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Roe & Co distillery starts production in Dublin

Diageo has kicked off production at its Roe & Co distillery in Dublin, marking another stage in the capital’s Irish whiskey renaissance.

Roe & Co is Dublin’s fifth distillery

The UK drinks group announced its return to the Irish whiskey category in 2017 with the launch of the Roe & Co brand. Diageo exited Irish whiskey with the sale of Bushmills to Jose Cuervo’s parent company in 2015.

The Roe & Co brand pays homage to George Roe, who is credited with building the golden era of Irish whiskey in the 19th century.

Roe & Co’s €25 million (US$28m) distillery is based in the renovated Guinness Power House in Thomas Street, in Dublin’s historic Liberties district. The distillery will distil 14,000 litres of whiskey in every run, with an annual maximum capacity of 500,000 litres of alcohol. The site has three copper pot stills and can run both double and triple distillation.

The Roe & Co brand and its distillery are being led by an all-female team, including: Gráinne Wafer, global brand director; Caroline Martin, master blender; Lora Hemy, head distiller; Fiona Sheridan, assistant distiller; Tanya Clarke, general manager Reserve and incubation brands; Hayley Millner, marketing manager; and Shannon Green, senior engineering project manager.

“I am proud to be standing here today in one of the most iconic buildings of the Dublin skyline, which has been reimagined and regenerated into this world-class distillery and experience for Roe & Co,” Ivan Menezes, CEO of Diageo, said at the opening of the distillery yesterday (10 June).

“I am proud that we are here because of Diageo’s most valuable assets: its employees. We encourage them to be the best they can, to achieve great things, to be inclusive and diverse.

“We have focussed on gender and today you see the progress we’ve made, because we are here now in this Roe & Co Irish whiskey distillery and experience because of the amazing team of talented women.”

From 21 June, the Roe & Co distillery will welcome guests, who can take part in an “immersive” 75-minute tour. After tracing the rise and fall of Irish whiskey, and learning about the Roe & Co blend, visitors can enjoy cocktails in the Power House Bar, designed by Drinksology.

Roe & Co is the 27th whiskey distillery to open in Ireland, and the fifth to open in Dublin, joining Teeling Whiskey Distillery, Jameson Distillery Bow Street, The Dublin Liberties Distillery and Pearse Lyons Distillery.

Diageo CEO Ivan Menezes with the Roe & Co team

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