Whiskey to flow at new distilleries

Whiskey to flow at new distilleries

22 May 2013

RAISING a glass to the ancient art of whiskey making will be two new distilleries on the Ards Peninsula — bringing hopes of a much needed economic boost to this part of Down.

Plans for the new distilleries in Kircubbin and Portaferry, also potential tourist attractions, were given the green light by Environment Minister Alex Attwood this week and approved by Ards Council.

The Echlinville Distillery at Kircubbin, granted the first licence to distil spirits in Northern Ireland in over 130 years, will be based at the Grade B1 listed 19th century Echlinville Estate also known as Rubane House. The Portaferry operation will be a micro whiskey distillery on a farm at Ballyhenry House on the Lough Shore Road.

Shane Braniff, the man behind the Feckin Irish Whiskey brand, said he was delighted to get the go ahead for his Echlinville plans, which include a visitors’ centre, restaurant, bar and museum.

“The road ahead is not going to be an easy one for us,” he said. “The competition out there, with all but a few, are large corporations with millions of pounds to spend in marketing and design...but then again we are located on the Ards Peninsula, which boasts a very unique micro climate all of its own and is well suited to the production of whiskey — maybe the most suited location in the whole of Ireland, Scotland and the rest of the UK.

“I do believe this gives us an edge. We have the experience and the skills in place along with some great equipment to produce some of the best tasting whiskeys ever experienced.

“As our experience with Feckin has demonstrated, demand for Irish whiskey is growing strongly in global markets. In fact, Irish whiskey is now the fastest growing brown spirit worldwide. Our plan is to continue with Feckin Irish Whiskey, and then develop a range of drinks that can be sold almost immediately without having to wait the three years for our whiskeys to mature, and finally to develop a premium malt whiskey.

“In addition, we have a long-standing distribution agreement in the US with World Spirits... This gives us access to an established distribution network that covers virtually every state in America”.

Echlinville Distillery has already planted around 100 acres of its own malted barley to be used in its whiskey production. “This is a very unique situation in this industry, giving not only full traceability on raw materials but also reducing the distillery’s carbon foot print,” Mr. Braniff added.

At the Portaferry distillery it is a case of returning home for the man behind the scheme — John Young, who once lived in the area and owns the Loughshore Road property.

Working in Scotland for a number of years, he has some experience of how similar boutique distilleries have worked in Scotland but normally works in the field of biotechnology.

“I have had a fairly diverse background,” he said. “This is a new venture for me and I have received a good bit of support from people here.”

Mr. Young said his aim was to create a speciality product at the Loughshore Road site, such as a pure malt whiskey.

“People want really good malt whiskeys with unique finishes,” he said. “People want a quality product.”

Mr. Young said in the future he hoped to be able to provide facilities for visitors and expand into other lines such as flavoured gins.

“Gin is one of the big growth markets,” he said.

The businessman said he also hoped to see the collaboration between small distilleries in Northern Ireland, as there currently is in Scotland, when it came to promoting their wares.

“We should be able to work together,” he said. “There is room for everybody. There is huge room for growth.”

Due to the three years required for his whiskey to mature in the barrel it will be a while before the Portaferry base is up and running, but Mr. Young said he hoped to employ a small staff.

“I hope it will be a long term asset to this small community, with its name being known around the world,” he said. “I would also like to work alongside Portaferry Regeneration and other Portaferry interest groups.”