A Spirit
Rooted in Tradition Reborn in Cloghan
Inspired by Paddy Flynn of Cloghan, Offaly
Inspiration
Flynns Irish Whiskey was inspired by Paddy Flynn a postman, grandfather and community stalwart and his home village of Cloghan, located in Co. Offaly in the heart of Ireland. Paddy Flynn and Cloghan provide the rich tapestry of stories and inspiration woven to create the Flynns whiskey brand.
Paddy Flynn
Postman Paddy Flynn modestly cycled his bicycle around the village of Cloghan and the surrounding countryside, delivering letters, the news and most important of all keeping people in the community connected. This postman, proud father of twelve children, and hard-working farmer, was in a modest way, a guardian of Irish community tradition. In many rural communities in Ireland, the local postman is not just a mail-carrier but also a familiar face and a key figure in the locality. This whiskey celebrates humble heritage, and a man who represented the kind ‘spirit’ of rural Ireland. A man who enjoyed Ireland’s ‘water of life’, whiskey! The acronym ‘PF’ on our whiskey bottle labels is our salute to Paddy Flynn.
Cloghan Village the Peatbogs and Whiskey Tradition in County Offaly
Cloghan village, in County Offaly is home to Paddy Flynn’s Pub and Flynns Irish Whiskey. Located amongst some of Ireland’s biggest peat-boglands (turf), the village of Cloghan is also close to the Grand Canal. Ireland has a deep-rooted history of peat-smoked poitín and whiskey. In the 18th and 19th centuries, in remote areas,many whiskey producers used turf (Irish peat) fires to dry grain, creating a spirit with a distinctive smoky flavour. The Grand Canal, constructed in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, played a crucial role in transporting whiskey from Co. Offaly’s many distilleries to its markets. Flynns Irish whiskey is inspired by the history of traditional poitín and whiskey distilling in Co. Offaly. Our, soon to be launched, Flynns Single Malt Irish Whiskey, will pay homage to the gently peated Irish whiskey of days gone by.
Whiskey History in Offaly
Cloghan village, the home of Flynns Irish Whiskey, is in Co. Offaly. Formerly known as King's County in honour of Philip II of Spain. Offaly played an important role in the history and tradition of whiskey distilling.
Cloghan at the heart of the West Offaly Whiskey Industry
In the late 1700’s Offaly could boast over 30 distilleries, and 123 sites related to grain milling, malting, and distilling. The canal arrived in Cloghan’s neighbour-town of Shannon Harbour in 1804, stimulating growth in whiskey distilling. The Banagher/Cloghan area had two distilleries with another two at the town of Birr. Peat from the Cloghan bogs fuelled the kilns for drying grains to make whiskey. The Grand Canal reached the Shannon River in 1817, supporting exports of grain, flour and whiskey to Dublin abroad.
Five distilleries in Ireland in 1818 were recorded as using turf (peat) as their main fuel. Two of these were in the town of Birr, not far from Cloghan; Robert Hackett’s Elmgrove Distillery and John Robinson’s Distillery. It is believed that peated poitín was also illegally distilled in Offaly during the Eighteenth and early Nineteenth centuries. Barley has always been the most popular grain used in the production of Offaly whiskey, however there is also evidence of oats being used.
It is this rich history of whiskey and poitín production in West Offaly that has played a role in inspiring us to have a whiskey headquartered at Paddy Flynn’s Pub in Cloghan.
Flynns Blended Irish Whiskey
Paddy Flynn, postman, community personality and grandfather enjoyed the flavour and texture of classic Irish whiskey; smooth, gentle and fruity. Flynns Blended Irish Whiskey has been designed in his memory. A man who enjoyed Ireland’s water of life, whiskey (uisce Beatha) The acronym ‘PF’ on our bottles is our salute to Paddy Flynn.
Malt whiskey, made purely from Barley, and grain whiskey have been blended and matured in bourbon and rum casks to produce a smooth, fruity and light Irish spirit. The whiskey was specifically crafted to create flavours that would meet the taste profile enjoyed by drinkers in Paddy Flynns Pub in Cloghan, Co. Offaly, Ireland.
The modern twist on this blend is that the whiskey, following its maturation in an American Bourbon barrel, is then finally rested in a rum barrel. This is a gentle tribute to one of our founders Lawrence Astwood who hails from the beautiful Caribbean nation, Dominican Republic, home to many great rums.
Flynns triple distilled Irish whiskey is produced in ‘small batches’ and is great for enjoying neat or as part of a mixed drink smooth enough to enjoy neat, bold enough to elevate any cocktail— delivering unmatched character in every pour.
The Great Northern Distillery, led by one of Ireland’s most well known whiskey entrepreneurs, John Teeling, is the Flynn Group’s chosen distillery partner.
Tasting Notes
Aromas - Light and inviting with sweet and fruity notes, undertones emerge from the rum cask finish—think banana and pineapple.
Flavour - Smooth and approachable, with vanilla notes and hints of tropical fruit, and spice. Medium length finish with a warming touch lingering fruit, and spice.
Fact Sheet
Fluid - 70cl
Alcohol % - 40%
Types of Barrel used - Bourbon Cask for Aging and Finished in rum casks
Style - Blended Irish Whiskey
Country - Ireland
Signature Serves
Flynns Blended Irish Whiskey
The Ginger Flynn
A wonderful drink that showcases the versatility and refreshing qualities of Flynns Irish Whiskey
Ingredients
50ml Flynns Irish Whiskey
150ml quality ginger beer
Plenty of ice
Wedge of lime
Mixing Method
Step one: Fill a highball glass with plenty of ice.
Step two: Add the Flynns Irish whiskey.
Step three: Pour in the ginger beer.
Step Four: Squeeze and drop in a big wedge of lime
All By Myself
If you prefer to drink whiskey neat, without a mixer, we suggest adding three large cubes of ice for a refreshing Flynns Irish Whiskey.
With Friends
Fantastic served as a mixed drink in a highball, so pour it over ice in your favourite long glass. Cola works and lemonade is fabulously refreshing!
Flynns Single Malt Irish Whiskey
Flynns Single Malt Irish Whiskey is presently at an advanced concept stage. Our single malt whiskey will pay homage to the peated whiskeys produced in the early nineteenth century near Cloghan in Co. Offaly, the brand home of Flynns.Cloghan is situated in the heart (centre) of Ireland, surrounded by some of Ireland’s most treasured and protected peat (turf) boglands. Peat (turf) from these bogs has been traditionally used as fuel to malt and flavour the barley (barley soaked in water and then dried in a hot oven using peat) in a process that enables the whiskey to have a smoky flavour. Our single malt whiskey will have the gentlest hint of peat (turf) smoke, celebrating the Cloghan boglands. In the Gaelic language the term ‘Gal Móna’ describes this ‘gentle mist’ or smokiness that that will permeate Flynns Single Malt Irish Whiskey. This gentle smokiness and fruity flavours appeal to the tastes of both Irish and Scotch whisky drinkers. This is an exciting gently peated Irish Whiskey joining a small number of peated expressions from Ireland.
“Butter sunk under
More than a hundred years
Was recovered salty and white.
The ground itself is kind, black butter”
From “Bogland” by Seamus Heaney
Signature Serve
Flynns Single Malt Irish Whiskey
Flynns Irish Whiskey HQ Paddy Flynns Pub
Cloghan CoOffaly Ireland
Keeping the Spirit of Paddy Flynn Alive!
Postman Paddy Flynn, is the inspiration for the Flynn Brand. His kindness and generosity helped keep many people in Cloghan connected for decades.
Traditionally in Ireland, the local pub has been the heart of the village—a place to gather, raise spirits and foster a sense of community. Over time all but one pub was still operating in Cloghan, leaving the local people with few public places to meet and converse.
In 2023 Cathal ‘Charlie’ Kenny, grandson of Paddy Flynn was on a visit home in Ireland and he was informed that the very last pub in the village was about to close. Following in the spirit of his grandfather Paddy Flynn, Cathal bought and restored the ‘Come On Inn’ pub to provide a welcoming space for his family, relatives, friends, the local community, and visitors alike to come together and share a true sense of connection.
At Paddy Flynn’s Pub the spirit of connection and community lives on in the memory of Postman Paddy Flynn.
The Flynns Irish Whiskey Brand is Born.
In 2024 following the opening of Paddy Flynn’s Pub, Cathal Kenny was thinking about how his grandfather Paddy Flynn enjoyed a gentle glass of Irish whiskey from time to time. Cathal thought that he should enrich his grandfather’s story by having a whiskey room at the pub. One day following the completion of the new whiskey room, Cathal was looking at the shelves of Irish whiskey and another idea struck him. Imagine producing a whiskey in memory of Paddy Flynn and as a salute to the village of Cloghan. Cathal shared his thoughts with his great friend in the US, Lawrence Astwood. The two men agreed to work together to make Cathal’s dream a reality. Cathal and Lawrence approached Emmet O’Brien, a whiskey, and drinks industry expert, to lead the development of their whiskey brand and products. Joelene Minogue, Cathal’s sister, who helps manage the pub and is an entrepreneur and food safety specialist became the final member of the Flynns Whiskey Management Team. Paddy Flynn’s Pub became HQ for the new Flynns Irish Whiskey brand.
Flynns Irish Whiskey Celebrated at Paddy Flynn’s Pub
As you walk through Paddy Flynn’s Pub in Cloghan there are many salutes to Flynns Irish Whiskey. The ‘Whiskey Room’ has a fantastic collection of Irish whiskeys and a themed whiskey menu to sample different types of whiskey from. In the Whiskey Room the first ever designed and handmade Flynns Whiskey signs hang on the rich red brick walls. When you leave this room and walk through the ‘cottage’ to the themed outdoor space you will find the Flynns Whiskey brand brought to life. A beautifully designed ‘Flynns Whiskey’ shop front is located beside the ‘Garahy Pub’ front. Garahy was the original name of Paddy Flynn’s Pub when it first opened in the mid 1800s. Paddy Flynn’s Pub is the HQ of Flynns Irish Whiskey, so please visit and enjoy a tipple of our wonderful whiskey in a traditional Irish pub
A Celebration of Humble Heritage
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