’s already sparking global interest ahead of its June 2025 debut.

Garavogue 20-Year-Old

Sazerac, best known for Buffalo Trace, acquired Lough Gill Distillery in 2022 and renamed it Hawk’s Rock in April 2025. With a focus on innovation, blending, and honoring local heritage, the distillery’s first release under its new name is a refined Irish single malt: Garavogue 20-Year-Old.

Product Name: Garavogue 20-Year-Old Irish Single Malt Whiskey
Brand: Garavogue
Owned by: Sazerac Company
Category: Irish Whiskey
Style: Double-distilled, single malt
Age: 20 Years
ABV: 47%
Country: Ireland
Region: County Sligo
Distillery: Hawk’s Rock Distillery
Launch Date: June 2025
Price: US$199 (700ml)
Availability: Limited; US, Ireland, UK, Duty Free, and Legacy de Forge (via BlockBar)
Range: Small batch/experimental line

Tasting Notes

Appearance: Rich amber gold
Nose: Vanilla, spun sugar, floral notes, peaches, and raisins
Palate: Creamy vanilla, citrus zest, buttery apples, and layers of fresh fruit
Finish: Long, smooth, subtly spiced with complex oak sweetness

Key Highlights

Garavogue was created to highlight subtlety over saturation. Instead of the usual heavy sherry profile, this expression combines five cask types—American oak, French Muscat, French Sauternes, PX Sherry, and Barbadian rum. Its aim? To deliver complexity without overpowering finesse. Each cask brings depth, creating a layered whiskey that reflects the ebb and flow of the nearby Garavogue River.

Crafted by Helen Mulholland (ex-Bushmills)
Unique multi-cask aging process
Focus on experimental, small-batch innovation
Sazerac’s vision for modern Irish whiskey

Experts’ Take

Helen Mulholland calls Garavogue “purposefully different,” praising its harmony of flavors and barrel types. Jess Scheerhorn, VP at Sazerac, adds: “We want people to explore Sligo through each sip.” Early tasters have highlighted its creamy balance and fruit-forward complexity as a fresh take on aged Irish malts.