Work begins on Ireland’s Walsh Whiskey Distillery
Work has begun on the €25 million Walsh Whiskey Distillery in County Carlow, Ireland, which will produce 500,000 cases of Irish whiskey a year.
The Walsh Whiskey Distillery is expected to begin production in early 2016The distillery, located on an 18th century estate in Royal Oak, will comprise of both pot and column stills to create Irish single pot still, single malt and grain whiskey.
Upon completion in early 2016, Walsh Whiskey Distillery will have the capacity to produce two million litres of pure alcohol (LPA) a year, or six million bottles of whiskey.
The site will also feature two maturation houses with capacity for 60,000 barrels plus a visitors’ centre, which is hoped to welcome 75,000 tourists by 2021.
Distillery founders Bernard and Rosemary Walsh, who own The Irishman and Writers Tears brands, are to turn the sod at the site today.
“This is a very significant day for everyone associated with Walsh Whiskey and our goal to be recognised as the leading independent distiller of premium, craft, Irish whiskey in the world,” said Bernard Walsh.
“We are now 15 years in business and we are very grateful to the thousands of people across the world that choose our whiskies and also to all of our international partners who make sure that Irishman and Writers Tears are available in 30 countries and growing.”
Walsh Whiskey partnered with Disaronno owner Ilva Saronno on the project, which is expected to expand its global distribution footprint from 30 to 100 countries.
The group has made several environmental considerations in the design of the distillery, with by-products including draff, pot ale and water from the cooling process, all recycled.
The warehouses will be painted green and have creeper plants trained up the walls, while roadways will be sunken to limit their visibility.
Walsh Whiskey also plans to build an oak arboretum to safeguard the seven species of oak calling the site home.
