Distillery brings Tullamore Dew production home again

Tullamore Dew’s €35m distillery is a landmark investment that will secure the brand’s production needs for the rest of the century.

The claim was made by William Grant & Sons chief executive, Stella David, at the official opening of the new facility in Co Offaly, which sees production of the second largest Irish whiskey return to its birthplace after a 60-year hiatus.

At the opening, which was attended by Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney, Ms David said the distillery would help secure the strong growth Tullamore Dew has experienced since being bought by William Grant & Sons in 2010.

“It’s an amazing occasion and a major milestone for Tullamore Dew and for Irish whiskey. The brand has grown by 50% since being acquired by William Grant in 2010 and this is a landmark investment in Irish whiskey.

“This new facility will secure our future production demands for the rest of the century as Irish whiskey embarks on its most exciting chapter yet,” said Ms David.

Some 14 permanent employees will work at the distillery initially, bringing the total number employed by the company in the town to 25, and roughly 100 nationwide.

The facility, which has been deliberately oversized to allow for future growth, is expected to help bring Tullamore Dew to long- term double digit growth as it takes advantage of the resurgence in popularity of Irish whiskey.

It is also the first new distillery constructed on a greenfield site in Ireland in over 100 years and is capable of producing 1.5m cases of whiskey annually.

Speaking at the distillery in Clonmich, just outside Tullamore, Mr Coveney said: “Irish whiskey is a star of the Irish food and drink industry and the fastest growing spirit on world markets... Government is committed to protecting the reputation and identity of Irish whiskey, produced by an industry committed to working together to further expand exports of a sustainable, quality, uniquely Irish product.”

Demand for Irish whiskey is particularly strong in North America, where sales have grown 400% since 2002 and 22.5% in the last year.