Sazerac's Irish Distillery Finally Has A Name: Hawk's Rock

Forbes

23-04-2025

Hawk's Rock Distillery
Back in 2022, Sazarac, the company behind iconic brands including Buffalo Trace and Last Drop Distillers made headlines when it purchased Lough Gill, an Irish Whiskey distillery near Sligo. We haven't heard much about the acquisition in recent years; however, today the brand is revealing the distillery's new name and teasing what it has in store for its future.
Going forward, the distillery will be known as Hawk's Rock Distillery, a nod to the nearby Ox Mountains and the dramatic outcrop that inspired W.B. Yeats' 1917 play At the Hawk's Well. The rebrand comes alongside ongoing renovations and a larger strategy to position the distillery—and the region—as a global player in Irish whiskey.
'The renaming of Hawk's Rock Distillery marks a new, yet familiar, frontier for us,' says Sazerac President and CEO Jake Wenz. 'Sazerac is known for its balanced approach to honoring tradition while embracing change in constant pursuit of crafting the world's best spirits at our distilleries in America, India, Canada and France. Our mission holds true for Ireland, and we are excited to reveal how we are blending time-honored traditions with bold innovation to advance the art of Irish whiskey-making.'
Hawk's Rock Distillery
Sazerac's decision to name the distillery after a local geological feature reflects a broader effort to tie its whiskey to the landscape and cultural heritage of Sligo. The 100-acre site includes the 18th-century Hazelwood House, a listed historic landmark, and sits near the wooded shores of Lough Gill, a lake immortalized in Yeats' poetry.
But the vision isn't entirely pastoral. Since acquiring the site, Sazerac has tripled warehouse capacity and expanded production, signaling a clear intent to scale. The distillery is currently closed to the public, but plans are underway for a visitor center in the years ahead.
Helen Mulholland
At the helm of Hawk's Rock Distillery is Helen Mulholland, a figure whose name is already etched into the modern history of Irish whiskey. Now Master Blender at Sazerac Ireland, Mulholland's appointment represents more than just an experienced hire—it signals a serious commitment to quality, continuity, and innovation.
Mulholland began her career at Bushmills, where she spent nearly three decades and became the first woman to hold the title of Master Blender in Irish whiskey. During her tenure, she helped define the brand's luxury single malts and premium blends, known for their layered complexity and cask-driven character. Her work helped elevate Irish whiskey's profile globally at a time when the category was still rebuilding.
In 2020, she became the first woman to receive the Drinks Ireland-Irish Whiskey Association Chairman's Award for her contributions to the category. She was also the first woman inducted into the Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame.
Her expertise now guides Sazerac's Irish whiskey portfolio—including legacy brands like Paddy and Michael Collins—as well as the new whiskeys being developed at Hawk's Rock. Her role isn't limited to production; it's also strategic. She oversees innovation, leads blending and maturation decisions, and shapes the sensory identity of what Hawk's Rock will become.
Mulholland also currently serves as Chair of the Irish Whiskey Association, another first for a woman in the industry. Having previously served as vice-chair, she stepped into the role in 2024 with a focus on protecting the integrity of the category and championing its international growth.
Her leadership arrives at a moment of both opportunity and pressure for Irish whiskey. With global demand rising and new producers entering the space, the category is evolving quickly. Mulholland's deep technical background—and her track record for pairing tradition with innovation—make her uniquely suited to guide Hawk's Rock through its formative years.
In addition to her production responsibilities, she is also a member of The Last Drop Distillers Assembly, an international forum of expert blenders, distillers, and flavor architects. It's a fitting parallel to her work in Sligo, where she's helping shape the identity of an emerging brand while contributing to the broader conversation around what Irish whiskey can be.
Hawk's Rock
Renaming a distillery is rarely just a cosmetic move. In this case, it's part of a larger shift in focus: from small-scale production to international relevance, from a local name to one with literary and cultural resonance.
'This rebrand is just the beginning for Hawk's Rock Distillery,' says Wenz. 'Throughout the changes at Hawk's Rock, our vision remains the same – creating a track record for the aging and blending of award-winning whiskeys – and this name change brings us one step closer to bringing that vision to life.'
The first expressions from Hawk's Rock are set to debut in June 2025.