IRELAND. Amber Beverage Group (ABG) has announced plans to invest up to €35 million in the construction of a major Irish whiskey distillery.
The new Walsh Whiskey Distillery at Dunleckney will become brand home to ABG’s two super-premium whiskeys, Writers’ Tears and The Irishman. As reported, ABG acquired Irish whiskey company Walsh Whiskey for an undisclosed sum in 2021.
ABG expects the new distillery to reach a production capacity of 4 million litres of alcohol (LPA) annually, facilitating the company’s plans to lay down significant reserves of maturing whiskey over the long-term.
The investment underpins ABG’s commitment to becoming a major producer in the global Irish whiskey market, which reached US$4.7 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow to US$7.5 billion by 2028. The category is forecast to have a growth rate (CAGR) of +7.44% over the period 2023-2028.
Subject to planning approval, the new Walsh Whiskey Distillery at Dunleckney will be located on an historic 18th Century site by the banks of the River Barrow in County Carlow, around an hour from Ireland’s capital city, Dublin.
Construction is due to start in late 2024. The process is expected to take around 18 months, with the distillery set to be commissioned in 2026.
Amber Beverage Group CEO Jekaterina Stuge said: “This is ABG’s second major investment in the fast-growing Irish whiskey category following our acquisition of Walsh Whiskey and its super-premium Irish whiskey brands, Writers’ Tears and The Irishman, in 2021.
“In keeping with our growth ambitions as a rapidly growing global spirits company, once commissioned our distillery will enable ABG to become one of the major global producers of Irish whiskey and to leverage the exceptional growth the category is predicted to continue to experience for the foreseeable future.
“We will preserve the heritage of the historic site at Dunleckney, while introducing high-end production capabilities, married with a modern design to excite the senses of visitors to what will become a leading distillery and brand home for our whiskeys.”
Walsh Whiskey Founder and Managing Director Bernard Walsh said: “Located in the heart of Ireland’s barley growing region, with its own supply of natural water, the 18th Century riverside location of Dunleckney has been a special location for producing drink and food since the 1700s.
“Milled corn, beer, and malted grain have all been produced at this site, so whiskey is a natural progression. Our immediate focus will be on producing pot still and single malt whiskeys in traditional copper pots.” 
