Two Stacks Shines Spotlight on Often-Overlooked Irish Whiskey Category with Single Grain Double Barrel Release

Whiskey innovator Two Stacks is looking to give a traditionally second-fiddle Irish whiskey its well-deserved spot center stage with Two Stacks Single Grain Double Barrel, the latest offering now available nationwide through importer Foley Family Wines & Spirits. This is the first Two Stacks offering in the Irish Grain Whiskey category and it has already been awarded Best Single Grain: NAS (Ireland) and Best Single Grain <21Years (Ireland) at the World Whiskies Awards and a Gold Medal at the Ascot Awards. It is available in both a 700 ml bottle and the unique 100 ml Dram in a Can.

As one of only three recognized whiskey bonders in Ireland when there used to be hundreds before the 1930s, Two Stacks is constantly on the hunt for traditional Irish whiskeys that will offer something beyond the ordinary, delving deep into heritage and lore. Two Stacks Single Grain Double Barrel exceptionally showcases the versatility and unexpected refinement of Irish Grain Whiskey, a very traditional style of whiskey most often used as a blending component. Here, the precise blending and double barrel aging allows this flavorful whiskey to step into the spotlight with exceptional character and value. 

“I think a lot of folks in Ireland thought we were mad when we told them we were coming out with an Irish Grain Whiskey,” said Two Stacks Co-Founder Liam Brogan. “We were confident with the right blend and aging/finishing we could produce something rather sophisticated and unexpected that honored the legacy of this workhorse stalwart in Irish whiskey history.”

While not as historically entrenched as the famed Single Pot Still whiskeys of the 18th and 19th centuries, the single grain style gained momentum with the advent of column stills in the mid-1800s. However, it wasn’t until the establishment of Cooley Distillery in 1987 and The Great Northern Distillery in 2015 (both founded by John Teeling, David Hynes, and Jim Finn) that the style truly came into its own in modern Ireland. The whiskey from those distilleries is blended and bonded for this bottling.

Two Stacks Single Grain Double Barrel starts with a mashbill of 94% maize and 6% Irish malted barley. The technical file for Irish Grain Whiskey requires that it is produced with malted barley (not exceeding 30%) and includes un-malted cereal grains, in this case corn. The small, but impactful, inclusion of 6% Irish malted barley brings subtle richness, enhancing the creamy, honeyed sweetness of the maize.

The distillate is first aged for 3-5 years in former bourbon barrels, followed by 1-3 years in Oloroso sherry casks, both in a traditional Irish rickhouse on the Cooley Peninsula. The dual maturation imparts layered notes of vanilla, coconut, dried fruits, and baking spices—resulting in an 86-proof whiskey that is light, elegant and nuanced.

Two Stacks was founded in 2020 by three friends, Shane McCarthy, Liam Brogan and Donal McLynn, whose friendship began over 15 years ago, rooted in a shared love of Irish hospitality and a deep passion for Irish history & culture. Their singular goal of changing the narrative on Irish Whiskey would be achieved by reaching into Ireland’s deep whiskey roots and putting real people back into the fine art of Irish Whiskey making to create complex, sophisticated blends capable of challenging any Whiskey in the world.

In addition to a 700 ml sustainable bottle made from 100% recycled glass ($44.99 MSRP), Single Grain Double Barrel is also available in a ground-breaking 100 ml Dram in a Can ($6.99 MSRP). Both products may also be purchased online twostackswhiskey.com. The recyclable aluminum can provides added convenience for those wanting to enjoy a high-quality whiskey on the go. With the new embossed bottles, Two Stacks was one of the first spirit brands in the world to use 80% recycled glass, along with all-natural cork and recycled plastic seals.

Tasting Notes

Two Stacks Single Grain Double Barrel is a light, floral & elegant single-grain whiskey with notes of baked pear and almond, mingled with orange and citrus. An incredibly easy drinking whiskey with lots of delicate character from the Oloroso sherry shining through on the palate that culminates in a gentle sweetness for an overall luxurious whiskey experience.

About Two Stacks Irish Whiskey

Two Stacks is part of a new and adventurous chapter in Irish whiskey, inspired by the traditions of old and the contemporary brands of new. Founded in 2020 by three friends, Shane McCarthy, Liam Brogan and Donal McLynn, Two Stacks works with some of Ireland’s leading distilleries to select the finest spirit for flavor-forward blended and single malt whiskeys. As one of the only independent bonders and blenders on the island of Ireland, with a purpose-built 100% solar-powered production warehouse, Two Stacks is breaking boundaries to create innovative and daring whiskey expressions for new and seasoned whiskey drinkers alike. twostackswhiskey.com

About Foley Family Wines & Spirits

Established by Bill Foley in 1996, Foley Family Wines & Spirits (FFWS) is a portfolio of highly acclaimed wines and spirits from some of the world’s greatest estates. The company owns more than 24 wineries and a distillery, each with its distinct style, legacy, and approach to hospitality. FFWS has expanded its portfolio significantly since its founding, now including such storied brands as Chalk Hill Estate Winery, Sebastiani, Roth, Banshee, Ferrari-Carano, Chateau St. Jean, and Lancaster in Sonoma; Merus, Silverado, and Foley Johnson in Napa Valley; Lincourt, Firestone, and Foley Estates in Southern California; Chalone Vineyard in Monterey County; Four Graces and Acrobat in Oregon; and Three Rivers in Washington. FFWS’s import wines include Lucien Albrecht in France, Nieto Senetiner in Argentina, and 14 wine brands spanning three of New Zealand’s most acclaimed winegrowing regions: Marlborough, Central Otago, and Martinborough. The growing global spirits portfolio includes Minden Mill Whiskeys, High Ground Estate Vodka, Charles Goodnight Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Evil Bean Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur, New Zealand’s Lighthouse Gin, El Mexicano Tequila, the Loch Lomond Group portfolio of Scotch and spirits, and Two Stacks Irish Whiskey and Killowen Distillery.