By Chris Hatler, originally published in Men’s Journal
When you think of Buffalo Trace, images of Kentucky limestone, rickhouses, and bourbon-soaked history probably come to mind. But the producer behind icons like Pappy Van Winkle, Weller, and Eagle Rare is now branching out in a totally unexpected direction—and country.
On April 23, 2025, the Sazerac Company, which owns Buffalo Trace, announced the launch of Hawk’s Rock Distillery in none other than County Sligo, Ireland. Yes, you read that right—Sazerac is going Irish.
The newly renamed facility, formerly known as Lough Gill Distillery, is perched on over 100 acres of stunning Irish countryside, including Hazelwood House, a national landmark. Hawk’s Rock takes its name from the nearby Hawk’s Rock outcrop in the Ox Mountains—fittingly poetic, as it inspired W.B. Yeats’s play At the Hawk’s Well. The setting isn’t just scenic—it’s symbolic. Sazerac is clearly signaling that this is more than a business move. It’s a cultural statement.
“This rebrand is just the beginning for Hawk’s Rock Distillery,” says Sazerac President and CEO Jake Wenz. “We’re blending time-honored traditions with bold innovation to advance the art of Irish whiskey-making.”
And they’re not going at it lightly. Hawk’s Rock has tapped none other than Helen Mulholland to lead the charge. She’s not just any whiskey maker—Mulholland is a Whisky Hall of Famer, the current chair of the Irish Whiskey Association, and spent decades blending some of the most buzzed-about bottles for Bushmills.
If you’re wondering whether the whiskey will be worth watching, here are two big reasons to say yes:
- Helen Mulholland’s pedigree is second to none.
- Sazerac has a stash of used bourbon barrels from brands like Pappy and Weller—prime aging vessels for future Irish expressions.
The distillery is also shaping up to be a destination. Plans are underway to restore Hazelwood House and create a full visitor experience on-site, bringing Irish whiskey fans from around the world to this tranquil pocket of County Sligo.
So while bourbon lovers will still find their favorites on Kentucky shelves, Sazerac is quietly plotting the next chapter of its whiskey empire—one where Irish roots meet American ambition, and the results could be legendary.
https://www.mensjournal.com/food-drink/sazerac-opens-new-distillery-hawks-rockOriginal reporting by Chris Hatler for Men’s Journal