UNIQUE EXPERIENCE FOR THOSE WHO ENJOY THEIR CO MEATH WHISKEY
SLANE Distillery – home of Slane Whiskey – opened to the public on September 2.
Bringing together the whiskey leadership and barrel-raising art of Brown-Forman, founded by the Brown family from Kentucky in 1870, and the historic lands and heritage of the Conyngham family, resident in Slane since 1703, Slane Distillery is the shared vision of these two families, and is the first distillery Brown-Forman has built outside of the US.
Lawson Whiting, Brown-Forman Executive Vice President and Chief Brands & Strategy Officer, Henry Conyngham, the Eighth Marquess Conyngham of Slane Castle, and his son Alex Conyngham welcomed guests to the opening evening’s celebrations, where tours of the new visitor experience and tastings of Slane Irish Whiskey were available.
“Brown-Forman brands are founded onn heritage, quality and authenticity, and theree isnowhereisnowhere as real as this beautiful and historic part of Ireland,” said Lawson Whiting, Brown-Forman executive vice president and chief brands & strategy officer.
“This is a great coming together of two historic families – the Browns of Kentucky and the Conynghams of Slane. Opening the doors to the distillery gives visitors an insight into how and why this new Irish whiskey brand has developed,” said Henry Conyngham, the Eighth Marquess Conyngham of Slane Castle.
“As Slane Distillery, and the home of our Slane Irish Whiskey, gets ready to open its doors to the public, it is uplifting and inspiring to see our shared vision of having a distillery become a reality,” said Alex Conyngham.
Other Brown-Forman guests included John Hudson, VP, Innovation Director and Eric Donninger, VP Director of Homeplace Operations, who met and mingled with many of the country’s tourism industry leaders and partners, local business owners and key hospitality, tourism, bar and hotel players.
Guests enjoyed delicious canapés designed by leading gourmet caterer, Eunice Power, showcasing ingredients from the lush Boyne Valley in which Slane Distillery is set, including Slane Whiskey-cured salmon on blinis with award-winning Lannleire Honey, mustard and dill, Tullyard Farm black pudding croquettes with Lakeshore mustard cream, sliders from The Farmer’s Daughter,
Iona Farm beetroot cakes with cardamom cream, handmade oat cakes with Bellingham Blue and new season pears poached in red wine, and arancini with Boyne Valley blue cheese.
Guests also enjoyed a selection of three cocktails specially created to introduce Slane Irish Whiskey to this discerning group,
including Songs of The Fields named for Slane’s own Francis Ledwidge and his many poems, a cocktail based on Slane Irish Whiskey with elderflower liqueur, fresh lemon juice and mint, topped with hand-pressed apple juice. Also featured was the River Boyne Fizz, inspired by the winding River Boyne that includes Slane Irish Whiskey, honey from the Boyne Valley, fresh lemon juice, served tall and spritzed with tonic water and a refreshing aroma of mint sprig, and the Over Fork Over, a classic-styled cocktail inspired by the Conyngham family’s coat of arms featuring Slane Irish Whiskey, Oloroso sherry, orange bitters, honey, with a pinch of sea salt and zested with fresh orange peel.
Local musicians The Wednesday Gang kept guests entertained with their unique acoustic approach to many genres, followed by the folk’n’roll, harmony-based Morrissey and Marshall as the headline act.
Slane Distillery opened to the public on September 2. The hour-long tour and tasting is available to book 7 days a week on www.slaneirishwhiskey.com and costs €18 for adults (18+, ID required), €11 for youths (6-17), free for children 5 and under, €16 for seniors (65+, ID required) and €16 for students (18+, ID required). Visitors booking a tour must be 18 or over, and children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. All tours are 20% off until 30th September.
Slane Irish Whiskey is available in Ireland now for €33 RRP (750ml). For more information about Slane Distillery and Slane Irish Whiskey, please visit www.slaneirishwhiskey.com. Visit Slane Distillery at www.facebook.com/slanewhiskey, on Twitter @SlaneWhiskey and Instagram @SlaneWhiskey.