Walsh Whiskey Distillery has officially opened its €25 million Irish whiskey distillery at Royal Oak, County Carlow in Ireland.
Disaronno and Tia Maria owner Illva Saronno has a 50% share in the Walsh Whiskey Distillery at Royal Oak, which is now distilling The Irishman and Writers Tears whiskies.
At the official opening, Walsh Whiskey Distillery founders Bernard and Rosemary Walsh said whiskey distilling had returned to County Carlow after an absence of more than 200 years.
The Royal Oak distillery is said to be the only independent Irish whiskey distillery producing all three styles of Irish whiskey – pot still, malt and grain from its two production lines using both pot stills and column stills. It is located on an 18th century estate comprising 40 acres of pastoral land.
At full tilt the distillery has the capacity to produce 650,000 cases (two and a half million litres of pure alcohol or eight million bottles) of whiskey annually which is 9.7% of the total Irish whiskey exports in 2014.
The company commenced distilling on Easter Sunday this year and is laying down stocks for release from 2019 onwards after the minimum three year maturation process has been completed.
One of Walsh Whiskey Distillery’s key aims is target new markets in Asia by leveraging Illva Saronnos’ established relationships in the region. The company said it saw “great potential” for Irish whiskey in Asia.
“After 17 years in business, the opening of our own distillery is both the fulfilment of Rosemary and my own dreams and a game changing moment for the company,” commented Bernard Walsh. “We are now in control of our destiny and have the capacity, variety and relationships to play our part in the continued revival of Irish whiskey which is one of this country’s great traditions.”
Illva Saronnno Chief Executive Augusto Reina said: “Illva Saronno is enthusiastic about the opening of Royal Oak and proud of the partnership with Walsh Whiskey Distillery. We look forward to continuing our support in the coming years through our know-how and expertise in the global spirits market.”
Walsh Whiskey Distillery will allocate up to 15% of its annual production to contract sales and has recently sealed its first deal with Altia, a wine and spirits company in the Nordic and Baltic countries.
The distillery at Royal Oak will also include two maturation houses with capacity for 60,000 barrels. Work on these buildings will commence in 2017.
Royal Oak is also designed as a visitor experience and will be open to the public from July. The tours will incorporate the 18th century Holloden House in a few years when renovations are complete. A total of 75,000 ‘whiskey tourists’ are expected to visit annually by 2021.
The Irishman and Writers Tears whiskeys are already sold in 40 countries worldwide.
