Irish Distillers
Encyclopedia
Irish Distillers is a subsidiary of the French drinks conglomerate Pernod-Ricard S.A.. It was acquired in 1988 in a friendly takeover.
, John Jameson & Son
and the Cork Distillery Company.
In an attempt to reverse the decline in Irish whiskey sales, the board of directors decided to close the existing distilleries in Cork and Dublin, and to consolidate production at a new purpose-built facility. A site alongside the existing distillery in Midleton
, Co. Cork
was chosen as the location for the new distillery, as there was no room for expansion in Dublin.
In 1972, Bushmills
, the only other whiskey distillery in Ireland
at the time, joined the group. This gave Irish Distillers control over all whiskey production on the island of Ireland.
In July 1975 production ceased at the old Midleton distillery and began in the morning at the new Midleton complex
. The old distillery has since reopened as a visitors' centre.
Following an early unsolicited takeover offer by GrandMet, Allied-Lyons and Guinness, Irish distillers was taken over by Pernod Ricard
in June 1988.
In 2005, Bushmills
was sold to rival drinks giant Diageo
for £200 million.
Also produced are:
History
Irish Distillers Group was formed in 1966, when a merger took place between Irish whiskey distillers John Power & SonPowers (whiskey)
Powers Gold Label is a brand of Irish whiskey. Originally a pure pot still whiskey, it is now produced from a blend of pot still and grain whiskey. It is the most popular Irish whiskey sold in Ireland, selling over 6 million measures per annum. - History :...
, John Jameson & Son
Jameson Irish Whiskey
Jameson is a single distillery Irish whiskey produced by a division of the French distiller Pernod Ricard. Jameson is similar in its adherence to the single distillery principle to the single malt tradition, but Jameson combines malted barley with unmalted or "green" barley...
and the Cork Distillery Company.
In an attempt to reverse the decline in Irish whiskey sales, the board of directors decided to close the existing distilleries in Cork and Dublin, and to consolidate production at a new purpose-built facility. A site alongside the existing distillery in Midleton
Midleton
Midleton, historically Middleton , is a town in south-eastern County Cork, Ireland. It lies some 22 km east of Cork City on the Owenacurra River and the N25 road, which connects Cork to the port of Rosslare...
, Co. Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
was chosen as the location for the new distillery, as there was no room for expansion in Dublin.
In 1972, Bushmills
Old Bushmills Distillery
The Old Bushmills Distillery is a distillery in Bushmills, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is owned and operated by Diageo plc of London, England, and is a popular tourist attraction, with around 110,000 visitors per year...
, the only other whiskey distillery in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
at the time, joined the group. This gave Irish Distillers control over all whiskey production on the island of Ireland.
In July 1975 production ceased at the old Midleton distillery and began in the morning at the new Midleton complex
New Midleton Distillery
The Midleton distilleries complex is situated outside Midleton, Co. Cork, Ireland. It is owned by Pernod-Ricard. Located alongside is the Old Midleton Distillery which was established in the early 17th century.-History:...
. The old distillery has since reopened as a visitors' centre.
Following an early unsolicited takeover offer by GrandMet, Allied-Lyons and Guinness, Irish distillers was taken over by Pernod Ricard
Pernod Ricard
Pernod Ricard is a French company that produces distilled beverages. The company's eponymous products, Pernod Anise and Ricard Pastis, are both anise-flavoured liqueurs and are often referred to simply as Pernod or Ricard...
in June 1988.
In 2005, Bushmills
Old Bushmills Distillery
The Old Bushmills Distillery is a distillery in Bushmills, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is owned and operated by Diageo plc of London, England, and is a popular tourist attraction, with around 110,000 visitors per year...
was sold to rival drinks giant Diageo
Diageo
Diageo plc is a global alcoholic beverages company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest producer of spirits and a major producer of beer and wine....
for £200 million.
Products
- Jameson WhiskeyJameson Irish WhiskeyJameson is a single distillery Irish whiskey produced by a division of the French distiller Pernod Ricard. Jameson is similar in its adherence to the single distillery principle to the single malt tradition, but Jameson combines malted barley with unmalted or "green" barley...
- Powers WhiskeyPowers (whiskey)Powers Gold Label is a brand of Irish whiskey. Originally a pure pot still whiskey, it is now produced from a blend of pot still and grain whiskey. It is the most popular Irish whiskey sold in Ireland, selling over 6 million measures per annum. - History :...
- Paddy WhiskeyPaddy WhiskeyPaddy Whiskey is a brand of 80-proof blended Irish whiskey produced in Cork, Ireland, by the company Irish Distillers. The brand is Ireland's third best selling whiskey.-History:...
- Redbreast WhiskeyRedbreast (whiskey)Redbreast is a pure pot still whiskey Irish Whiskey. The only consistently available expression is a 12-year although a 15 year old expression was released in 2010 as an ongoing bottling. Redbreast comes in a green bottle and the 12 year old is 40.0% ABV whereas the 15 year old is at 46% and...
- Midleton VR WhiskeyMidleton Very RareMidleton Very Rare is a premium blended Irish whiskey, produced by Irish Distillers at their distillery, in the East Cork town of Midleton, from which it gets its name. Midleton Very Rare is considered by many to be the finest of Irish blended whiskey as well as among the finest Irish whiskeys in...
- Green SpotGreen Spot (whiskey)Green Spot is a pot still distilled Irish whiskey, produced specifically for Mitchell & Son of Dublin, by Irish Distillers at the Midleton Distillery, Cork, Ireland...
exclusively for Michell & Son Wine Merchants
Also produced are:
- Huzzar Vodka
- Cork Dry Gin
See also
- Cooley DistilleryCooley (whiskey)Cooley Distillery is an Irish whiskey distillery, located on the Cooley Peninsula in County Louth. It is the only independent Irish owned distillery in Ireland, converted in 1987 from an older potato alcohol plant by John Teeling....
- New Midleton DistilleryNew Midleton DistilleryThe Midleton distilleries complex is situated outside Midleton, Co. Cork, Ireland. It is owned by Pernod-Ricard. Located alongside is the Old Midleton Distillery which was established in the early 17th century.-History:...
- Old Bushmills DistilleryOld Bushmills DistilleryThe Old Bushmills Distillery is a distillery in Bushmills, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is owned and operated by Diageo plc of London, England, and is a popular tourist attraction, with around 110,000 visitors per year...
- Irish WhiskeyIrish whiskeyIrish whiskey is whiskey made in Ireland.Key regulations defining Irish whiskey and its production are established by the Irish Whiskey Act of 1980, and are relatively simple...