Tullamore D.E.W. Distillery: History, Owner, Range and Visitor Guide
Updated: 21 hours ago
Tullamore D.E.W. is the second largest selling Irish whiskey brand in the world, made by William Grant and Sons at a distillery on the outskirts of Tullamore, County Offaly, which opened in 2014.
In this guide
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Tullamore D.E.W. at a glance
Distillery fact | Verified detail |
|---|---|
Location / region | County Offaly, Ireland |
Owner / producer | William Grant & Sons |
History | Original 1829 distilling history; modern Tullamore distillery opened in 2014. |
Style | Blended Irish whiskey |
Bottles documented | Tullamore D.E.W. Original, Tullamore D.E.W. 12 Year Old, Tullamore D.E.W. XO Caribbean Rum Cask Finish |
Before visiting | Check current public access, tour availability and opening hours directly with the producer. |
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At a glance
Location: Tullamore, County Offaly, Ireland
Owner: William Grant and Sons, which bought the brand in 2010 for 300 million euros
Original distillery: established 1829 by Michael Molloy, closed 1954
New distillery: phase one opened in 2014, the first whiskey made in the town in sixty years
Sales: over 1,500,000 cases a year as of 2020
Name: D.E.W. comes from the initials of Daniel Edmund Williams (1848 to 1921)
History in chapters
1829 to 1954
Michael Molloy established the distillery in 1829. After his death it passed to his nephew Bernard Daly, who appointed Daniel E. Williams general manager. It was first called Daly's Whiskey and sold mainly to the UK and Australia. Williams helped bring electricity to Tullamore and its first telephone line in 1893. He also imported tea, seeds and grains. After his death the family rebranded the whiskey with his initials. The distillery stopped in 1954, hit by Prohibition, the Anglo-Irish Trade War and high taxes.
1960s to 2010
The brand was sold to John Powers and Son in the 1960s. Powers merged into Irish Distillers in 1966, and production moved to Midleton in the 1970s. Irish Distillers sold the brand to C&C Group in 1994, and William Grant and Sons bought it in 2010.
2012 to today
A visitor centre opened in 2012 in a refurbished bonded warehouse of the original distillery. The new distillery opened in 2014 and can make malt and pot still whiskey. It had no Coffey still, so grain whiskey was still sourced from Midleton until phase two. In March 2024 the brand launched a new bottle look designed for better grip and lower carbon emissions.
Range (as of 2023)
Original: 40% ABV, triple distilled pot still and malt with grain
12 Year Old Special Reserve: 40% ABV
14 Year Old Single Malt: 41.3% ABV
18 Year Old Single Malt: 41.3% ABV
Old Bonded Warehouse Release: 46% ABV, visitor centre only
Cider Cask Finish: 40% ABV, first released June 2015 for airport retail
XO Caribbean Rum Cask Finish: 43% ABV
Past releases: 10 Year Old Single Malt 40%, Phoenix Limited Edition 55%, 15 Year Old Trilogy 40% and Collector's Edition 43%
Visiting
The visitor centre offers guided tours and tutored tastings from 50 minutes to 5 hours. Check the official site for booking.
What the official site says
Tullamore D.E.W. says it started distilling in Tullamore in 1829 and describes its whiskey as triple distilled, triple cask finished and triple blended. It also calls itself the number two Irish whiskey brand in the world.
The site describes a grain to glass distillery on 58 acres where it mills, mashes, ferments, distils, matures and bottles on one site, producing 11 million litres of whiskey a year.
The name comes from the initials of Daniel Edmund Williams, who started as a stable boy at 15 and became Distillery Manager by 25. His grandson Desmond Williams commissioned the Irish wolfhound drawing that is the brand emblem.
The Original blend is described as combining grain, malt and pot still whiskey. The range on the site includes Original, Honey, Cafe Honey, a 12 Year Old, a Rum Cask Finish and 14 and 18 Year Old Single Malts.
The site gives an account of the 'e' in whiskey, citing an 1878 book, Truths about Whisky.
Visiting Tullamore D.E.W.: official details
Address: The Tullamore D.E.W. Distillery, Clonminch, Tullamore, Co. Offaly, R35 E027. About 10 minutes' drive from the town centre and about an hour from Dublin and Galway, off Exit 5 of the M6.
The Ultimate Distillery Experience is EUR 47 per person (10% off online bookings, including booking fee), over 18s only, 105 minutes, maximum 8 people per tour. It includes a welcome Irish coffee, still house visit, blending lab experiment, tasting from the cask in the warehouse snug and a tasting of three expressions.
The site says the warehouse holds 50,000 oak casks. The building is wheelchair accessible.
Hours shown for 2025: visitor centre Monday to Saturday 10am to 6pm, Sunday and bank holidays 11am to 5pm. Tours run hourly from 11am to 4pm Monday to Saturday, and at 11am, 12noon, 2pm and 3pm on Sundays and bank holidays. Closed 23 December to 1 January. These are 2025 times, so check for 2026.
FAQ
Who owns Tullamore D.E.W.?
William Grant and Sons.
What does D.E.W. stand for?
The initials of Daniel Edmund Williams.
Is it made in Tullamore?
Yes, since 2014, though grain whiskey was sourced from Midleton until a grain still is added.
When did the original distillery close?
1954.
Who made it in between?
Irish Distillers at Midleton, from the 1970s.
How much did William Grant pay?
Wikipedia says 300 million euros in 2010.
What is the Phoenix edition?
A 55% ABV limited edition named for a 1785 hot air balloon accident that nearly burned the town.
What are the sales?
Over 1,500,000 cases a year as of 2020.
Sources
Facts come from the Wikipedia article on Tullamore Dew, read on 19 October 2026. They have not yet been checked against the official distillery website, which did not load in this run. Whisky Clan does not publish tasting notes in its distillery profiles.
Further sources and gaps
Further sources checked and gaps (20 October 2026): tullamoredew.com home, Our Story and Visit Us pages. The official pages did not name the current owner or give ABVs, so the William Grant and Sons ownership and the 40% Original ABV above still rest on Wikipedia. The site states 192 years of history on its home page against a 1829 start, which fits 2021 text and has not been updated. Prices and hours need rechecking before publishing.
What makes Tullamore D.E.W. distinctive?
Blended Irish whiskey across pot still, malt and grain styles
Tullamore D.E.W. bottle and expression comparison
Bottle / expression | Age | ABV | Cask maturation / notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Tullamore D.E.W. Original | NAS / varies | Check label | Blended Irish whiskey across pot still, malt and grain styles |
Tullamore D.E.W. 12 Year Old | 12 years | Check label | Blended Irish whiskey across pot still, malt and grain styles |
Tullamore D.E.W. XO Caribbean Rum Cask Finish | NAS / varies | Check label | Blended Irish whiskey across pot still, malt and grain styles |
Bottle ranges, casks and strengths change. The table lists documented releases, not guaranteed current stock; check the producer's labels and latest information.
More whisky distilleries to explore
Frequently asked questions about Tullamore D.E.W.
Who owns Tullamore D.E.W.?
William Grant and Sons.
What does D.E.W. stand for?
The initials of Daniel Edmund Williams.
Is it made in Tullamore?
Yes, since 2014, though grain whiskey was sourced from Midleton until a grain still is added.
When did the original distillery close?
Irish Distillers at Midleton, from the 1970s.
Who made it in between?
Irish Distillers at Midleton, from the 1970s.
Sources and editorial checks
Original research, references and historical qualifications have been retained in this article. Visitor details and expression availability are date-sensitive.
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About the author
 | Filip Janczak Storyteller, drinker and explorer of all things whisky. Read more about the person behind Whisky Clan and explore additional reviews and distillery guides. |
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