Quintessential takes over Irish whiskey distillery

Quintessential Brands has acquired the Dublin Whiskey Company and has taken over the firm’s plans to build a new Irish whiskey distillery in the Irish capital.

Warren Scott (left) and Darryl McNally (right) celebrate Quintessential Brands’ purchase of the Dublin Whiskey Company

The €10 million distillery will produce Quintessential Brands’ The Dublin Liberties and The Dubliner Irish whiskey brands, which are currently distilled at third party sites.

Former Bushmills master distiller Darryl McNally has been appointed general manager and master distiller at the site – Quintessential Brands’ first whisky distillery. The development will support up to 55 jobs over the next 18 months.

Founded in 2012, the Dublin Whiskey Company was granted permission to build a 25,000 square feet distillery at a 300-year-old site in Dublin’s Old Mill Street almost two years ago.

As part of the deal, Quintessential Brands has acquired the historic site based in the Liberties, which was traditionally the centre of whiskey distillation in Dublin. The distillery will also feature a “visitor experience” and “unique natural spring water source”.

“The addition of the Dublin Whiskey Company paves the way for us to create an Irish whiskey distillery and a home for our Irish whiskey brands in the famous Liberties area of Dublin which will allow us to further develop our Irish whiskey portfolio and become a leader in Irish spirits,” said Warren Scott, CEO of Quintessential Brands.

“I am pleased to also announce the appointment of Darryl McNally as our master distiller. With his experience creating Irish whiskey and managing one of Ireland’s leading distilleries, he brings extensive knowledge and expertise to the Dublin Whiskey Company which will help us create a dynamic, brand-led business with a working distillery at its heart.”

The deal is part of Quintessential Brands’ plans to expand its spirits portfolio and operations in Ireland and follows the group’s 2014 acquisition of First Ireland Spirits Company, including its portfolio of Irish creams, liqueurs and production facility in Abbeyleix, Co Laois.

In 2015, Quintessential invested €4m in expanding First Ireland Spirits and more than double production at Abbeyleix to two million cases. At the time, the group admitted it was considering further acquisition opportunities in Ireland.

The Dublin Whiskey Company distillery will produce single malt Irish whiskey and is set to commence distillation at the end of summer 2017. Once open, the distillery will employ 15 people, while a further 40 people will be involved in its construction.

“This is a long-term strategy for our business and we shall be investing €10 million in our Irish whiskey operations, including the distillery and maturation of stock,” continued Scott.

“Through First Ireland Spirits we have been in the whiskey business since 1994 and now we are set to take this to an entirely new level. We plan to become a leading player in the Irish spirits industry with an award-winning and exciting portfolio of brands selling half a million bottles globally.”

Ed O’Flaherty, one of the founders of the Dublin Whiskey Company, said he is “delighted” Quintessential is going to complete the Dublin Whiskey Company’s “initial vision” for the distillery and said he will continue to work in the whiskey sector.