Flaming Leprechaun brings award-winning Irish spirits to U.S.

A local entrepreneur, born and raised in West Roxbury, is bringing the flavors of Ireland’s craft distilling boom to the Bay State with Flaming Leprechaun Spirits.

“The demand for new Irish distilled spirts is big right now and the customer base to make it a success is here in the United States,” said Jack Walsh, the co-founder of Flaming Leprechaun.

Flaming Leprechaun Spirits are distilled at Malcolm Brown Ltd. in Dundalk, County Louth, and were introduced to the American market here in Massachusetts over the past couple of weeks, distributed by United Liquors. Walsh runs the business out of Franklin but jokes of his West Roxbury bona fides: “I walked to kindergarten at Joyce Kilmer School, I walked to St. Theresa’s School, I walked to Catholic Memorial and I delivered the Boston Herald around the neighborhood, even during the Blizzard of ’78.”

Flaming Leprechaun’s flagship product is Fiery Cinnamon Irish Spirit, a 70-proof flavored whiskey meant to battle for space in the red-hot spicy-spirit marketplace coveted by millennials and dominated by the pop-culture phenomenon Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey. Flaming Leprechaun’s version is flavored with a blend of natural cinnamon.

“It’s been received very favorably within the millennial group since we hit the market two weeks ago,” said Walsh.

King Ultan’s Special Reserve Irish Whiskey is a blended whiskey that recently earned an 88 rating from Whisky Advocate magazine and a 93 rating from Tasting Panel Magazine.

“It’s high-quality whiskey at a fun price,” said Walsh, of the spirit that enters the market at about $34.99 per 750-milliliter bottle.

Flaming Leprechaun earned some notoriety when two of its spirits, Limestone Filtered Gin and Limestone Filtered Vodka, earned Double Gold honors at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The gin is a blend of 10 botanicals, highlighted by flavors of licorice and juniper, while the vodka is distilled from wheat.

“Ireland is not known for gin or vodka, so we’re excited to get this kind of recognition,” said Walsh, who noted that Tito’s Handmade Vodka was launched into its upward trajectory by Double Gold honors at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2009. He plans to launch an 80-proof white rum in the spring.

Look for Flaming Leprechaun Spirits at package stories throughout Greater Boston and at favorite local Irish watering holes such as Ned Devine’s in Faneuil Hall, Whiskey Priest in the Seaport District, and Briar Group and Glynn Hospitality Group pubs around Boston.

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