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  • The Irish Pub Whirlwind Tour: 50 States in 30 Days!

    • 02/19/2016
    • ADB
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    So what’s all this, eh? 

     

    American Bars caught wind of the Tullamore USA pub tour on the cusp of its launch. Like any intrepid explorer, Tim Herlihy, the U.S. Ambassador for renowned Irish Whiskey producer Tullamore DEW, was sitting casually in LA’s authentic Irish Pub, Tom Bergen’s and discussing his daunting tour of America — All 50 states in a mere 30 days! The goal was to begin on the traditional practice day for THE Parade (and if you have to ask, you are really, really daft) about one month hence. And yes, Mr. Tim plans on being in the most Irish of all American communities on the blessed day. (again…don’t ask!) 

    With such an amazing task at hand, American Bars will be vicariously joining Tim on his quest. Check here every day to find out where he has been and where he is going next. Want in on the action? We will list the next location each day. If you are in the area, stop in, take a selfie with Tim and get a couple minutes of fame on our various social media. 

    If you are not familiar with authentic Irish Pubs, you may want to prep for it. These are not the hoity-toity, swank, upscale trendsetters that many tend to frequent. On the contrary, real Irish drinking establishments are renowned for their character. Expect a dark, crowded, cozy, friendly, smokey place that may not even serve food. The company will be grand, even among strangers. The music or entertainment could be exceptional. And the drinks will be…Irish. Excellent! Once you’ve been to such a pub, nothing else is the same. 

    So, travel with us as we tag along with Tim by phone and photo each day. 

    Now, about Tullamore, since you asked…

    If you were to place a map of Ireland over a dart board, toss a dart that hit the exact bullseye on the target, you would find on the map the exact location of Tullamore. The town may speak of abilities in transportation and farming, but in reality, the place is all about distilleries. 

    Tullamore has a strong history of whiskey distilling. The first modern factory distillery can be ascribed to founder Michael Molloy, in 1829. When Molloy died, the distillery passed into the hands of the Daly family, with Captain Bernard Daly in charge. One of his colleagues, Daniel E. Williams, took over as general manager, and by 1890 he had the distillery in full production. Williams brought electricity to Tullamore in 1893. The distillery installed the town's first telephones and introduced motorised transport. Williams ran various commercial businesses throughout the Irish midlands – pubs, distribution networks, tea importing, seed and grain retail, and a network of 26 general stores.

    Tullamore DEW is their finest and most popular product, a superb Irish Whiskey. The company began in 1829. The DEW is in tribute to the man who built up the town’s livelihood, Daniel E. Williams. 

    A true self-made man, Daniel began as a stable boy at the place and worked his way up to become owner. Although a traditionalist in terms of distinctive product quality, Mr. Williams kept the firm abreast of the times by bringing in electricity and motor vehicles as they became part of the mainstream.

    Following this period, Prohibition in the United States, an economic war with Britain in the 1930s, and World War II all harmed the industry. Tullamore was one of many distilleries affected by a general decline in Irish whiskey sales worldwide. After World War II, Desmond Williams, grandson of Daniel E. Williams, used modern marketing techniques to re-establish Irish whiskey in world markets. In 1947, Desmond Williams also developed Irish Mist, an Irish liqueur made from a blend of whiskey, herbs and honey, using a recipe alleged to have disappeared in the late 17th century and to have been rediscovered in a manuscript 250 years later. Williams also capitalised on the Irish coffee concept, and promoted blended whiskies. 

    The company was sold in 1953 along with most of the other regional producers. Brands changed hands a couple of times. In 2010 Tullamore Dew was acquired by William Grant & Sons in a €300 million deal.  Grant & Sons Ltd. announced that it planned to invest in a new state-of-the-art pot-still whiskey and malt whiskey distillery in Tullamore, which would bring whiskey production back to the town for the first time since the original distillery closed in 1954.As of 2013, the whiskey currently sells about 850,000 cases per year (an amount that has doubled since 2005).

    The Tullamore Dew whiskies contain both malted and unmalted barley-based whiskeys, triple distilled and aged between 12 to 15 years in old bourbon or sherry casks. Some pot-still whiskey is included in the blend.

    Tullamore product today holds to the same standards as it did nearly two centuries ago. 

    And Tim is now traveling America in search of the most authentic Irish Pubs in every state.

    Join him here daily.  

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The Irish Pub Whirlwind Tour: 50 States in 30 Days!

So what’s all this, eh? 

 

American Bars caught wind of the Tullamore USA pub tour on the cusp of its launch. Like any intrepid explorer, Tim Herlihy, the U.S. Ambassador for renowned Irish Whiskey producer Tullamore DEW, was sitting casually in LA’s authentic Irish Pub, Tom Bergen’s and discussing his daunting tour of America — All 50 states in a mere 30 days! The goal was to begin on the traditional practice day for THE Parade (and if you have to ask, you are really, really daft) about one month hence. And yes, Mr. Tim plans on being in the most Irish of all American communities on the blessed day. (again…don’t ask!) 

With such an amazing task at hand, American Bars will be vicariously joining Tim on his quest. Check here every day to find out where he has been and where he is going next. Want in on the action? We will list the next location each day. If you are in the area, stop in, take a selfie with Tim and get a couple minutes of fame on our various social media. 

If you are not familiar with authentic Irish Pubs, you may want to prep for it. These are not the hoity-toity, swank, upscale trendsetters that many tend to frequent. On the contrary, real Irish drinking establishments are renowned for their character. Expect a dark, crowded, cozy, friendly, smokey place that may not even serve food. The company will be grand, even among strangers. The music or entertainment could be exceptional. And the drinks will be…Irish. Excellent! Once you’ve been to such a pub, nothing else is the same. 

So, travel with us as we tag along with Tim by phone and photo each day. 

Now, about Tullamore, since you asked…

If you were to place a map of Ireland over a dart board, toss a dart that hit the exact bullseye on the target, you would find on the map the exact location of Tullamore. The town may speak of abilities in transportation and farming, but in reality, the place is all about distilleries. 

Tullamore has a strong history of whiskey distilling. The first modern factory distillery can be ascribed to founder Michael Molloy, in 1829. When Molloy died, the distillery passed into the hands of the Daly family, with Captain Bernard Daly in charge. One of his colleagues, Daniel E. Williams, took over as general manager, and by 1890 he had the distillery in full production. Williams brought electricity to Tullamore in 1893. The distillery installed the town's first telephones and introduced motorised transport. Williams ran various commercial businesses throughout the Irish midlands – pubs, distribution networks, tea importing, seed and grain retail, and a network of 26 general stores.

Tullamore DEW is their finest and most popular product, a superb Irish Whiskey. The company began in 1829. The DEW is in tribute to the man who built up the town’s livelihood, Daniel E. Williams. 

A true self-made man, Daniel began as a stable boy at the place and worked his way up to become owner. Although a traditionalist in terms of distinctive product quality, Mr. Williams kept the firm abreast of the times by bringing in electricity and motor vehicles as they became part of the mainstream.

Following this period, Prohibition in the United States, an economic war with Britain in the 1930s, and World War II all harmed the industry. Tullamore was one of many distilleries affected by a general decline in Irish whiskey sales worldwide. After World War II, Desmond Williams, grandson of Daniel E. Williams, used modern marketing techniques to re-establish Irish whiskey in world markets. In 1947, Desmond Williams also developed Irish Mist, an Irish liqueur made from a blend of whiskey, herbs and honey, using a recipe alleged to have disappeared in the late 17th century and to have been rediscovered in a manuscript 250 years later. Williams also capitalised on the Irish coffee concept, and promoted blended whiskies. 

The company was sold in 1953 along with most of the other regional producers. Brands changed hands a couple of times. In 2010 Tullamore Dew was acquired by William Grant & Sons in a €300 million deal.  Grant & Sons Ltd. announced that it planned to invest in a new state-of-the-art pot-still whiskey and malt whiskey distillery in Tullamore, which would bring whiskey production back to the town for the first time since the original distillery closed in 1954.As of 2013, the whiskey currently sells about 850,000 cases per year (an amount that has doubled since 2005).

The Tullamore Dew whiskies contain both malted and unmalted barley-based whiskeys, triple distilled and aged between 12 to 15 years in old bourbon or sherry casks. Some pot-still whiskey is included in the blend.

Tullamore product today holds to the same standards as it did nearly two centuries ago. 

And Tim is now traveling America in search of the most authentic Irish Pubs in every state.

Join him here daily.  

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