Irish whiskey distillery raising cash with crowdfunding

Ireland’s Nephin Whiskey Company is hoping to use crowdfunding to raise US$100,000 to fund the development of its new distillery.

Nephin Irish whiskey will eventually be a peated single malt

Located in Connacht, County Mayo, Nephin Distillery will distil peated single malt Irish whiskey, as well as flavoured vodka and gin.

Husband and wife team Paul and Jude Davis expect production to begin at the end of 2015, but are seeking funding for the project in the meantime.

So far the couple have raised over US$10,000 through crowdfunding website indiegogo.com, but still have some way to go to met their target.

Those donating funds to the project will be rewarded with a variety of gifts, including the option to purchase a handmade five-litre mini cask filled with spirit to age at home.

Other items on offer are a 200-litre cask of single malt for US$8,000, which will be stored at the distillery for at least three years.

“The goal of our campaign is to fund the three copper pot stills which will be used to triple distill this unique whiskey,” teh group said on their Indieogo page. “We also hope to find a name for each still so that this campaign becomes an integral part of our founding story.”

Mark Quick, sales director at Nephin, added: “We’re sourcing barley locally, using turf smoke in the malting process and running our own cooperage on site.

“All of that is unique in Ireland today, but centuries ago would have been common in this part of the country.”

Nephin Distillery, which takes its name from the nearby mountains, is the area’s first legal distillery and will bring 18 new jobs to the area.

The campaign can be found online at igg.me/at/nephin