Where does the world's best Irish whiskey come from? You've never heard of it...

According to a distillery business group that holds an “International Wine and Spirit Competition” every year, the best Irish whiskey on earth comes not from one of those top name brands, but from a lesser-known company. Cooley Inc, which operates two very old distilleries in Kilbeggan, County Westmeath and Riverstown, County Louth, has been dubbed as the finest quality maker of blended whiskey Aged 13-20 Yrs, Kilbeggan 15 Yr Old, best Irish single malt non-Aged, and two other types of single malts for the year 2009. Cooley has a short history – it’s only been making whiskey since 1987. It bills itself as the only independent Irish whisky producer in the world. All others are controlled by either Diageo or Pernod Ricard. If you want a taste of the good stuff, the company offers tours at it’s Old Kilbeggan Distillery, situated squarely in the middle of the Republic.