Copeland Distillery was founded on the shores of Donaghadee, County Down, where a passion for innovation and craftsmanship drives the creation of distinctive Irish spirits. Drawing inspiration from the rich maritime heritage of the Ards Peninsula, the distillery combines traditional methods with modern techniques to produce characterful whiskeys that reflect both place and provenance.

The 26.2 release marks Copeland’s first-ever peated single malt Irish whiskey bottled at cask strength. Crafted from 100% peated malted barley and double distilled in the distillery’s copper pot stills, the whiskey is matured for a minimum of five years on the Ards Peninsula. A combination of first-fill American bourbon casks, Pedro Ximénez sherry casks and charred oak casks creates a layered and complex spirit, balancing smoky intensity with richness and depth. Bottled non-chill filtered and with natural colour at a robust 57.8% ABV, this limited release is restricted to just 288 bottles.

Bright and expressive on the nose, it opens with vibrant peat smoke alongside sherry-soaked orchard fruits, cloves, fresh orange, dried leather and honey. The palate is rich and mouth-coating, delivering crisp peat smoke, dark sherried fruits, stewed apple, smoked butter on wholemeal toast, sweet charred oak and fresh caramel, supported by a gently tannic structure and hints of pear. The finish is long and warming, with lingering turf smoke, smoked vanilla pod, citrus zest, dry cocoa powder and cracked black pepper.