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Irish Whiskey News – Dec 12 – 2019

This week our Irish Whiskey News features articles on Glendalough Distillery investors to share in €12 million sale and Pat Rigney becomes chair of Drinks Ireland|Spirits.

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

Irish Whiskey News - Dec 12 - 2019 - Glendalough Distillery

Glendalough Distillery investors to share €12m from the sale

A group of local investors in the Glendalough Distillery in Co Wicklow are set to share in a windfall of about €12 million from the sale of the remaining 60 per cent of the whiskey and gin maker to Mark Anthony Brands International, a Canadian-owned alcoholic beverage group. While financial details of the sale deal have not been revealed, industry sources said the deal values the Glendalough business at more than €20 million. This transaction gives Mark Anthony full control of the business, having acquired a 40 per cent stake in 2016.

The main beneficiaries of the sale will be Glendalough directors Barry Gallagher and Brian Fagan who own just under 20 per cent between them. Former Irish rugby captain Brian O’Driscoll, who owns 2.72 per cent of the company, is in line to receive more than €326,000 for his stake in the Irish spirits group.

Irish Whiskey News - Dec 12 - 2019 - Pat Rigney

Patrick Rigney named as the new chair of Drinks Ireland

Pat Rigney, the managing director and founder of “The Shed Distillery” in Co Leitrim, has been appointed Chair of Drinks Ireland|Spirits who are the representative body responsible for promoting the interests of the Irish spirits industry. Mr Rigney, who was previously vice-chair of the representative body, will take over from Aoife Clarke, who is senior director of International Public Affairs at Beam Suntory.

Pat Rigney said that Ireland’s spirits industry continues to go from strength to strength, with the value of spirits exports from Ireland increasing by 10.2% between 2017 and 2018, from €916m to over €1 billion. “We also have a dynamic domestic spirits market, driven by the growing popularity of premium spirits products like Irish whiskey and gin,” he added. He said the organisation wants to continue to drive this growth, but he cautioned that there are a number of imminent issues ahead, including tariffs and Brexit.

Thanks again for reading our Irish Whiskey News.

Andrew

The Whiskey Experts

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

Irish Whiskey News – Dec 5 – 2019

This week our Irish Whiskey News features articles on Irish whiskey being in danger of US tariffs and Irish Distillers to lead premium whiskey growth in 2020.

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

Irish Whiskey News - Dec 5 - 2019 - Irish Whiskey Tariffs

Fears that Irish whiskey could be hit by new US tariffs

There are fresh fears that Irish whiskey could be hit by new US tariffs. In October, it was announced that a range of goods from the EU were to be subjected to US duties including Irish butter, cheese, liqueurs and pork products. Irish whiskey made in Northern Ireland was on the list of goods but whiskey made in the Republic of Ireland was spared.

Now however, there are growing concerns that Irish whiskey could be affected. The tariffs were announced in retaliation for EU aircraft subsidies but last night the World Trade Organization said Europe had not complied with obligations to remove subsidies to Airbus. In response, the office of the US Trade Representative said it is considering increasing the tariff rates and subjecting additional EU products to the tariffs.

In a letter to members, the Irish Whiskey Association said it was a worrying development and that the threat of tariffs has now escalated. The head of the Irish Whiskey Association, William Lavelle, wrote: “We will continue to monitor the situation and to lobby accordingly.” The EU is pushing for tariffs of around $10 billion on US goods in a parallel process to be decided by the WTO early next year.

Irish Whiskey News - Dec 5 - 2019 - Irish Whiskey futures

Irish Distillers vows to lead premium Irish whiskey growth in 2020

Speaking to The Spirits Business this week Conor McQuaid said Irish Distillers has seen growth across its prestige ranges this year, including Redbreast and the Spot range, and expects a greater demand for premium and super-premium products next year – particularly from the millennial generation.

“What we can say at this stage, though, is that we very much expect to see premiumisation continue to drive the category in 2020, building on the growth we have seen across our prestige ranges this year (+25%), led by Redbreast (+25%) and the Spot range (+40%). “This reflects the increase in consumer appetite, particularly among millennials, for premium and super-premium Irish whiskeys.”

One of the biggest challenges facing Irish Distillers is ensuring production capacity can match the growth of the firm’s whiskey brands. The company has invested more than €400 million (US$440m) in its Midleton Distillery, Dungourney maturation site and bottling plant in Dublin since 2012 in an effort to keep pace with growing demand. “This approach continues; we are laying down stock that will be used decades from now, as we anticipate even greater growth in the Irish whiskey market in the future,”

Thanks again for reading our Irish Whiskey News.

Andrew

The Whiskey Experts

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

Irish Whiskey News – Nov 28 – 2019

This week our Irish Whiskey News features articles on Roe & Co Distillery launching a series of Christmas experiences and Jameson Caskmates release a new label design.

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

Irish Whiskey News - Nov 28 - 2019 - Roe and Co Distillery

Get crafty and enjoy cocktails at the Roe & Co Distillery this Christmas

If you’re looking for a fun and different way to meet up with your mates this festive season, then this series of crafty festive workshops will be of interest to you. And they take place in a whiskey distillery, no less. The Roe & Co whiskey distillery in Dublin 8 is set to open its doors for a series of seriously festive workshops. If this is your first time hearing about the brand, Roe & Co is made from the finest hand-selected stocks of Irish malt and grain whiskeys and aged in bourbon casks. It has a signature smoothness of Irish Whiskey and remarkable depth of flavour including Vanilla, Toffee and spiced orchard fruits from its bourbon cask blend.

For €25 you’ll get to take part in one of these seriously fun workshops, enjoy two cocktails and get a free tour of the distillery. The workshops will bring some of Ireland’s most impressive creatives together to get super crafty and inventive. The series of events kicks off on Sunday, December 8 with a wreath-making workshop hosted by The Garden at Powerscourt Townhouse.

Irish Whiskey News - Nov 28 - 2019 - Jameson Caskmates Stout

Jameson makes caskmates labels easier for drinkers to understand

Jameson launched the caskmates series in 2015, but has now given the range’s branding a makeover. The company said it was responding to consumer research in key markets, including US, UK, South Africa and Ireland, which “highlighted a desire for a simplified product proposition. David Quinn, head of whiskey science at Jameson’s Midleton Distillery, said the series is: “a creative experiment that tapped into the growing appetite for Irish whiskey and love of craft beer.”

The main label will now feature a “stronger focus on the varietal edition” and a clearer descriptor of ‘Whiskey Finished in Craft Beer Barrels’ to “celebrate the liquid within” and differentiate the editions from Jameson’s other ranges. Almost 1 million 9L cases have been sold since the range was launched in 2015. The new look Jameson Stout Edition and Jameson IPA Edition, both bottled at 40% ABV, will be shipped to the US from January 2020 and the rest of the world from March 2020.

Thanks again for reading our Irish Whiskey News.

Andrew

The Whiskey Experts

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