Global spirits company Sazerac announced the renaming of its recently acquired Irish Whiskey Distillery to Hawk’s Rock Distillery. Formerly known as Lough Gill Distillery, Hawk’s Rock will continue to produce and age Irish Whiskey under the watchful eye of Master Blender Helen Mulholland on the more than 100-acre site in County Sligo, Ireland, the company shares.

The name change reflects Sazerac Co.’s vision for the future of Irish Whiskey — the art and science of blending, innovation and respect for Sligo’s rich heritage. The name comes from a prominent outcrop in the Ox Mountains that inspired Nobel Prize winning poet William Butler (W.B.) Years’ play “At the Hawk’s Well.” Hawk’s Rock Distillery aims to become a global hub for Irish Whiskey, the company says, while offering a gateway to explore the rich traditions of Sligo and the surrounding region.

“The renaming of Hawk’s Rock Distillery marks a new, yet familiar, frontier for us,” Jake Wenz, Sazerac president and CEO, said in a statement. “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.”

Mulholland will lead the Hawk’s Rock distillation team as Master Blender. The company notes that she is the first female Master Blender in Irish Whiskey history, Chair of the Irish Whiskey Association and a Whisky Hall of Fame inductee. Mulholland and her carefully selected team have been entrusted with leading the creation and blending of Hawk’s Rock innovative new-to-world Irish whiskey blends, the first of which is set to debut in June, the company adds.

Acquired in 2022, Sazerac Co. was drawn to Lough Gill Distillery by its historical significance and the cultural richness of Ireland. Since the acquisition, the Sazerac team has upgraded and tripled its warehouse capacity, expanded production and is modernizing the distillery to ensure continued growth, while also maintaining its commitment to quality.

“This rebrand is just the beginning for Hawk’s Rock Distillery,” Wenz added. “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.”