Welcome to CelticMalts®

Riannon Walsh is an anomaly…a woman specialist and expert in the male world of single malt whisky. As President of Cloonaughill Celtic Malts, Inc. and Cloonaughill Distillers Ltd./ Ireland, with a background ranging from nosing to production, Ms. Walsh is the lead partner in the design and development of a very unique single malt distillery in the Republic of Ireland and a much sought after consultant in the development of several other malt distilleries in both the US and UK. Her expertise as a ‘nose’ has resulted in independent bottlers of single malts turning to Riannon for cask selection and blending consultation on several high end whiskies currently on the world’s best spirits shelves.

Riannon’s work in the industry over the past 20 years includes hands on experience in small batch pot still whisky production in both U.S. based and Scottish malt distilleries. Her appearances at private tastings and varied whisky events draw a national and international crowd of connoisseurs and novices who thoroughly appreciate her unique style which is a far cry from the tradition ‘kilt and haggis’ approach to experiencing single malts.

In 2001 Ms. Walsh was written up by Entrepreneur Magazine as well as prominently featured as one of the world’s ‘Women to Watch in Whisky’ in Britain’s Whisky Magazine. In 2000 Riannon was asked to consult with the archaeologists at George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate in the uncovering and mapping of one of America’s earliest functioning distilleries. In 2003-4 she was approached by the producers of the History Channel’s Modern Marvels television series to help develop and consult and to be interviewed for the ‘Distilleries’ program which to date is Modern Marvels most watched show in their extensive series! Much of the show was filmed on location at the CelticMalt’s WoW Expo in San Francisco where the great distillers from around the globe gather each March.
Riannon consults and lectures on the history, development and production of malt whiskies. With a strong focus on positioning single malts in the U.S. market, she provides strategic marketing consultation to producers of single malts and independent bottlers and is director of the CelticMalts Marketing Consortium. Ms. Walsh’s independent stance in the spirit business as well as her non traditional marketing approaches have brought her into a highly visible position in this extremely competitive industry. She has written numerous articles about high end spirits and the unique personalities behind them for a selection of lifestyle publications.

Ms. Walsh is the founder and organizer of the hugely popular Whiskies of the World Expo, held annually since 1999 in San Francisco. As North America’s largest consumer whisky event, this celebration plays host to over 4000 consumers, 300 plus limited edition and high end whiskies and an internationally renown speakers forum, among numerous other features. The Expos receive overwhelming response from all segments of the spirits and wine industries, and discerning consumers of superior quality spirits. Riannon’s special focus with the Expos is to educate the consumer as well as to support independent bottlers, the micro distillers and craft spirit producers worldwide.

Riannon's newest addition to the Celticmalts sponsored events is a highly unique sampling event with exhibitors exclusively from the artisanal distillers and Independent Bottlers niches of the distilled spirits world. Scheduled as the 'sister' autumn event to the more traditional spring Whiskies of the World Expo, The Independent Spirits Fest offers a platform for craft distillers and bottlers of extremely limited and handcrafted products in an festive and highly educational atmosphere. Riannon's advocacy for artisanal brands and Independent Bottlers is well known in the industry and demonstrated through her efforts to provide a venue for extensive publicity for brands that otherwise could not afford this sort of exposure.

Riannon is the author of Whisky Dreams: A Culinary Journey Through the World of Single Malt Whiskies. This book includes the utilization of single malt whiskies in fine cookery as well as chapters on malt whisky education and several vignettes that take the reader deeply and personally into the working world of Celtic distilleries. Riannon’s whisky related articles also appear in such publications as Whisky Magazine, Epicurean, Stratos and Patterson’s California Beverage Journal. Additionally, she is the Publisher of The Celtic Spirit Journal, perhaps the most read on-line publication directed toward consumer. The Journal is well known in the whisky world for it’s unusual and unique educational articles and it’s non commercial, independent status.

In his latest book, Whisky; The Definitive Guide, the world’s best known whisky write, Michael Jackson, honoured Riannon with a rare acknowledgement in his introduction naming her as one of the most significant world whisky ambassadors.

Despite her love of writing, teaching about and marketing whiskies, Riannon’s passion is the atmosphere and hands on operation of malt distilleries. At any opportunity she returns to the parts of the world where the ‘water of life’ originated and continues to flourish.