Mulholland’s drive to blend something very special in newly acquired distillery

former glory will mirror what they have done with various properties in the USA they purchased.

This approach will be replicated in Hazelwood and already plans are being developed and deep cleaning work on the historic house has already taken place.

Brown explained where they want to go with their Sligo project: “We are one of the largest producers of distilled spirits in the world. We thoroughly enjoy with a passion the making of great spirits. We also have a passion for restoration,” he said. He recalled their purchase in 1992 of the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Kentucky which dates back to pre-American independence.

Following the collapse of the bourbon industry the distillery was in desperate shape but after purchase Sazerac “totally and lovingly restored it” to its former glory and, in tandem with that, the bourbon business has come back into fashion.

In 2021 their visitor centre in Kentucky had 400,000 visitors. “We have been able to take profits we have made from the business and reinvest all of it to further restore the distillery,” he said. Likewise, they bought and restored what’s now known as Sazerac House in New Orleans. This building was also in disrepair but had a particular importance as it was located 400 yards from their original bar in the French Quarter.

They bought the original bar for about $5m but it has taken $25m to restore the structure of the building. “We have been able to put the building back in as much of its original condition as we could,” he said. Sazerac House will see about 100,000 guests come through the building. An example of how their strategy works in terms of creating employment is evidenced in the increase in the numbers of people employed ‘then and now’ in Buffalo Trace. Originally there were 50 people working for them when they started restoring the Kentucky distillery. That figure now sits at 635, adding “it generates jobs”.

In addition, it also brings in tourists which again is something they envisage happening in Lough Gill. “I have to say in our wildest imagination we did not think we would be so lucky as to find Lough Gill Distillery. It is the combination of a magnificent estate with a very long history coupled with state-of-the-art malt whiskey distilling equipment and such a talented team of people working there. “We could not have scripted it any better, so we have huge passion for the restoration of Hazelwood House, the building of the brand, the expansion of the site, the opportunity to bring guests and visitors to see the surrounding areas, the countryside, the significance of the history, the beauty of the coastline coupled with the art of distilling and making great whiskey is an extremely exciting opportunity,” he said.

He said the project was one of those rare opportunities for a “win, win” situation, adding Sazerac is looking forward to being part of a very exciting future together.

IN tandem with the acquisition of Lough Gill Distillery, the new owners also announced in June that former Bushmills Master Blender, Helen Mulholland, would join the team.

In 2018, Helen became the first woman to be inducted into the International Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame and has recently become the first woman to receive a Chairman’s Award for her outstanding contribution to the development of the Irish whiskey industry. Helen will lead Lough Gill Distillery’s team in the pursuit of crafting and blending what will become Ireland’s luxury single malt whiskey.

She will take responsibility for selection and management of the casks for Athrú single malt whiskey, nurturing the Athrú portfolio of premium aged single malts, as well as new product development. Within the industry, her move to Sazerac was seen as quite a coup for the new owners of Lough Gill Distillery.

Helen took a break from brewing up a storm to talk about why she wanted to be part of the Sazerac team in Sligo:

“When you see the vision and the passion, that is what you want to be involved in, you want to create a brand. I always say when you are creating a whiskey you are working with nature all the time.

“From the moment you come in the gates, when you see the house, you realise you are immersed in nature. It is a magical place and as soon as you see it, you want to become part of it.

“I came on board with the Sazerac team because I saw the vision. I have seen what they have done in other projects, Buffalo Traces is a phenomenal development in New Orleans.

“You judge people by their past and I of course arrived here having looked at their past and how the company develops a project.

“It is about the drive shown by people like Mark Brown, the ambition and working with the community, rebuilding every site to its true potential. It’s not a ‘fly-in, fly-out’ operation, it is a long-term process that is all about quality and that’s why I got involved, that’s why I am here.

“The Irish whiskey industry must continue with and at the very highest quality. We are on this huge trajectory, and it all depends on quality. I think where we are here in Sligo will become one of the leading places for Irish whiskey.”