Donna Stewart travels the United States spreading Irish cheer. (photos courtesy of the brand)

Boston-born and Dublin raised, Donna Stewart has perhaps the ideal pedigree to work as the newest West Coast ambassador for Tullamore D.E.W. Irish whiskey. The Dublin City University graduate has been in California for seven years now, and travels far and wide sharing the pleasures of this triple-blended treat.

Where is Tullamore D.E.W. made?

Tullamore D.E.W. is made in Tullamore, County Offaly, right in the heart of Ireland. Our state of the art distillery is the only distillery in the world that distills 3 types of whiskey, and matures and bottles all on the same site. Right now, Tullamore Distillery is producing hand sanitizer.

What does the D.E.W. stand for, again?

D.E.W. are the initials of one of the greatest distillers Ireland has ever had—his name was Daniel Edmund Williams. Daniel began working at the distillery as a stable boy at the age of 15 and went on to become the distillery manager at 25. Eventually he bought the distillery off the family that owned it. Daniel was an innovator through and through and brought the first motorized vehicle, green grocer, and electricity to the town of Tullamore. He also employed one person from every household in Tullamore, showing his commitment to the town.

Is it OK if we say “dew” out loud anyway?

Absolutely! We still pronounce the initials as “dew.” Sometimes we like to call it Tully for short. I really like that the word “Dew” brings imagery of dew on the grass on a cold morning: I mean, it is said that whiskey is the water of life!

Are there any classic cocktails that call for Irish whiskey?

Definitely. Straightaway a Cameron’s Kick and the Tipperary come to mind. But I think the most widely known and appreciated classic cocktail with Irish whiskey has to be the Irish Coffee.

Created in the Foynes airport in Ireland in the 1940’s by a chef named Joe Sheridan, this delicious drink was enjoyed by travelers while they rested before continuing to the U.S. Within a few years, word spread all the way to San Francisco, where the travel writer Stanton Delaplane told his bartender about the “Irish coffee.” The two of them jumped on a flight to Ireland to learn from the creator himself and together they introduced the drink to the world by bringing it to their bar in San Francisco.

Tullamore D.E.W. is a great choice when making an Irish coffee as it has a unique blend of all three whiskeys that are made in Ireland. These three spirits come together to bring a balance of sweetness, fruitiness and spice, perfect as the base for your Irish Coffee. Here’s how I do it:

Irish Coffee

1.5 parts Tullamore D.E.W.

3 parts strongly brewed coffee

2 demerara sugar cubes (or 2 tsp. white sugar)

Top with lightly whipped heavy cream

Whats a good cocktail to get us through the present moment?

My favorite at the moment is called the “Elevenses.” Not only is it made with 4 simple ingredients that we usually have at home, but it tastes so bright and refreshing.

Elevenses

2 parts Tullamore D.E.W.

4 muddled raspberries (or 2 tsp of Raspberry Jam)

1.75 parts breakfast tea, strongly brewed

.75 parts lemon juice

Shake all ingredients over ice and served on the rocks

Add a lemon wheel to garnish

You can follow Donna on Instagram @tully_dee33.  Tullamore D.E.W. is available online via Drizly; first time shoppers can use code “Tullytime” to get $5 off your purchase.