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News
Stellar year for whisky
Anybody doubting our claims that this has been a stellar year for Irish whiskey should reconsider after a spate of recent news.
In the last week two new Irish whiskeys have been launched – Tullamore 12 year old and Jameson Select Reserve Black Barrel. Cooley has released a malt version of poi tin. And now Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard, owners of Jameson, has announced a €100 million investment in the expansion of its Midleton Single Distillery, Co.Cork, where Jameson and the Single Pot Still Whiskeys of Midleton are produced.
The investment comes at a time when the distillery is operating at full capacity in order to meet continued, international growing demand for Irish whiskey. As the world’s No 1 Irish whiskey, Jameson is fuelling growth of the category – adding 23% volume growth in Q1 FY 2011/2012 across more than 120 markets*. The brand also reached the three million cases milestone in 2010 – one million of which were sold in the US.
Anna Malmhake, chief executive of Irish Distillers said: “We are very pleased to announce the investment in our distillery at Midleton. This expansion project is a reflection of the international success of Jameson and the great future potential for the brand.
“Jameson is now in its 23rd consecutive year of growth and is experiencing double-digit growth in 40 markets. With this investment, we are confirming Midleton, where the tradition of distilling dates back to 1825, as the global centre of Irish whiskey production.”
The 15-month project begins in 2012 and will create 60 manufacturing and technical jobs, bringing Irish Distillers’ total employees in Ireland to 560, while 250 construction jobs will also arise from the expansion. Midleton’s local community will benefit further, as Irish Distillers is set increase on the 33,000 tonnes of barley it currently sources locally. A series of best practice sustainability projects are also due to reduce energy consumption by 33% and water usage by 20% per litre of alcohol produced.
Earlier this year, Irish Distillers announced a further €100 million investment in a new whiskey maturation facility in Dungourney near Midleton.