Irish Whiskey News & Stories

Distillery switches to a 24/7 operation to cater for its growing client base New, longer production times will see Hinch increase its whiskey production from 400,000 to 1m litres of pure alcohol (LPA) per year By Claire Cartmill   County Down’s Hinch Distillery is ramping up its production lines as global and domestic demand for its products surge. The distillery, which also produces the Ninth Wave Gin brand, formerly operated a five-day week model but will now switch to a 24/7 operation to cater for its growing client base. New, longer production times will see Hinch increase its whiskey production from 400,000 to 1m...

A recent report by the Irish Whiskey Association highlights the difficulty facing companies in the industry.  Issues related to access to grain and bottles, rising energy costs, loss of Russian market, and trade/tariff difficulties are a few factors impacting ability to release new products and/or get them in the hands of consumers.  Will we see a continued rise in product pricing in 2023 and/or a scarcity of products? Energy prices, shipping delays affecting Irish whiskey production - report Some 92% of Irish whiskey producers say supply chain delays, as well as rising energy prices and problems with international shipping and...

Fall chill is in the air and some new Irish whiskies available in the USA will help to warm the senses with the use of Peat. Waterford distillery has released two new single malts using Irish grown peat while Sliabh Liag debuted the final single malt in their Legendary Silkie collection. This adds to the list of growing peated Irish whiskey brands including Kilbeggan (Connemara), Teeling (BlackPitts), Two Stacks (Dram in a Can), and many other sourced expressions from Great Northern Distillery. Several new distilleries are currently aging their own peated Irish whiskey which should be available soon. For now,...

Ahead of the IWSA Powerscourt event, here is some news from the distillery.  Their first Irish whiskey release containing their own liquid (the first distilled in County Wicklow in more than a century).   Fercullen Falls September 5, 2022 The launch of Fercullen Falls represents the first whiskey distilled in Wicklow in over 100 years. Fercullen Falls Irish whiskey. It’s a blend of malt and grain whiskeys with a high malt content. The 50/50 blend, the malt whiskey has matured in first fill ex-Bourbon barrels and the grain in a combination of ex-Bourbon and new heavy char Oak casks. “With this...

Ahead of the IWSA Powerscourt Virtual event, here is a good primer to wet your whistle.  Noel Sweeney, Master Distiller, laid down the single malt Irish whiskey residing in the IWSA's first distillery cask.  The following interview provides a nice background to his legendary career. A Chat With Noel Sweeney, Master Distiller for Powerscourt Distillery Ltd. 08/08/2022 Noel Sweeney talks about his distilling career and his role as the Master Distiller for Powerscourt Distillery Ltd. Noel is a globally recognized whiskey expert and international multi-award-winning master. He started distilling in 1978 by making neutral spirits. But he started his career...