THE OLD JAMESON DISTILLERY TO UNDERGO €11 MILLION REDEVELOPMENT

Irish Distillers has announced plans for a €11 million redevelopment of the Old Jameson Distillery in Dublin.

The new look Jameson brand home will strengthen Ireland’s growing whiskey tourism industry which currently attracts 600,000 tourists a year. To facilitate the refurbishment, the Old Jameson Distillery will close on August 31st and will officially reopen in March 2017.

Irish Distillers announces €11 million redevelopment of the Old Jameson Distillery

 

Construction work will begin in September and will be led by BRC Imagination Arts; Dublin based Architect firm TOTP Architects and Flynn Management & Contractors with approximately 100 people employed as part of the redevelopment work.

Commenting on the news, Jean-Christophe Coutures, Chairman and CEO of Irish Distillers said: “This investment marks an important moment in the history of Jameson in Ireland. We’ve grown up on Bow Street, in the heart of Smithfield, and we’ve always felt privileged to share our home with the world. Since we opened the Old Jameson Distillery visitor experience in 1997, we’ve welcomed over 4 million whiskey lovers through our doors.”

He went on to say: “Now, as the renaissance of Irish whiskey continues at pace following incredible global growth over 25 years, we want to build on our efforts to share the story of Irish whiskey and Jameson around the world. We’ve enlisted the world’s best ‘experience designers’ and complimented that with a 100 percent Irish contracting team who will work together to deliver on our vision.”

Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard is Ireland’s leading supplier of spirits and wines and producer of some of the world’s most well-known and successful Irish whiskey brands.

Jameson is the world’s fastest-growing Irish whiskey, experiencing 26 years of consecutive growth and hitting sales of 5m cases in 2015. Irish Distillers brands are exported to 130+ markets, with over 50 of those experiencing double- or triple-digit growth.

Posted by Steve Rush

JAMESON RESTRUCTURES ITS PORTFOLIO OF IRISH WHISKEYS

Irish Distillers has announced a new structure for its family of Jameson Irish whiskeys, as part of a re-interpretation of the brand.

The new portfolio, comprised of The Whiskey Makers Series, Heritage Whiskeys and The Deconstructed Series, is said to showcase and celebrate the brand’s rich heritage, whilst driving interest globally in the Irish whiskey category.

Jameson's new Whisky Makers, Heritage and Deconstructed series of Irish whiskeys

The Whiskey Makers Series, sits within the refreshed family and is comprised of three whiskies that celebrate the people behind Jameson and their craft. Created collaboratively by Jameson Head Distiller, Brian Nation; Head Cooper, Ger Buckley; and Head Blender, Billy Leighton, the range gives Midleton’s craftspeople a unique opportunity to shine a light on their individual areas of expertise.

The Heritage range of whiskeys, is a new collection of super-premium Irish Whiskeys that bring to the fore over 200 years of remarkable stories and milestones from the brand’s rich history. Created to better highlight three world-renowned Irish Whiskeys – Jameson Black Barrel, Jameson Crested and Jameson Signature – each expression in the range tells a different story from Jameson’s past.

The Deconstructed Series is a range of super-premium Irish Whiskeys that explores the key flavour notes of the original Jameson Irish Whiskey. Launched in Cannes in October 2015, the expressions – Jameson Bold, Jameson Lively and Jameson Round – are named after three key taste characteristics found within the family’s core expression, amplifying each flavour trait to offer three new drinking experiences.

Commenting on the brand restructure, Daniel Lundberg, Global Brand Director for Jameson, said: “The restructure of the Jameson family is the most significant move in our brand’s recent history. This is an exceptionally exciting development that positions Jameson at the forefront of innovation and advance within the Irish Whiskey category. The family, comprised of The Whiskey Makers Series, the range of Heritage whiskeys and The Deconstructed Series is underpinned by the brand’s people and craft, heritage, taste and fearlessness; in short, the qualities for which Jameson is celebrated throughout the world. Today we finally get to unveil our new family globally and witness Irish Whiskey fans discovering new stories, flavours and experiences from Jameson.”

The Jameson Whiskey Makers and Heritage Whiskey series will be available globally from specialist retailers with RRP’s starting at €36,00. The Jameson Deconstructed series will be available through travel retail with all bottlings in the series retailing for a RRP of €36,00.

Posted by Steve Rush

IRISH DISTILLERS IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH SAZERAC FOR THE SALE OF PADDY IRISH WHISKEY

Irish Distillers has announced that it has entered into exclusive negotiations with Sazerac regarding the sale of its Paddy Irish Whiskey brand.

If successful, the transaction would involve Irish Distillers, an affiliate of Pernod Ricard, continuing to produce Paddy Irish Whiskey at its Midleton Distillery. There would be no impact on jobs at Irish Distillers, with all employees remaining in their current roles under current terms and conditions.

Irish Distillers in negotiations with Sazerac for the sale of Paddy Irish Whiskey

Paddy Irish Whiskey is the 4th largest Irish whiskey brand in the world, selling 200,000 cases in 28 countries worldwide annually. As the Irish whiskey industry is projecting 100% growth by 2020, an acquisition of the Paddy brand by Sazerac would ensure that the brand is positioned for sizeable investment to support its future growth.

Commenting on the news, Anna Malmhake, Chairman and CEO of Irish Distillers, said: “At the heart of everything that Irish Distillers does is a desire to see Irish whiskey grow. This deal with Sazerac, if completed, would allow Irish whiskey’s reputation and footprint to grow further internationally. The proposed deal would ensure that Paddy would continue to be produced with the same love and care by our team in Midleton, Cork.”

The proposed divestment of Paddy Irish Whiskey is in line with the Pernod Ricard strategy to simplify its portfolio for growth and could facilitate, among other things, targeted investment in other key Irish Distillers’ whiskey brands including Jameson and Powers to support continued growth.

Posted by Steve Rush

JAMESON ANNOUNCES THE GLOBAL RELEASE OF ITS COLLABORATIVE CASKMATES BOTTLING

Jameson has announced the global launch of its Caskmates bottling, following a successful limited run in Ireland last year.

Jameson Caskmates (40% ABV) was created by the Midleton Distillery in collaboration with microbrewer, Franciscan Well Brewery in Cork, and is said to offer a new taste experience that will satisfy the appetite of whiskey enthusiasts, Jameson drinkers and craft beer fans.

Jameson announces global release of Caskmates

The Jameson Caskmates story began back in 2013, when Jameson Master Distiller, Brian Nation and Master of Whiskey Science, Dave Quinn, first met Franciscan Well Founder and Head Brewer, Shane Long, in a Cork bar.

The Jameson Masters agreed to loan some Jameson casks to the brewery to discover their influence on Irish stout and when the stout-seasoned barrels were returned to the Midleton Distillery, Dave Quinn re-filled them with Jameson Irish whiskey.

Commenting on the global release, Dave Quinn, Master of Whiskey Science at the Midleton Distillery, said: “When the stout-seasoned Jameson barrels arrived back at Midleton from Franciscan Well, curiosity got the better of us and we experimented by maturing our Jameson Irish whiskey in the casks. We found that after around six months, the perfect balance of flavour was achieved and we couldn’t be happier with the results; Jameson Caskmates retains all the smoothness of triple-distilled Jameson with added cocoa, coffee and butterscotch notes from the stout barrels. We are thrilled that the rest of the world is getting the chance to enjoy this Irish gem!”

Jameson Caskmates will be available globally later this month from specialist retailers for a RRP of €38.99.

Posted by Steve Rush

IRISH DISTILLERS LAUNCHES NEW MICRODISTILLERY

Irish Distillers, has unveiled a new microdistillery in Midleton, which will be a key innovation hub supporting the resurgence of Irish whiskey through experimentation with distillations of new and old styles of Irish whiskey.

The opening of the new facility marks the return to distilling in the Old Midleton buildings for the first time since 1975. An innovative array of whiskeys, featuring a mix of cereals, will be distilled using a manual operation during the first year, while in phase two a microbrewery will be introduced that will enable the microdistillery to craft whiskeys using a wider range of cereals and yeast strains.

Irish Distillers CEO Anna Malmkake and Midleton Microdistillery Distiller Karen Cotter

The first Distiller of the new microdistillery at Midleton has been announced as Karen Cotter, one of eight alumni of the Jameson Graduate Distiller Programme and the only female distiller in Ireland. Karen joined Irish Distillers in 2012 and has been mentored by Midleton Master Distiller, Brian Nation.

Commenting on the news, Anna Malmhake, Chairman and CEO of Irish Distillers, said: “As Jameson continues to underpin the success of the Irish whiskey category, we are looking at new ways of building on our tradition while also forging the future of Irish whiskey. We are delighted with the opening of the Midleton microdistillery which, when fully operational, will produce 400 casks of Irish whiskey per annum, from brewing through to maturation. These will be innovative, small batch expressions that will play a key role in the development of the category.”

She went on to say: “Our Archivist recently uncovered a notebook personally used by John Jameson II in 1826 which he used to take note of special recipes and ingredient mixes used by the original Jameson distillers. The microdistillery will enable us to bring these old Irish whiskeys back to life in the modern era, as well as experiment and innovate with new ingredients mixes.”

The micro distillery will also be a key feature of the Jameson Experience Midleton, which currently welcomes over 410,000 visitors per year.

Irish Distillers is the largest whiskey producer in Ireland and the company behind such brands as Jameson, Powers, Redbreast, Green Spot and Midleton Very Rare.

Posted by Steve Rush

JAMESON TO INSPIRE BARTENDERS WITH ITS OWN BRAND OF BITTERS

Jameson has announced the launch of its own brand of Wild Sloe Berry Bitters, which it has released to encourage bartenders and cocktail enthusiasts around the world to create, serve and enjoy new taste experiences with its world’s leading Irish whiskey.

Unveiled this week at Tales of the Cocktail 2015 in New Orleans, Jameson Wild Sloe Berry Bitters (46% ABV) has been created by the Innovation Team at the Midleton Distillery, headed up by Master of Whiskey Science, David Quinn.

Jameson - Sloe Berry Bitters

At the heart of the bitters is a sloe berry distillate created by Quinn, which has been slowly matured with Jameson Irish Whiskey and a bitters mix including wormwood, gentian and ginseng. Each bottle of Jameson Wild Sloe Berry Bitters is crafted using hand foraged sloes from the shores of Lough Corrib and Lough Mask in Ireland.

Commenting on the launch, Brendan Buckley, Global Innovation and Category Development Director at Irish Distillers, said: “Over the years, the world’s leading bartenders have used Jameson as a key building block in the creation of new cocktail styles and drinking rituals, and we are constantly working to develop exciting new concepts that ignite the creativity of leading mixologists.”

He went on to say: “We are very excited by the launch of Jameson Wild Sloe Berry Bitters as it goes to the heart of what Jameson stands for – authentic, modern Irish produce that creates a great taste experience. We look forward to introducing Jameson Bitters to bartenders around the world in the coming months and seeing the exciting array of Jameson drinks being made available through the on-trade to consumers, who are thirsty for innovation, variety and authenticity.”

Distributed exclusively to key bartenders worldwide, Jameson Bitters have been developed to inspire these professionals to create new and exciting cocktails. The bitters are set to appeal to existing Jameson advocates as well as food and drinks enthusiasts who are looking for a more interesting and rewarding taste experience.

Following its official unveiling this week at Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans, Jameson Wild Sloe Berry Bitters will feature at many of the world’s leading bars show and cocktail festivals throughout the year, including the Moscow Bar Show and London Cocktail Week.

Source: Richmond Towers Communications

JAMESON ANNOUNCES DRINKING BUDDIES COLLABORATION WITH FIVE AMERICAN CRAFT BREWERIES

Jameson Irish whiskey has today announced the next phase of its Drinking Buddies program, highlighting distinct craft beer collaborations with American breweries.

Following on from last year's successful collaboration with KelSo Beer Company of Brooklyn, Jameson is partnering with five local breweries from across the US who exemplify devotion to the spirit of their neighbourhoods and share Jameson's passion for craft & quality in the beer they produce.

Jameson Collaborates with Five Local Craft Breweries across the US
to Create Limited Edition Beers Aged in Jameson Whiskey Barrels

The breweries lined up for the next phase include: Angel City Brewery in Los Angeles, Captain Lawrence Brewing Company in New York, Deep Ellum Brewing Company in Dallas, Great Divide Brewing Company in Denver, and Hilliard's Beer in Seattle.

Jameson invited each brewery to the distillery in Ireland, and then sent them home with Jameson whiskey barrels to create a limited edition beer inspired by both their experience in Ireland, and their own unique neighbourhood.

Commenting on the news, Sona Bajaria, Director of Jameson Irish Whiskey at Pernod Ricard USA, said: "The breweries involved share Jameson's passion for craftsmanship, quality, and creativity. With the creation of these locally brewed Jameson-inspired beers, our goal is to pay homage to the spirit of each brewery's neighbourhood."

Showcased in a video series, being released over the coming weeks on www.jamesonneighborhood.com is the story of each partner brewery in the Drinking Buddies program. From visiting the Jameson distillery in Ireland, to becoming buddies with the whiskey distillers, the series sheds light on each brewer's Drinking Buddies experience.

Source: Pernod Ricard

BOTTLE YOUR OWN WHISKEY FACILITIES LAUNCH AT JAMESON VISITOR CENTRES IN DUBLIN AND CORK

Brian Nation, Master Distiller at The Midleton Distillery, has today marked the launch of new Jameson Bottle Your Own facilities at the Old Jameson Distillery, Dublin, by hand-filling a bottle of a new and rare Jameson Irish Whiskey.

The new initiative, which is also launching at the Jameson Experience Midleton in Cork, invites whiskey fans to personally fill a bottle of Jameson Select Reserve Cask Strength Black Barrel from a live bourbon cask.

Brian Nation, Master Distiller at Midleton - unveiling new Bottle Your Own facility

Visitors can personalise the label by hand with their name, the date and the whiskey’s cask number, before logging their personal details in a Bottle Your Own ledger, becoming a part of the Jameson legend.

The newest member of the Jameson family, Select Reserve Black Barrel (57% - 62% ABV) is a blend of rich, Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey and a rare small batch grain whiskey, which is triple distilled in small quantities just once per year.

The expression is available at its natural cask strength for the first time and exclusively through the Bottle Your Own facilities at the Old Jameson Distillery, Dublin, and the Jameson Experience Midleton in Cork at the cost of €100 per 70cl bottle.

Source: Richmond Towers Communications

PERNOD RICARD ANNOUNCES THE US LAUNCH OF ITS YELLOW SPOT SINGLE POT STILL IRISH WHISKEY

Pernod Ricard has announced the official US release of its award-winning Yellow Spot 12 Year Old single pot still Irish whiskey.

Since its launch in 2012, Yellow Spot has been exclusively available in the UK and other select European countries. It will now join two of Pernod Ricard’s other renowned single pot still whiskies, Redbreast and Green Spot, which entered the US market last year.

Following its European launch in 2012, Yellow Spot single pot still
Irish whiskey is launching in the US

Each batch of Yellow Spot is made from a mash of malted and un-malted barley, which is then triple distilled in traditional copper stills. It is then matured in a combination of American bourbon, Spanish sherry and Spanish Malaga casks.

Yellow Spot was created and sold by Mitchell & Son Wine and Spirit Merchants in Dublin. The Mitchell family was in the whiskey bonding business and sent empty wine, sherry and port casks to the local Jameson distillery, which were filled and returned to the Mitchell's cellar warehouse.

Commenting on the launch, Paul Di Vito, Vice President of Irish and North American Whiskey at Pernod Ricard, said: "Single Pot Still Irish Whiskies are the quintessential style of Irish whiskey and are characterized by full complex flavours. We are thrilled to bring Yellow Spot to American whiskey lovers as Single Pot Stills have become highly desired."

Yellow Spot 12 Year Old single pot still Irish whiskey, will be available across the US during February for a suggested retail price of $99.99.

Source: Pernod Ricard

JAMESON UNVEILS ITS FIFTH ANNUAL LIMITED EDITION BOTTLING AS IT GEARS UP FOR ST. PATRICK'S DAY

Jameson, has unveiled its fifth annual limited edition bottle as it gears up for St. Patrick’s Day 2015. Designed by award-winning, Dublin-based illustrator, Steve Simpson, the bottle forms the flagship of Jameson’s much-anticipated ‘Hello Dublin’ celebrations in Dublin and around the world this March.

Simpson’s innovative design captures the soul, warmth and wit of the city where Jameson was first crafted back in 1780, with captivating imagery of landmarks such as Trinity College and Clery’s clock. The artwork also features real Dubliner phrases on a map of roads to represent the lifeblood of the city: the people and their passion for Dublin. The designer’s story – ‘Wherever I roam, it’s Dublin my heart calls home’ – is a prominent personal touch, reinforcing the high regard in which the city is held.

Jameson's Fifth Annual Limited Edition

The result is an iconic limited edition bottle with stand-out appeal that balances the confident, inclusive and contemporary personality of Jameson with its rich, Dublin heritage. The bottle will be sold in more than 30 markets, demonstrating the global popularity of Jameson with its St. Patrick’s Day campaign and its success in raising the momentum of Irish whiskey around the world.  

Commenting on this years limited edition bottling, Daniel Lundberg, Global Brand Director for Jameson, said: “Jameson is synonymous with its hometown of Dublin – both are steeped in heritage, have infectious, welcoming personalities and are leaders in contemporary craft, so this limited edition bottle is our way of paying homage to this great city. This year’s design successfully captures the synergy between Jameson and Dublin, giving consumers around the world the opportunity to enjoy an authentic St. Patrick’s Day experience wherever they are.”

The new limited edition bottling will be available from March in global travel retail for a RRP of €24.

Source: Richmond Towers Communications

JAMESON UNVEILS NEW LIMITED EDITION SERIES OF PACKAGING

Jameson has unveiled the ‘Good Workers, Great Whiskey’ limited edition carton; a new annual series of packaging innovations celebrating the rich heritage of Jameson.

The ‘Good Workers, Great Whiskey’ carton celebrates the craftspeople at the Midleton Distillery and the key elements of the Jameson production process through an eye-catching, illustrated style with the use of textured paper.

Jameson Good Workers, Great Whiskey

The depiction of the Jameson Barrel Man, which appears on every bottle of Jameson and portrays the distillery’s workers, sits alongside iconography representing Jameson’s use of locally sourced barley, triple distillation method and maturation processes, which have come together to craft Jameson’s world-renowned, smooth taste profile since 1780.

Each addition to the collection will tell a different story inspired by Jameson’s centuries old whiskey making process and the people that make it possible, “The Barrelmen”, offering a unique in-hand, storytelling experience for consumers. The series is the latest piece of innovative marketing from Jameson as it aims to appeal to adventurous spirits drinkers, who are increasingly thirsty for knowledge about the craftsmanship, heritage and provenance of premium spirits.

Commenting on the new packaging, Daniel Lundberg, Global Brand Director for Jameson Irish Whiskey, said: “Jameson represents the benchmark for quality and consistency in the Irish Whiskey category; a vision that was laid down by John Jameson and realised to this day by the hard work, dedication and passion of the generations of workers at Jameson’s Bow St and Midleton Distilleries. Innovation remains at the core of all Jameson’s award-winning marketing activity and the Good Workers, Great Whiskey limited edition carton follows suit by marrying together the stories of our distillery workers and  production techniques through a modern, contemporary design."

The Jameson ‘Good Workers, Great Whiskey’ limited edition bottling is available now worldwide from specialist retailers.

Source: Richmond Tower Communications

JAMESON INTRODUCES CASKMATES

Irish Distillers has announced the release of Jameson Caskmates, an experimental whiskey aged in stout-seasoned barrels, created exclusively by Midleton Distillery in collaboration with the Franciscan Wells Brewery in Cork.

This innovative partnership began in 2013 when the Master Brewer at the Franciscan Well Brewery used seasoned Jameson casks to mature their craft Irish stout. When the oak casks were returned to Midleton, an idea emerged. Truly great whiskeys are shaped by the cask they mature in, so the stout-seasoned casks were refilled with Jameson original blend for finishing.

Jameson Caskmates - limited release of 3,500 bottles

From this final chapter in the Jameson maturation process a new story emerged. Jameson Caskmates was born. The time spent in the stout-seasoned barrels delivers unique notes of coffee, cocoa and hops while still retaining all the triple distilled smoothness of Jameson Original. This whiskey appeals to whiskey lovers, as well as adventurous spirits who appreciate bold and memorable flavours.

Jameson Caskmates is a limited release of just 3,500 bottles, available exclusively in Ireland.

Source: Irish Distillers

IRISH DISTILLERS WELCOMES THE PUBLIC TO THE IRISH WHISKEY ACADEMY

Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard is opening the doors to its acclaimed Irish Whiskey Academy to the general public for the first time, with in-depth courses available to spirits enthusiasts from December this year.

The Irish Whiskey Academy, which was unveiled to the trade in September 2013, aims to improve understanding about the quality and provenance of Irish whiskey by teaching visitors about all aspects of the production process, the flavour profile of the different styles available and the category’s rich and colourful history.

David McCabe leads a class at the Irish Whiskey Academy

A range of courses are available depending on the individual’s level of knowledge, with the first ‘Enthusiasts’ course taking place between 1st – 2nd December 2014. Led by David McCabe, Irish Distillers’ International Whiskey Ambassador and first Academy Tutor, participants will have the opportunity to meet some of the distillery team, learn about brewing, fermentation, distillation and blending, watch a live cooperage demonstration and enjoy a tutored whiskey tasting with one of the production Masters. 

As part of the package, participants will stay in five star accommodation, visit one of the area’s finest restaurants and at the end of the course, they will receive a personalised bottle of Irish whiskey. The two-day course can be booked online at www.irishwhiskeyacademy.com and costs €1,199.

One-day ‘Discoverer’ courses, for those who have minimal knowledge about Irish whiskeys but want to learn more, are available from February 2015 while four-hour afternoon courses are available from November this year. Bookings for all courses can be made online at www.irishwhiskeyacademy.com now.

Courses will be tailored to focus on specific brands within Irish Distillers’ family of whiskeys, which includes Jameson, the world’s favourite Irish whiskey, and the much-acclaimed brands that comprise Irish Distillers’ Prestige Collection, including the Single Pot Still Whiskeys of Midleton such as Green Spot and Redbreast, and the pinnacle of the Prestige Collection, Midleton Very Rare.

David Byrne, Head of Brand Education & Visitor Centres at Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard, said: “After years of planning, we’re delighted to finally be welcoming whiskey fans from around the world to the Irish Whiskey Academy in Midleton, the home of Irish Distillers. As the first of its kind, the Academy heralds a new era of knowledge and understanding of Irish whiskey and we look forward to welcoming people to Midleton and helping them to discover the heritage and unique flavour profile that Irish whiskeys have to offer.”

Simon Fay, International Marketing Director at Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard since July 2014, added: “The opening of the Irish Whiskey Academy represents a proud moment for the Irish Whiskey category, and for Irish Distillers and Pernod Ricard in particular. The company has been largely responsible for the resurgence and dynamic global growth of the Irish whiskey category in the last two decades and we’re fully committed to continuing this growth. The opening of the Irish Whiskey Academy is a clear demonstration of both our confidence in the future of Irish whiskey and our commitment to driving sustainable category growth through investment and innovation, and we’re hopeful that it will prove to be popular with spirits fans and trade professionals alike the world over.”

The Irish Whiskey Academy is the latest initiative from Irish Distillers as it continues its commitment to sustain growth of the Irish whiskey category worldwide.

Source: Richmond Towers Communications