Lost Irish: The Tim Herlihy Interview

This week on The Cocktail Academy Podcast, Damian welcomes back Tim Herlihy, co-founder of Lost Irish Whiskey, storyteller, and longtime champion of Irish hospitality.Tim’s journey is anything but ordinary — from working on his family’s egg farm in Termonfeckin, County Louth, to becoming U.S. Ambassador for Tullamore D.E.W., and now building a modern Irish whiskey brand that celebrates the global Irish diaspora.In this episode we cover:The buzz of the Irish House takeover at Tales of the Cocktail and why it marked such a powerful moment for Ireland’s bartenders, brands, and hospitality.Tim’s leap from farming to whiskey through the Bord Bia Fellowship and his early work with Cooley Distillery.Nearly a decade with Tullamore D.E.W., helping the brand grow across the U.S. and beyond.The spark behind Lost Irish Whiskey — how the concept of the Irish diaspora became both the story and the liquid.Sourcing casks from six continents, blending challenges, and the unexpected flavours that shaped the final whiskey.Why bottle design details like grip, cork acoustics, and visibility on the back bar were crucial to the brand’s identity.Insights from co-authoring From Barley to Blarney with the Dead Rabbit team, and how it influenced Tim’s approach to storytelling.What makes Irish pubs such enduring cultural spaces — unpretentiousness, community, and conversation.Tim also shares his quickfire takes:Banished forever: Aquafaba in cocktails.Favourite cocktail experience: Irish Coffees at the Buena Vista Café in San Francisco.Best pint of Guinness in Ireland: The Palace Bar, Dublin.Best pint abroad: Graces Bar on 14th Street, New York City.📩 To get in touch with Tim:Instagram: @lostirishtimInstagram (brand): @lostirishwhiskey🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.📩 To get in touch with Damian: [email protected] 📲 Follow us on Instagram @welovecocktails Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.