Achill Island Distillery

If you love the idea of family-run distilleries, Achill Island will give you what you are looking for and more. It was founded by John McKay, whose dream was to make IrishAmerican a Prohibition-era themed brand that focused on creating strong bonds between Ireland and the descendents of those who left for America. Their logo embraces this connection by featuring a famine ship in honor of the most famous boat of them all, the Jeannie Johnson. Sadly, John passed away, but his children have picked up the mantle and are fulfilling his distillery dreams.

It is possible one of John’s two sons, Michael or Sean, will conduct your tour. As they walk you through the history, they will tell you stories of the family, the famine, and the island. The passion for the brand is clear from the moment you walk in. Then they introduce you to how they create both single malt and pot still whiskey on their two Forsyth stills. They emphasize their slow distillation process, which helps create the highest quality spirit possible.

As seen in "Experiencing Irish Whiskey."