It was a pleasant scene, walking down the seafront in Clontarf on a much-needed dry day. I was on my way to meet warrior whiskey buck John Teeling, a multi-millionaire in the minerals exploration and spirits industries. Teeling has been described as “a shark, a winner, a 24-carat alpha”. A serial entrepreneur, perhaps his greatest strength has been his ability to shape the Irish whiskey market on a massive scale. Teeling founded Cooley Distillery in 1986, before selling it in early 2012 to Jim Beam for €95 million. He tells me to look out for a flat-roofed building, his office.…

Want to continue reading?

Unlock full access to The Currency and The Wall Street Journal with an Annual membership and receive a free Samsonite suitcase – worth €235 delivered to your door.

Subscribe

Cancel at any time.

Are you already a member? .