Whiskey galore as Irish spirit proves a massive hit overseas

IRISH whiskey producers are in high spirits as exports of the tipple continue to soar around the world.

In the first nine months of the year Ireland exported €412million worth of the spirit – an increase of 14% on the same period last year.

According to the Central Statistics Office, the value of Irish whiskey exports to the US increased by 15.8% in the first nine months of the year, while exports to Canada jumped by 21.5% in the same period. There’s also been a surge in working distilleries in Ireland, with the number increasing from four to 18 in the last few years.

So far this year, the Irish Whiskey Association organised five regional whiskey tourism launches. William Lavelle, head of the Irish Whiskey Association, said there are distilleries in every region of the country. The number of people going to whiskey visitor centres will have trebled by 2025, to 1.9million, and this will deliver enormous investment into communities throughout the country, he said.

The figures were revealed as the first Irish whiskey produced in Connacht in 104 years will come of age this week. The tipple was launched yesterday at the Shed Distillery at the Food Hub in Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim.

The Shed Distillery opened in 2014, and owner PJ Rigney said the company plans to produce 250,000 litres of whiskey every year once the distillery is in full operation.

Next year, the business plans to unveil their new €1.5million visitor centre, which is expected to attract 10,000 visitors in its first year.

One of the measures to improve the industry is the Whiskey Mentoring programme, which involves experienced distillers from whiskey giants such as Bushmills and Irish Distillers sharing knowledge with new distilleries across the country. Plans to develop an all-Ireland whiskey tourism product begin next year.