Whiskey aims to challenge Jameson in US

AN IRISH-BORN entrepreneur has chosen today, St Patrick’s Day, for the launch of a “big kick” whiskey he hopes will eventually take America by storm.

Kieran Folliard, who owns a pub-restaurant chain in Minneapolis that employs more than 300, has been selling so much Irish whiskey — mostly Jameson — over the years that he decided to begin selling his own brand.

The brand, imported from Ireland and bottled in the States, is known as “2 Gingers”. It features two flaming redheads on the bottle label.

Mr Folliard, who emigrated from Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo, in the 1970s, is confident that his whiskey, manufactured by Cooley (Dundalk), one of the last independent distilleries in Ireland, can compete with Jameson, a legendary brand in the US.

“Our new brand is smooth but has a bigger kick than Jameson,” Mr Folliard said.

“The reaction so far to the new drink has been positive. Our customers are taking to it in large numbers.”

One of Mr Folliard’s Minneapolis pubs, The Local, which is situated on fashionable Nicollet Mall, holds a record for selling more Jameson Irish whiskey than anywhere else in the world.

In 2009, the pub sold 775 cases of Jameson, roughly 25 bottles a day.

“It’s the dream of every Irishman to own a pub,” Mr Folliard said.

“Owning a distillery comes next.”

“We have high hopes for the new brand,” Mr Folliard said, “and we eventually plan to make it available for sale in liquor stores and pubs right across the States.”