Potatoes, Passion & Peated Whiskey: The Muff Liquor Story

In this episode of The Cocktail Academy, host Damian sits down with Laura Bonner, founder of The Muff Liquor Company, for a deep dive into how a Donegal girl with a bold dream turned her family roots (and potatoes!) into a premium international spirits brand.

Laura shares the very real ups and downs of building a business—from an idea sparked by her grandfather’s poitin to launching a spirits range that's now taking the U.S. by storm. You’ll hear the unfiltered story behind the cheeky brand name, the fight to be taken seriously, and how she landed global investors like Russell Crowe and Ed Sheeran.

Whether you're into Irish spirits, brand-building, or just a sucker for a great origin story, this one is packed with lessons, laughs, and serious hustle.

🥃 WHAT WE COVER:

• 🥔 Why Laura swapped law books for potatoes
• 🚀 The 12-year journey from idea to first bottle
• 🏭 Building a brand (before building a distillery)
• 🔥 The power of persistence and ignoring the naysayers
• 🍸 Why her gin isn’t juniper-heavy (and that’s the point)
• 🥃 Creating one of Ireland’s few peated whiskeys—and why it’s flying in the U.S.
• 🤝 How a shot of hustle landed her celebrity investors
• 📦 What cocktails and COVID taught her about consumer connection
• 🌍 Her mission to bring four Irish spirits to all 50 U.S. states

🔗 CONNECT WITH LAURA / THE MUFF LIQUOR COMPANY:

• Website: muffliquorcompany.com
• Instagram: @muffliquorcompany

🎙️ FOLLOW & SUBSCRIBE:

If you loved this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who’d appreciate a behind-the-scenes look at one of Ireland’s boldest spirits brands.

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