Michael Collins Irish Whiskey Unveils New Packaging

The new look of Michael Collins Irish Whiskey combines a traditional whiskey bottle with a striking label and highlights the bold and distinctive characteristics of the whiskeys.

1/12/2011 --- Independent and family owned Sidney Frank Importing Co., Inc. has partnered with the last independent, Irish-owned distillery in Ireland to reveal an Irish Whiskey for a new generation. Named for the legendary Irish hero synonymous with independence, Michael Collins Irish Whiskey embodies the strong character, bold heritage and uncompromising authenticity of a truly remarkable Irish spirit.  Michael Collins 10 Year Old Single Malt and the newly packaged Michael Collins Blended Irish Whiskey will be available nationwide in January, 2011.

The new look of Michael Collins Irish Whiskey combines a traditional whiskey bottle with a striking label and highlights the bold and distinctive characteristics of the whiskeys. The Gaelic saying "Is maith an scealai an aimsir" meaning "time is a great story teller" is a call to celebrate the present without losing sight of Ireland's rich whiskey making past. The Celtic Trinity Swirl symbolizes the three pillars of independence represented by Michael Collins, The Sidney Frank Importing Company and The Cooley Distillery. The icon of Michael Collins on a bicycle is a tribute to his reputation as "the man on the bike" and is not only part of his personal legend but was also a key contributing factor in his ascent to power and ultimately to his signing of the 1921 Treaty of Independence.

Michael Collins Irish Whiskeys are proudly handcrafted at the Cooley Distillery. Recognized by Malt Advocate as "2010 Distillery of the Year" and as "European Distillery of the Year" for the last 3 consecutive years by the International Wine and Spirit Competition Awards, Cooley is the only distillery in Ireland to double distill their whiskeys and use peated malted barley.  Made with locally harvested Spring barley, Michael Collins Irish Whiskeys are distilled with local mountain spring water that is soft and pure and matured in small bourbon seasoned casks where the cool, moist Irish air brings the whiskeys to maturity.

Michael Collins 10 Year Old Single Malt is double distilled in small, long-necked copper pot stills, from both malted barley and peated malted barley and matured in small bourbon seasoned casks for a minimum of ten years. The result is a single malt, with a slightly sweet nose, that is rich and complex with hints of ripe fruit, meadow flowers and peat. Clean and smooth, the medium to dry finish has a lingering light smokiness.

A refined blend of malt Irish whiskey and grain Irish whiskey, Michael Collins Blended Irish Whiskey is double distilled for proper balance of purity and character, and then matured in bourbon seasoned casks from four to twelve years. Aromas of honey, citrus and malt give way to a delicate balance of these flavors with a fresh oak finish.

"Michael Collins Irish Whiskey pays homage to not only Michael Collins but to Ireland's authentic whiskey making history and tradition" says Bill Henderson, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Advertising at Sidney Frank Importing Company, Inc.  "Our 10 Year Old Single Malt provides the whiskey aficionado's discerning palate with a new unique Irish Malt, and the Blend serves as the perfect ingredient for mixologists and cocktail enthusiasts in this time of Irish Whiskey resurgence."