This week our Irish Whiskey News features articles on Chapel Gate launching tequila cask finished whiskey and The Shed Distillery reports profits of €1.78 million.

So let’s see what’s happening this week in our Irish whiskey news.

Chapel Gate launches ‘first’ Tequila cask-finished Irish whiskey

To make JJ Corry the Battalion, the Irish bonder decanted grain spirit that had aged in ex-Bourbon casks into mezcal and Tequila casks, and single malt from Bourbon barrels into mezcal casks. After maturing for seven months, a blend of grain spirit matured in Tequila and mezcal casks was combined with the mezcal-influenced malt. The finished spirit is made with 60% nine-year-old grain and 40% 13-year-old single malt.

The Battalion is said to have green herbal notes and the “slightest touch of agave” flavours. Louise McGuane, the founder of Chapel Gate, said: “As modern bonders we do exactly as JJ Corry would have done, use the casks at his disposal to impart unique flavours in his blends. JJ had access to rum, Bordeaux and Sherry casks; we are lucky enough to be able to look as far afield as Mexico and beyond for flavours that work with.

 Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin owner reports a profit of €1.78m

The maker of Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin has reported profits of €1.78 million for 2018. “This is a long-term business and one that is very demanding on cash so every bit of money we make is going back into the distillery. We need to be making this kind of return at the very minimum to grow the business into a global brand,” distillery owner Pat Rigney said.

The company recently installed a new still and built a bottling facility at its Leitrim distillery, and is working on a new €2 million visitor experience centre that is due to open early next year. In addition, it is continuing to lay down whiskey stocks ahead of the launch of its first brand in early 2019. The Shed Distillery intends to produce about 25,000 litres of whiskey a year initially, with the first batch of stock having been laid down in December 2014.

Its flagship product, however, is Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin, which reached a major milestone in 2018, selling more than 100,000 cases and boosting turnover to more than €7 million. The drinks maker more than doubled its 2017 exports of the gin last year and sold over €4.5 million worth of product across 30 international markets including the UK, US, Russia, Australia, Israel, India, South Africa and Iraq. 

Thanks again for reading our Irish Whiskey News.

Andrew

The Whiskey Experts

The Whiskey Experts  – Irish Whiskey News © 2019

For more information, visit our website or email us at info@thewhiskeyexperts.ie

This week our Irish Whiskey News features articles on Jameson’s rise in sales throughout 2019 and Bushmills blends Black Bush with specialist Irish tea from Suki Tea.

So let’s see what’s happening this week in our Irish whiskey news.

Pernod Ricard sales boosted by Jameson

Pernod Ricard’s 2018/19 nine-month sales climbed 6.3% to €7.18 billion (US$8.07bn) driven by Martell Cognac and Jameson. Year-to-date sales were also boosted by double-digit growth in emerging markets, which grew 15%. Asia and the rest of the world region grew sales by 12% bolstered by “dynamic growth” in China and India. The Americas saw sales increase by 3% with a “good performance” in the US as the company started optimising wholesaler inventory in the market. Europe witnessed a 1% sales growth with “very good” sales in Eastern Europe but “contrasted performance” in Western Europe.

During the first nine months of its 2018 fiscal year, Pernod Ricard’s strategic international brands posted an 8% increase collectively, driven by Martell, Jameson, Scotch, Beefeater gin, Perrier-Jouët Champagne, and “strong price/mix”. The French firm’s speciality brands witnessed “continued strong development”, reporting a 14% increase. The growth was attributed to Lillet apéritif, Monkey 47 gin, “higher-style” Irish whiskey and Altos Tequila. The nine-month results were released just a day after Pernod Ricard announced it had signed a deal to acquire Italian super-premium gin Malfy – the sixth gin to join the firm’s stable.

Whiskey and Tea blending masterclass to hit Dublin

One of Ireland’s most loved whiskey brands has announced that one of their most popular campaigns for 2018 will return this year. Bushmills #BlackBushStories campaign will make a return this year, announcing a collaboration with specialist tea makers, Suki Tea. The collaboration will see co-founder of the Irish tea company, Oscar Woolley, join Bushmills to host a series of whiskey and tea blending masterclass events. ‘Black Bush Blended’ will take place at Drury Buildings in Dublin on 30th April and 1st May, offering an opportunity to learn about the synergy between the arts of blending Black Bush and tea.

Guests will take part in an educational tasting session on some of Bushmills’ premium brands, before hearing Oscar’s story on how he turned a love of tea into a career. Attendees will then enjoy a tea tasting session and finish the night creating their own personalised tea blends. Specially created Black Bush drinks, including a tea-based cocktail, will also be served throughout the event.

Thanks again for reading our Irish Whiskey News.

Andrew

The Whiskey Experts

The Whiskey Experts  – Irish Whiskey News © 2019

For more information, visit our website or email us at info@thewhiskeyexperts.ie

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This week our Irish Whiskey News features articles on a new home bar that can make Irish whiskey and Bushmills Distillery are planning new distillery facilities.

So let’s see what’s happening this week in our Irish whiskey news.

This new home bar lets you make ‘Irish whiskey’ in your kitchen

The dispenser, which is being rolled out in the UK, USA and EU throughout 2019, makes over 30 different drinks across all major spirits categories with its unique ‘Taste Of’ capsules. The capsules come in a range of flavours that mimic the taste of alcoholic drinks, including “Tennessee Bourbon”, “Black Sambuca” and “Irish Whiskey”. These capsules are meant to be inserted into the device, much like a coffee machine, before being mixed with a neutral grain spirit also sold by the tech company, or water, or a mix of the two, allowing consumers to control the ABV of their end product.

According to Smart Spirits’ website, almost all spirits have the same basic recipe: “alcohol, water and flavour. There is any number of new brands vying to achieve ‘premium’ status, even when they lack the necessary gravitas and kudos, so the confused consumer often selects the most advertised brands by default.” A great deal of time, labour and, more importantly, resources go into developing aged spirits such as whisky and rum, leading many spirits companies to launch sustainability initiatives to counteract the effects of their beverage products on the environment.

Further development at Bushmills Distillery due for planning sign off

Expansion at the award-winning Bushmills Distillery is expected to receive planning approval next week. The proposals for a new distillery facility, which includes a boiler house, cooling equipment and barrel store, is recommended to receive planning permission at the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s planning committee meeting on April 17.

The application site consists of an area of flat vacant land behind the existing main distillery and is not open to the public. The new building, which is to be split up into multiple elements, is set to be 16m at its highest point. In the council planning report, published ahead of next week’s meeting, the proposed development is considered “appropriate use of the land and is acceptable in terms of its layout and appearance”. Both applications are recommended for planning approval. The latest plans come less than a year after Bushmills was granted planning permission for 29 new maturation warehouses at the Distillery Road site.

Thanks again for reading our Irish Whiskey News.

Andrew

The Whiskey Experts

The Whiskey Experts  – Irish Whiskey News © 2019

For more information, visit our website or email us at info@thewhiskeyexperts.ie