If, like me (an Irishman), you travel regularly across Europe by air, you may have noticed that nearly every Airport Lounge seems to stock just a single brand of non-American whisk(e)y which is nearly always a Scotch brand beginning with B. Why not an Irish whiskey?

Well, the good news is that all that is about to change – if you are one of the lucky half million a year users of Lufthansa’s  First Class Airport Lounges.

Walsh Whiskey Distillery from Carlow is flying high after Lufthansa, one of the world’s leading airlines, has selected its super-premium whiskey The Irishman – 12 Year Old Single Malt for its exclusive First Class Lounge spirits portfolio.

The Irishman – 12 Year Old Single Malt, an exquisite, non-chill filtered Irish whiskey, is now recognised as an official supplier of Lufthansa First Class Lounges throughout Germany. Close to 500,000 passengers and guests frequent the Lufthansa First Class Lounges annually and they will now be able to enjoy this outstanding Irish whiskey, which is distilled from 100% malted barley and aged in first-fill bourbon barrels.

Commenting on the exclusive Lufthansa listing, Walsh Whiskey Distillery Managing Director, Bernard Walsh, said:

“The selection of The Irishman – 12 Year Old Single Malt by Lufthansa for its First Class Lounges is reflective of the high standards of our respective businesses. We are delighted that all Lufthansa First Class Lounge passengers now have the opportunity to savour this exceptional expression as they relax on their journey”.

Hopefully, this is the start of a move to even more diversity of offerings by airport lounges around Europe. It’s a terrific coup for not just Walsh Whiskey but the entire Irish Whiskey Industry to be front and centre on such an important and influential stage. The fact that Lufthansa selected a premium whiskey which also happens to be named “The Irishman” has to be good for the whole Irish Whiskey sector globally.  I’d love to see another Walsh whiskey such as the Irishman Founders Reserve (which is a marvellous blend of Irish Single Malt and quintessentially Irish Single Pot Still whiskey) appearing in the Business Class Lounges or even as miniatures for purchase on board flights. Let’s keep the momentum going.

I travelled extensively with Lufthansa in the last year on over twenty flights around Europe and spent quite a lot of time waiting and relaxing between connecting flights in the wonderful Lufthansa Lounges of Frankfurt and Munich (mainly because of delayed Lufthansa flights, but that’s a story for another day!). Certainly, having access to a fine Irish Whiskey such as The Irishman Single Malt or Founders Reserve would have greatly eased my pain!

Awarded Gold and ‘Best In Class’ at the 2013 International Spirits Challenge held in London, The Irishman – 12 Year Old Single Malt is a whiskey that shows exceptional interaction between spirit and wood. With an incredible aroma, the influences of first fill bourbon casks give a spicy note with vanilla and cinnamon, and a beautiful burst of flavour with ripe citrus fruit and honey, culminating in a wonderfully smooth finish. Just perfect for easing you into a First-Class state of mind during your pre-flight chill time.

Well done Walsh Whiskey!

 

Stuart McNamara is an International Whiskey Writer and Travel and Food Blogger. Stuart McNamara Whiskey WriterStuart is Editor-in-Chief of Irish Whiskey.Com , the Irish Whiskey Trail , WhiskeyWriter.com and the Scottish Whisky Trail. In his native Ireland, Stuart is a Judge in the Irish Quality Food Awards. Follow Stuart’s Tweets about Food and Travel @IrelandandIrish and about Whiskey at @Whiskey_Writer.

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