Emporia to distribute The Irishman in the UK

Walsh Whiskey Distillery has agreed a distribution partnership with Emporia Brands for its Irish whiskey brand The Irishman in the UK.

James Rackham (left), chairman of Emporia Brands, and Bernard Walsh (right), CEO of Walsh Whiskey Distillery, sign a UK distribution deal for The Irishman

Emporia Brands will handle the range of The Irishman whiskies and liqueurs in the UK, filling a hole in the distributor’s portfolio.

“We have been seeking a premium Irish whiskey to complement our portfolio of high quality spirits for a long time,” said James Rackham, chairman of Emporia Brands.

“Irish Whiskey is one of the fastest growing sectors of the UK spirits market and has a huge potential in the next few years. We are very excited to be working with Bernard Walsh and his colleagues at Walsh Whiskey Distillery.”

It was revealed in October this year that with financial backing from Italian drinks company Illva Saronno Holding, Walsh Whiskey Distillery, previously known as Hot Irishman, would be expanding its business to encompass a new distillery and visitor’s centre, costing €25 million.

Set to be complete in 2016, this expansion will allow Walsh Whiskey Distillers, which previously only bottled its brands, to distill Irish whiskey.

Bernard Walsh, CEO of Walsh Whiskey Distillery, said of this recent distribution agreement: “It is a perfect combination for us to work with, and alongside, Emporia in the UK market.

“They were searching for a high quality premium Irish whiskey and we were seeking a company that had the passion and ambition to grow our brand from the ground up.

“James and his Emporia team share the vision that we have for our brands, and with the demand for Irish whiskey in the UK now at its highest, we are looking forward to great success over the coming years.”

It was announced in March this year that The Irishman would be distributed in Scandinavia through Interbrands Nordic.