This week our Irish Whiskey News features articles on the fascinating story behind Grace O’Malley and two wins for Niche Drinks Ltd.

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

The Fascinating Story Behind Grace O’Malley

When the idea for Grace O’Malley was being hatched four years ago on Clare Island in Mayo, no one realised that that the team would end up including Dave Wood, their International Sales Manager who used to tour manage such major acts as Flogging Molly; Jeff Burns, a Dublin rock ‘n’ roll activist whose managerial stable includes dream poppers Dreaming Of Jupiter; and Hendrick Melle, the Berlin creative who’s written a heavy metal opera about Valhalla with Uwe Fahrenkrog-Petersen, the man who supplied Nena with ’99 Red Balloons’ and most of her other mega Euro hits. Add in the song that we all loved singing in school, ‘Óro Sé do bheatha abhaile’, being adopted as the Grace O’Malley anthem, and you have a dram with serious music credentials.

“Rather than being planned, it was just a case of like-minded people finding each other,” reflects Hendrick Melle as we sit down for a dram. “If you’re passionate about music, you’re going to be passionate about the other finer things in life” For those of you who aren’t up on your Irish pirate queen history – tsk! – Grace O’Malley was born in 1530 of noble Connacht stock. Married at the tender age of 16 to a man known as Donal The Battle, she was forced to take to the high seas in order to provide for her people.

Gold and silver for Derry’s Quiet Man range

Niche Drinks in Northern Ireland has won gold and silver for its Quiet Man single malts at the Irish Whiskey Masters, international competition and part of the Whisky Masters writes Sam Butler. Based in Derry, Niche Drinks gained gold for its Quiet Man eight-year-old single malt in the Single Malt category and silver for its 12-year old single malt in Single Malt Premium. The competition is organised by the international business magazine

The Quiet Man range was developed by Niche Drinks a longstanding specialist in cream liqueurs. The company is owned by Luxco, Inc of St Louis Missouri which distributes worldwide. Global sales of Irish whiskey have soared by more than 300 per cent in the past decade, according to the Department for International Trade. Distilleries in Northern Ireland were singled out as being an important factor in boosting the category’s growth earlier this year, which the IWA forecasts will hit 12 million nine‐litre cases by 2020.

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 South Africa offering protection for Irish whiskey and Redbreast 12 winning the 2019 World Whisky Trophy.

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

South Africa agrees to protect Irish whiskey

Irish whiskey has been granted legal protection in South Africa, the category’s seventh-largest market by volume. According to the trade body the Irish Whiskey Association (IWA), the registration will give the industry a greater ability to combat fakes. It follows the IWA’s success in securing a certification mark for Irish whiskey in Australia in February this year.

In South Africa, 4.43 million bottles of Irish whiskey were sold in 2017 – an increase of 4.5% on the previous year. “The registration of Irish whiskey as a certification mark in South Africa is another major achievement in our efforts to protect the integrity of Irish whiskey worldwide,” said Carleen Madigan, IWA’s legal advisor. “Legal protection in such an important market forms the solid foundation on which the industry’s success is built. This will ensure Irish whiskey maximises its potential and maintains its growth trajectory.

“This year, the Irish whiskey industry has trebled its investment in the protection work of the IWA. “This has enabled us to significantly expand our remit in securing the recognition and protection for Irish whiskeys in important export markets, like South Africa and Australia.” Irish whiskey is protected in 46 countries globally, with more applications pending.

Redbreast Takes Home World Whisky Trophy

Redbreast 12-Year-Old Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey has taken home the World Whisky Trophy at the International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC). The competition awarded Redbreast 12 Year Old with its highest honour across Irish, American and Japanese whiskeys after it scored an impressive 98 points. Also honoured were Midleton Very Rare Barry Crockett Legacy and Jameson Cooper’s Croze, with 98 points.

Success at the IWSC parallels stand-out performances for the Midleton portfolio at the Beverage Testing Institute, with both Jameson Bow Street 18 Years Cask Strength and Redbreast 21-Year-Old receiving platinum medals, the BTI’s most prestigious award. Irish Distillers also took home 27 medals out of the 67 medals on offer at The Irish Whiskey Masters, with 16 gold medals and 7 Masters awarded across the range.

Commenting on the recent accolades, Billy Leighton, Redbreast Master Blender at Midleton Distillery, said: “We are thrilled to see more fantastic results at such prestigious global spirits tasting competitions. It is great to see the Redbreast range flourish as it continues to excite consumers with its exemplary single pot still Irish whiskey style. These awards are truly a testament to the craftsmen at Midleton Distillery who assist me in blending the finest Irish whiskeys in the world, and we look forward to seeing what the future holds!”

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