Powerscourt Distillery partners with ARI in exclusive Fercullen launch at Dublin and Cork airports

IRELAND. The Powerscourt Distillery has collaborated with ARI to launch the Fercullen 23 Year Old Ruby Port Finish Single Cask at Dublin Airport Duty Free and Cork Airport Duty Free’s The Irish Whiskey Collection stores.

The rare, limited-edition single malt was matured in ex-bourbon barrels for 20 years and finished for a further 33 months in a single ex-Ruby Port cask. Bottled at 52.1%, non-chill filtered and of natural colour, the Irish whiskey has RRPs of €310 duty paid and €295 duty free, with only 301 bottles available until stocks last.

Exclusivity to the fore: (from the left) Powerscourt Distillery Head of Brand John Cashman, ARI Buyer Damien Smith and Powerscourt Distillery Head of Global Sales Ryan Stapleton

Fercullen Irish whiskey is included in the Duty Free Global portfolio of brands in travel retail.

Powerscourt Distillery Master Distiller Paul Corbett described the Fercullen 23 Year Old as “truly exceptional”. “When this liquid was laid down there were only three whiskey distilleries in Ireland,” he added.

Powerscourt Distillery Head of Global Sales Ryan Stapleton commented: “We are delighted to launch this Fercullen 23 Year Old single malt Ruby Port Finish Single Cask with the ARI team at Dublin and Cork Airport Duty Free, a vital global gateway to our international markets.

“ARI has been a strategically important channel for us over the past 18 months, and their whiskey ambassadors hand-selected this exceptional cask during a visit to our distillery. We believe this release exemplifies some of the best Irish whiskey we have to offer.”

ARI Buyer Damien Smith added: “We are thrilled to partner with Fercullen to bring another world exclusive to ‘The Irish Whiskey Collection’ Dublin and Cork Airport Duty Free.”

ARI Deputy Global Buying Manager Tracey Jordan said: “We pride ourselves on showcasing unique product launches and we are particularly excited about this whiskey as the cask was hand-chosen by our whiskey ambassadors, reaffirming our passion and expertise within Irish whiskey.”

Fercullen 23 Year Old Ruby Port Finish Single Cask tasting notes:

  • Nose: Summer notes of strawberry meringue, clotted cream and butterscotch
  • Taste: Layers of strawberry sherbet, toffee sauce with hints of warm oak spice
  • Finish: Long lasting finish of toffee with dried red fruits, dry leather and spice.

Powerscourt Distillery boasts a 20,000sq ft state-of-the-art whiskey distillery in the Old Mill House on Powerscourt Estate in Enniskerry, Ireland.

The distillery allows for both double and triple distillation, with three custom copper pot stills producing a light and fruity style of spirit. On-site warehousing is said to provide ideal conditions for maturation with a variety of barrel types adding flavour and finesse to its whiskeys.

The Powerscourt Distillery Fercullen Irish Whiskey range includes: Fercullen Falls; Fercullen Single Malt; Fercullen 15; Fercullen 21 Year Old; Estate Series 2 ‘The Italian Gardens’ and Estate Series 3 ‘The Gates’.

Fercullen takes its name from the anglicised version of ‘FeraCulann’, Gaelic for the ancient and strategically important lands surrounding Powerscourt Estate. Translated, it stands for ‘Men of Cuala’ or ‘Men of the Wicklow Mountains’.  ✈️

As reported, The Moodie Davitt Report has launched the TREX Awards, designed to champion the critical differentiation that travel retail-exclusive products bring to the channel. Full details will be revealed soon.
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