Irish micro-distillery begins gin production

The first micro-distillery in Waterford, Ireland, in more than 174 years has officially opened and is preparing to distil its first product, Blackwater No 5 Gin.

Blackwater Distillery in Waterford, Ireland, is scheduled to begin production next week

The Blackwater Distillery in Cappoquin is located at the Enterprise Park and is the third micro-distillery to open in Ireland in the last year.

“We have a national distribution operation prepared and waiting and we are looking at all marketing aspects including exports, which I hope will become a big item,” Peter Mulryan, one of four directors of Blackwater Distillery, told the Irish Independent.

“The export market is very important as the Irish market is not that big.”

Distillation of Blackwater No 5 Gin will start next week and the finished product will be initially be sold in select off-licences.

Mulryan explained his passion for the drinks industry stemmed from his father who worked as a chemist in Kiely’s brewery in Waterford and his uncle Peter Mulryan was the master brewer with Anheuser Busch Brewery in St Louis, Missouri.

The firm also has plans to distil whiskey at a later date.

At the end of 2013, Niche Drinks revealed it is to finally begin building its new £15 million distillery and visitors’ centre in Camprise in Q2 2015, nearly two years after planning permission was first approved.