‘The Spirit That Unites’: Irlandés Tequila Harnesses Sacred Irish Well Water to Fuse Mexico and Ireland Into One

(Photo: Irlandés Tequila)

Each year, Saint Patrick’s Day and Cinco de Mayo are separated by exactly 49 days of spiritless fun. What would happen, you might ask, if we brought them a little closer together?

Irlandés Tequila is turning this far-fetched dream into a reality. Founded by Colm O’Faolain of San Gabriel Valley, California, the brand’s new Blanco and Reposado expressions feature an uncharacteristic shamrock front and center. Inside the bottle, Mexican and Irish history are combined in unexpected ways.

The tequila draws inspiration from Saint Patrick’s Battalion and Los Niños Heroes, two infantry units that fought alongside each other during the Mexican-American War. Led by Major John Reilly, the units were made up of a motley crew of defectors — mostly Irish —  fighting to reconquer Texas on behalf of Mexico.

“In 1847, the two unlikely forces of six Mexican boys and 50 Irish soldiers found themselves defending the flag of Mexico. Together. They were hopelessly outnumbered,” writes Irlandés.

“Francis O’Connor, a dying soldier from the Irish battalion, was anointed by a Mexican priest with holy water he had carried with him from a sacred well in his motherland. (Incredibly, it is this water from that exact same source, that Irlandés Tequila is made with.)”

Irlandés Reposado, aged in toasted American Oak barrels. (Photo: Irlandés Tequila)

O’Faolain says that it took him over a year to find the well mentioned in the story. Now, the sacred water is being used to make Irlandés Tequila.

Distilled alongside Blue Weber agave and French yeast, the end result is said to balance flavors of citrus, cocoa beans and delicate spice. Irlandés is also among a small handful of brands to use the Mozart effect; fermentation is “harmonized” to the lingering sounds of classical music.

If you’re interested in tasting the brand’s unique twist on agave spirits, find the store locator here.

Read More:

Shake Up Women’s History Month With These Seven Women-Owned Tequila and Mezcal Brands

TikTok Goes Gaga for the Batanga Cocktail: How Tequila, Coke and a Knife Complete the Viral Drink

The Science, Mastery and Mystique of Clarified Tequila Cocktails 

Here at Tequila Raiders, we do more than write about current events in tequila. We are the only media property reviewing tequilas and aggregating the scores and reviews of other significant voices in the tequila world in one place. If you’re interested in getting a shot of tequila in your morning email, sign up for our Deal of the Day newsletter