Wednesday, November 22, 2017

IRISH WHISKEY MENTORING EVENT HELD AT MIDLETON DISTILLERY

As part of the Irish Whisky Associations (IWA) mentoring programme, last week 15 Irish whiskey distilleries took part in a landmark event at Irish Distillers’ Midleton Distillery, which saw a number of established global Irish whiskey brands offer support to some of the newer names in the industry.

Participants in the programme were provided with information and guidance on creating the finest quality Irish whiskey. Through practical demonstrations participants were taught the distillation, maturation and blending secrets that have driven Irish whiskey become the fastest growing spirits category in the world.

Jameson Head Cooper Ger Buckley, hosting a cooperage workshop

The workshop on cooperage and maturation aimed to provide new and recent entrants to the Irish whiskey industry with the opportunity to learn first-hand from some of the most experienced craftsmen in the Irish whiskey industry. Elements of the programme included sessions on wood purchasing, the skills of cooperage, cask handling and the principles of maturation and blending.

Commenting on the news, Kevin O’Gorman, Head of Maturation at the Midleton Distillery, said: “Here at Irish Distillers, we’re always eager to work with people who share our passion for Irish whiskey. Over the years, we’ve always gone out of our way to work with anyone who wanted advice or mentoring on whiskey projects and it’s great to be able to collaborate with even more people thanks to the IWA mentoring programme."

He went onto say: "Days like this when we get to share insights into our cooperage and maturation approach allow us all to build the positive culture of collaboration that is so prevalent within the industry. Seeing the passion of those working in the emerging Irish whiskey distilleries first-hand is invigorating and knowing that the future of Irish whiskey is in safe hands is truly inspiring.”

Ireland's whiskey renaissance has seen the number of operational distilleries increase from 4 to 18 in the last four years. The (IWA) says increased competition is very welcome and its mentoring programme is a testament to this solidarity which at its core has a commitment to maintaining the high standards which form part of the rich and long history of Irish whiskey distilling.

Posted by Steve Rush