Roe and Co Whiskey: Dublin’s Modern Blended Irish Whiskey

If you’ve been scanning the Irish whiskey aisle lately, you’ve probably spotted Roe & Co. A fresh face in a centuries-old category, this premium blend from Diageo carries a bold 45% ABV and a backstory tied to the Liberties district of Dublin. Here’s what you need to know before buying a bottle.

Type: Premium Blended Irish Whiskey ·
ABV: 45% ·
Cask Finish: Bourbon casks ·
Owner: Diageo (parent of Guinness) ·
Distillery Location: Dublin, Ireland (Liberties district) ·
Launch Year: 2017

Seven specs that define the bottle, one takeaway: Roe & Co is a modern blended whiskey that leans heavily on its bourbon‑cask heritage and a higher ABV than its competitors.

The specs table below lays out the core facts at a glance.

Is Roe and Co a good whiskey?

The question is personal, but the data gives a clear pattern: reviewers call it a solid daily drinker, not a top‑shelf stunner. The Whiskey Wash (independent review blog) describes it as “a solid daily sipper, but competition is strong at its price point.”

What do reviews say?

• Master of Malt calls it “creamy, fragrant, and rounded with soft spice, mellow spun sugar, and warm woody vanilla” (Master of Malt).
• The Whisky Knights notes honey, melon, and caramel on the nose, but says the palate can feel harsh (The Whisky Knights).
• Thirty One Whiskey rates the Roe & Co 106 at 4.5/5 and sells it at $41.29 per 750 ml (Thirty One Whiskey (retail and review site)).

Awards and recognition

Roe & Co has not publicly listed major international spirits awards in its marketing. The brand leans more on its modern Dublin identity and cocktail versatility (Roe & Co Distillery (official brand site)).

Value for money

At €30–€40 for 70 cl, it sits in the same bracket as Jameson Black Barrel and Bushmills Black Bush. The Dram Duo (enthusiast review blog) calls it a “shelf staple” because of its accessible price, but warns that competition is fierce at this tier.

What kind of whiskey is Roe and Co?

It is a blended Irish whiskey – a mix of malt and grain whiskies – bottled at 45% ABV and aged exclusively in bourbon casks (The Whiskey Wash). The brand’s official site describes it as “Irish whiskey refined for cocktails” (Roe & Co Distillery).

Blend composition

• A blend of single malt and single grain whiskey (The Dram Duo).
• YouTube reviewers confirm it is “a bold blend of Irish single malt and single grain aged in ex‑bourbon casks” (YouTube review).
• Non‑chill filtered, a feature typically found on premium Irish whiskies (The Dram Duo).

Cask aging process

All the whiskey is matured in first‑fill or second‑fill ex‑bourbon barrels. The Whiskey Wash specifies they use second‑fill bourbon barrels, which give the spirit a lighter touch of oak and vanilla compared to fresh casks.

Taste profile

From the nose through the finish, the dominant notes are vanilla, caramel, honey, melon, and soft spice (The Whisky Knights). The palate is creamy upfront but can show a sharp transition when drunk neat. Water or ice softens it considerably.

Who owns Roe and Co whiskey?

Roe & Co is owned by Diageo, the British drinks giant that also owns Guinness, Johnnie Walker, and Smirnoff. The brand was created after Diageo acquired the defunct Roe & Co name and opened a new distillery in Dublin’s Liberties (Wikipedia).

Connection to Guinness

The distillery occupies a former Guinness power plant at 92 James’s Street, literally next door to the Guinness Storehouse (Whisky.com (distillery database)). The building’s red‑brick façade still echoes the industrial Guinness heritage.

Parent company Diageo

Diageo launched the brand in March 2017, then opened the physical distillery in 2019 (Whisky.com). The company positions Roe & Co as a contemporary, cocktail‑friendly Irish whiskey – a deliberate departure from the traditional image of its Irish competitors.

History of the brand

The “Roe” name goes back to the 18th century when the Roe family operated a whiskey business in Dublin, but the modern label has no direct lineage. Diageo revived the name to anchor the distillery in the district’s distilling history (Roe & Co Distillery).

Where can I buy Roe and Co whiskey?

Roe & Co is widely available across Irish retailers and online. In Ireland, you’ll find it at Tesco, SuperValu, Dunnes Stores, and independent off‑licences. Online, O’Briens Wine and the distillery’s own shop are reliable options.

Retailers in Ireland

• Tesco – usually €32–€35 (The Whiskey Wash price reference: ~$35/750ml in US)
• SuperValu – similar price range
• Dunnes Stores – often runs multi‑buy discounts

Online purchase options

The official distillery site sells bottles with local delivery. International shipping is available through Master of Malt (global specialist retailer) and other export platforms.

Price range

The standard 70 cl bottle sits between €30–€40. The “Roe & Co 106” cask‑strength expression is around $41 in the US (Thirty One Whiskey).

While you’re planning a Dublin trip, you might also check the best spots in the city for a whiskey and a meal – our Best Galway Restaurants City Centre guide covers the west coast, and our Premier Inn Near Temple Bar Dublin page helps you find a place to stay near the distillery.

How is Roe and Co whiskey made?

The whiskey is produced at the Roe & Co Distillery in Dublin’s Liberties. Unlike many Irish distilleries that age on‑site, the brand relies on blending stocks that were matured in bourbon casks at undisclosed facilities (The Whiskey Wash).

Blending process

The master blender selects malt and grain whiskies (single malt and single grain, according to The Dram Duo). The blend is then married, non‑chill filtered, and bottled at 45%.

Bourbon cask maturation

All the whiskeys used are matured in ex‑bourbon barrels, predominantly second‑fill. This gives the spirit a light vanilla and caramel character without overpowering the grain notes (The Whiskey Wash).

Distillery location and techniques

The distillery, which opened in 2019, is housed in a converted Guinness power plant at 92 James’s Street. It includes a visitor centre, and the site is promoted as “Dublin’s newest whiskey tour” (Roe & Co Distillery). The distillery uses modern copper pot stills and a column still for grain spirit.

The full specification table below captures every measurable detail.

For the Irish whiskey buyer looking to expand beyond Jameson, Roe & Co offers a genuine proof‑bump and a non‑chill filtered profile that stands out on the shelf. The trade‑off is clear: you get a modern, cocktail‑ready blend backed by Diageo’s distribution muscle, but you give up the single‑distillery story and the variety of cask finishes found on more expensive competitors. For the weekend host in Dublin, the choice is straightforward: use it in highballs and let the 45% ABV carry the drink, or spend the same money on a more traditional black‑label blend. Either way, the Liberties bottle is worth a taste.