Old World-style boxing at Bon Vivants’ Concannon whiskey release party
Irish Coffees made by bartender Adrian McCarron (Rickhouse, La Boulange) for an Irish breakfast at Concannon Vineyards
An Irish whiskey with a Bay Area connection… Livermore, to be exact? It’s true. January saw the release of a brand new whiskey, not a common occurrence in Ireland. What better way to initiate this new release than with a Bon Vivants’ party?
My recent travails through Ireland, particularly exploring whiskey production in County Cork (from pot still beauties like Redbreast, to mass production Jameson), amplified my love for the smooth pleasures of Irish whiskey.
Cocktail and event gurus, the Bon Vivants throw some of the most memorable parties I’ve ever been to, and their Concannon Fighting Irish party was no exception. Think unmarked Mission warehouse, rousing, traditional Irish band, and two boxers pounding it out in a clandestine brawl for multiple rounds (yes, there was blood).
Meanwhile, pours of Concannon (which means “wisdom without compromise”) flowed neat, over hand-chipped ice, in Irish Coffees or punch. Filling up on corned beef sandwiches, were were a happy lot, transported to another time and place, to boxing matches of decades ago.
Bon Vivants’ Fighting Irish party
What about the whiskey? It’s smooth and supple as you’d expect an Irish whiskey to be, but not because it’s thrice distilled, like a number of popular Irish whiskeys. Concannon is actually twice distilled at Ireland’s Cooley Distillery by master blender, Noel Sweeney, who blends all Cooley whiskeys. I appreciate minimal distillations at it simply means more of the original flavors are left in the spirit rather than stripped out of it.
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Cooley Distillery is known for pushing Irish whiskey boundaries: they continue that tradition by finishing Concannon whiskey for four months in Concannon Vineyards‘ Heritage Petite Syrah barrels (the winery’s highest tier, award-winning wine). The whiskey is then bottled here in California.
The intensity of the fight…
Irish breakfast at the beautiful Concannon Vineyards
After a rousing release party, I spent the next day in Livermore at Concannon Vineyards over Irish breakfast and Irish Coffees, made with Concannnon whiskey, naturally. We were joined by the winery’s 4th generation vintner, John Concannon, and Cooley’s global brand ambassador, John Cashman.
John Concannon regaled us with stories of the Concannon family’s immigration from Ireland to California, the winery’s history dating back to the 1800’s, and how they survived Prohibition by being one of the few wineries designated to make altar wine… yes, religion kept them alive. The unexpectedly swank but relaxed winery is well worth visiting on its own with a tasting room, restaurant and wine bar pouring over 50 wines by the glass.
Concannon whiskey is an obvious step above other Irish whiskeys in this price range. Smooth and affordable ($24.99 a bottle), caramel and vanilla notes from bourbon barrels hit the nose. To taste, there’s apples, gentle spice and golden raisins with a silky, oak finish. And that Bay Area connection creates an immediate bond. $24.99
Concannon Irish Whiskey with Concannon Vineyards’ Heritage Petite Syrah