The Tullamore D.E.W. Collector’s Edition specifically recognized in 2018 is a NAS (No Age Statement) Irish whiskey that represents a modern, high-quality offering from the brand. It is a triple-distilled, triple-blend, and triple-wood-matured whiskey, typically aged in ex-bourbon, ex-sherry, and refill oak casks. This collector's edition is a product of the "new era" of Tullamore D.E.W. In 2014, William Grant & Sons opened a new distillery in Tullamore, returning production to the town for the first time since 1954. The 2018 bottling reflects this return to heritage, often produced at this newly built, state-of-the-art facility. 

The Collector's Edition emphasizes the "triple" approach that defines the brand's modern, complex style. Triple Distilled: For smoothness. Triple Blend: A mix of all three types of Irish whiskey: pot still, malt, and grain. Triple Wood Matured: Aged in bourbon, sherry, and, in some variations, Caribbean rum casks (or traditional refills) to enhance depth. 

The 2018 Collector's Edition was notably bottled for specific retailers, such as Lidl in the Czech Republic. Due to this, it is considered a collector's item in the secondary market, with a distinctive, high-quality profile that differs from the standard Tullamore D.E.W. blend. 

The "D.E.W." in the name refers to Daniel E. Williams, a legendary figure in Irish distilling who started as a stable boy and became the manager who modernized the distillery in the late 19th century. The collector's edition keeps his legacy alive by focusing on the traditional, yet complex, blending techniques he favoured.

Tullamore D.E.W. is a legendary Irish whiskey with a history marked by early innovation, a dramatic 60-year hiatus, and a triumphant return to its hometown. Founded in 1829 in Tullamore, County Offaly, the brand is globally recognized as the second-largest Irish whiskey brand.  Contrary to popular belief, the "Dew" in the name does not refer to morning moisture. It stands for the initials of Daniel Edmund Williams, the man who transformed the distillery. 

Daniel E. Williams started as a 14-year-old stable boy in 1862 and rose to become the general manager by age 25. Known for his impressive moustache, Williams modernized the distillery, brought electricity and telephones to the town of Tullamore in 1893, and introduced motorized transport to deliver his whiskey. "Give Every Man His Dew" was the clever marketing slogan used to promote the brand. 

Tullamore is deeply tied to the symbol of a phoenix. In 1785, a hot air balloon crash caused a fire that destroyed roughly 130 homes, making it the site of one of the world's first recorded aerial disasters. The town was rebuilt, and the phoenix became its emblem, a fitting symbol for the whiskey brand that later "rose from the ashes" of its own closure.  Like many Irish distilleries, Tullamore suffered during the early 20th century due to Prohibition, trade wars, and competition. The original distillery closed in 1954. The brand was sold to John Powers & Son in the 1960s and production was moved to the Midleton Distillery in County Cork. In 2010, William Grant & Sons purchased the brand and invested heavily in a new, state-of-the-art distillery on the outskirts of Tullamore, which opened in 2014, returning production to its original home. 

Tullamore D.E.W. is unique in that it is a blend of all three types of Irish whiskey: pot still, malt, and grain. The new distillery, completed in 2017, allowed for all three components to be produced on-site, making them one of the few to mature and bottle their own triple-blend.  In the 1940s, when whiskey sales were struggling, Desmond Williams (grandson of Daniel) searched for a lost recipe for "heather wine." A refugee in 1948 helped reconstruct it, leading to the creation of Irish Mist, Ireland's first modern whiskey liqueur. This success helped keep the company afloat during difficult financial times. 

Tullamore D.E.W. is a globally recognized whiskey and it is now the world's second-largest Irish whiskey brand, known for its triple-distilled, triple-blend, and triple-cask-finished products. The brand's story is a fascinating tale of modernization, decline, and successful resurrection.