The Amber Beverage Group, has announced plans to become one
of the major global producers of Irish whiskey, by investing up to €35 million
in the construction of one of the largest distilleries in the category.
Walsh Whiskey Distillery at Dunleckney, which will become the
brand home for its multi-award-winning Writers’ Tears and The Irishman
whiskey brands, will be located on a historic 18th century site by the banks of
the River Barrow in County Carlow.
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| The new planned Walsh Whiskey Distillery site at Dunleckney |
The former maltings at Dunleckney is said to be one of the finest examples of industrial heritage in Ireland’s south-east region. The site of a corn mill in the 1700s, and a water-powered brewery in the early 1800s, it was redeveloped as malthouses in the 1860s.
The new distillery which will have a production capacity of
4 million LPAs annually, is also planning to lay down significant reserves of
maturing whiskey over the long term.
The investment underpins Amber Beverage Group’s commitment
to becoming a major producer in the global Irish whiskey market, which reached
US$4.7 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow to US$7.5 billion by 2028.
Commenting on the news, Jekaterina Stuge, CEO Of Amber
Beverage Group, said: “This is ABG’s second major investment in the
fast-growing Irish whiskey category following our acquisition of Walsh Whiskey
and its super-premium Irish whiskey brands, Writers’ Tears and The Irishman, in
2021. We will preserve the heritage of the historic site at Dunleckney, while
introducing high-end production capabilities, married with a modern design to
excite the senses of visitors to what will become a leading distillery and
brand home for our whiskeys.”
Bernard Walsh, Founder and Managing Director of Walsh
Whiskey, added: “Located in the heart of Ireland’s barley growing region, with
its own supply of natural water, the 18th century riverside location of
Dunleckney has been a special location for producing drink and food since the
1700s. Milled corn, beer, and malted grain have all been produced at this site,
so whiskey is a natural progression. Our immediate focus will be on producing
pot still and single malt whiskeys in traditional copper pots.”
Subject to planning permission, construction at Dunleckney will
commence in late 2024, with the commissioning of the distillery expected to
happen in 2026.
Posted by Steve Rush