In 2015, Dublin welcomed its first new distillery in more than 125 years: the Teeling Whiskey Distillery. A bold endeavour from brothers Jack and Stephen Teeling, the project wasn’t merely about whiskey — it was about rewriting the story of Irish whiskey in the modern era. But the story had already begun. In 2012, Jack and Stephen launched their independent whiskey brand with a vision to bring something fresh and innovative to Irish whiskey, and three years later, the opening of their own distillery cemented their place at the forefront of Ireland’s whiskey renaissance.
“When we started, the Irish whiskey industry felt small and controlled by multinationals,” Jack recalls. “We wanted to bring something different — not to compete with what was already out there but to offer something new and modern while still being respectful of the past.”
Jack and Stephen’s roots in the whiskey world run deep. Their father, John Teeling, founded Cooley Distillery in 1987, a pivotal force in reviving Irish whiskey during its darkest days. Growing up amidst barrels and stills, the brothers absorbed lessons in entrepreneurship, quality, and resilience. But their decision to continue in the whiskey business wasn’t preordained.
“There was no expectation that we’d stay in the industry,” Jack explains. “I came from finance. But as I worked in Cooley, I found myself falling in love with whiskey. I didn’t want to just continue someone else’s legacy — I wanted to create my own.”
After Cooley was sold to Beam in 2012, the brothers saw an opportunity to strike out on their own, but it wasn’t without its challenges. “We had a lot of scar tissue from Cooley,” Stephen reflects. “We’d launched brands that didn’t work, learned hard lessons about strategy and cash flow, and made plenty of mistakes. But that experience gave us a roadmap for what we wanted — and didn’t want — this time around.”
The decision to establish a distillery in Dublin was about more than geography. Once the beating heart of Irish whiskey production, Dublin’s distilling industry had withered away by the early 20th century, leaving behind a city with no operational distilleries.
“For us, Dublin wasn’t just where we came from,” Jack says. “It was about bringing whiskey back to the capital. There’s so much history here — our family’s distilling roots go back to the 1700s. But we didn’t want to just recreate the past. We wanted to create something relevant for today, for a new generation of whiskey drinkers.”
The distillery opened in 2015 in the Liberties, a historic district that was once home to dozens of distilleries. It quickly became a symbol of Dublin’s whiskey renaissance. “We were the first new distillery in the city in over 125 years,” Stephen says. “It was uncharted territory. Nobody had applied to open a distillery in Dublin in a century, so even getting planning permission was a challenge.”
Jack adds, “At one point, our design team proposed making the distillery look like a car showroom. We had to fight to get everyone to understand what we were trying to build — a modern space that still respected the craft.”
When Jack and Stephen launched their independent whiskey brand in 2012, the Irish whiskey market was dominated by a handful of global names. They saw an opportunity to disrupt the status quo, drawing inspiration from other whiskey categories that were embracing innovation and diversity.
“The whiskey world was changing,” Stephen explains. “Consumers were becoming more curious. They weren’t just loyal to one brand or style — they were exploring American, Japanese, and even world whiskies from places like Sweden. We wanted to give them something new from Ireland, something that added depth and choice to the category.”
Their ethos of innovation has been central to their success. From their flagship Small Batch to their award-winning Single Pot Still and Single Malt expressions, they’ve consistently pushed the boundaries of what Irish whiskey can be. Cask experimentation — ranging from rum to port and Cabernet Sauvignon — has become a hallmark of their approach.
Jack reflects, “We didn’t want to just be another big name in Irish whiskey. We wanted to bring something different to the table — something that respected the past but wasn’t afraid to innovate.”
Getting to the grand opening in 2015 wasn’t without its hiccups. From securing planning permissions to sourcing pot stills, every step of the process tested the brothers’ resolve.
“I remember waiting for our stills to arrive from Italy,” Stephen recalls. “They were delayed coming out of Liverpool, and we had journalists waiting at the port to see them arrive. It was a huge amount of stress — but looking back, it’s just one of those moments that makes the journey feel real.”
Their first production run was equally memorable — though not for the reasons they’d hoped. “We wanted to do our first run on St Patrick’s Day in 2015,” Stephen says. “We had 14 journalists in town, and nothing went to plan. Everything that could go wrong did. But the whiskey world is full of people who love a good story, and thankfully, they saw the charm in it.”
The distillery’s opening also coincided with personal milestones for the brothers. “I was building the distillery, a new house, and raising two young kids all at the same time,” Jack laughs. “It was chaos — but in the best way.”
As the distillery celebrates its 10th anniversary, the brothers are taking a moment to reflect on how far they’ve come.
“This milestone is a chance to reflect on the journey so far, but more importantly, to lay the groundwork for what comes next,” Jack says.
To mark the occasion, they are releasing a special anniversary bottling, drawn from some of the oldest stocks distilled on-site. True to their community-focused ethos, profits from the release will be donated to local charities.
Stephen adds, “It’s not just about celebrating the past — it’s about setting the stage for the future. We’ve achieved a lot in 10 years, but there’s so much more to do.”
In the decade since the distillery opened, the brothers have established themselves as respected players on the global stage. Winning accolades such as the title of World’s Best Single Malt at the 2019 World Whiskies Awards, their whiskey has proven that Irish producers can compete with the best.
But despite their success, Jack and Stephen remain deeply humble. “Putting our name on the bottle wasn’t an easy decision,” Jack admits. “It’s a responsibility. It means every bottle has to meet a standard — not just for us but for the family legacy.”
Their humility is rooted in a deep respect for the whiskey-making process and their customers. “We’ve been lucky to have support from the whiskey community,” Stephen says. “But we’ve always focused on doing things the right way. This isn’t just a business — it’s part of who we are.”
For Jack and Stephen, their journey is about more than whiskey — it’s about building something meaningful that bridges the past and the future. Their story has been marked by resilience, innovation, and a determination to carve their own path in the whiskey world.
“When we first started, there were so many unknowns,” Jack reflects. “We had a vision, but there was no guarantee it would work. The fact that we’ve been able to build something that resonates with people, not just in Ireland but around the world, is incredibly humbling.”
Stephen adds, “We’re proud of what we’ve done, but you never stop learning in this business. Every new project, every new market teaches you something. That’s what keeps it exciting — it’s never static, and it’s never easy.”
The brothers have also worked tirelessly to champion the Irish whiskey industry as a whole, paving the way for others to follow in their footsteps. “We were the first new distillery in Dublin, but we didn’t want to be the only one,” Jack says. “The more people making great Irish whiskey, the better it is for everyone. It pushes us all to do better, to innovate, and to grow the category as a whole.”
Their vision for the future remains ambitious yet grounded in their core principles. “We know where we want to go, but it’s about getting there the right way,” Stephen explains. “It’s not just about making great whiskey — it’s about building something that lasts.”
As Teeling Whiskey Distillery celebrates its 10th anniversary, Jack and Stephen remain as motivated as they were on day one. “This is just the beginning of the journey,” Jack says. “We’ve achieved a lot, but there’s so much more we want to do — for ourselves, for our customers, and for Irish whiskey as a whole.”
