Our Leaving Certificate Chemistry students enjoyed an engaging and informative trip to West Cork Distillers today, where they explored the real-world application of key chemical principles. During the tour, students learned about the large-scale distillation process, seeing how sixteen pot stills and three column stills together produce almost 16.5 million litres of alcohol annually, with additional stills dedicated to gin production. They also discovered the skill involved in “making cuts,” the technique distillers use to separate the heads, hearts, and tails of the distillate. Each fraction contains different compounds—some desirable, some not—and students gained an appreciation for the precision and expertise required to choose the perfect cut to achieve the highest flavour and quality.
The group also observed the extensive storage warehouses that hold up to 200,000 casks on site in Skibbereen.
Students were particularly impressed by the distillery’s strong commitment to sustainability. West Cork Distillers emphasises its responsibility to address climate change and leads the way in eco-conscious production within the alcohol industry. Their circular-economy approach includes the use of renewable energy and the repurposing of by-products to support local farms through animal feed and the generation of biogas at Timoleague Agri Gen—green energy that the distillery later repurchases from the national grid. These by-products also contribute to the creation of organic fertiliser used to grow crops such as barley, a key ingredient in their whiskey.
Overall, the visit offered a valuable opportunity for students to connect classroom learning with industrial practice, while also gaining insight into how modern chemistry, craftsmanship, and sustainability work hand in hand.
A huge thank you to West Cork Distillers for their warm welcome, expert guidance, and the invaluable learning experience they provided for our students.
