JJ Corry was a tea and spirit merchant based in the port town of Kilrush in Co. Clare in the late 19th century. In 2015, following a career in the drinks industry with Diageo, Pernod Ricard and Moet Hennessey, Louise McGuane set up the Chapel Gate Irish Whiskey Company on her family farm in Kilrush's neighbouring village of Cooraclare.
A dunnage style, bonded warehouse now sits on the farm as Louise brings back the near-lost art of whiskey bonding. Louise sources mature spirit, new make, the finest casks and brings them to Clare to mature, before blending and bottling unique whiskey expressions.
The Hanson is a Blended Grain Irish Whiskey, created with cocktails in mind. It is named after J.J. Corry’s son in law who was a revenue man in the early 1900s known locally in Cooraclare as “The Gauger Hanson”. A blend of Irish grain whiskeys from multiple distilleries, The Hanson is matured in ex-bourbon barrels, and bottled at 46% abv without any artificial colouring or chill-filtration.