Chapel Gate Irish whiskey kick starts distribution expansion

Ireland’s first modern whiskey bonder, The Chapel Gate Irish Whiskey Co, has partnered with US-based distribution company CompassPoint as it expands into new markets.

Chapel Gate Irish Whiskey Co is the first modern whiskey bonder in Ireland

The first distribution deal between Chapel Gate and CompassPoint will see its blended Irish whiskey – called JJ Corry, The Gael – launch in the US.

Chapel Gate founder, Louise McGuane, told The Spirits Business: “2018 for us is very much about establishing a route-to-market in the US, the UK and in Ireland, before we open in Germany and Canada.

“Next year, we’ll open in Singapore and in Hong Kong and we’re looking at developing a wider European base as well.”

Chapel Gate’s blended whiskey is made with 5% 26-year-old single malt, 27.5% 11-year-old single malt, 27.5% 15-year-old single malt and the remaining 40% is seven-year-old single grain whiskey.

As the company, which is Ireland’s first modern whiskey bonder, launches its non-chill-filtered blended Irish whiskey into new markets, it will also look to expand its team around the world.

McGuane said: “For every new market and region that we open in, I’ll be hiring another individual. Essentially all my hiring will be for people out in the field, so we will be building upon the team pretty extensively in 2018.”

CompassPoint will distribute 7,500 bottles of JJ Corry, The Gael, which is bottled at 46% abv, and will have an RRP of US$75 when it goes on sale in America.

American wine and spirits importer CompassPoint Imports was founded by Gary Clayton, who has previously worked for Pernod Ricard, and Tom Tesauro, who has spent the last seven years at large volume Massachusetts retail chain Yankee Spirits.