IRELAND – Amber Beverage Group (ABG) has unveiled plans to invest US$37.1 million (€35 million) in a new distillery for its Walsh Whiskey brand.
This distillery, located at Dunleckney in Ireland, is set to become one of the largest in its category.
The Walsh Whiskey Distillery will serve as the home for ABG’s renowned whiskeys, Writers’ Tears and The Irishman, which have made their mark in over 50 countries worldwide.
According to the group, the project aims to achieve a production capacity of four million liters of pure alcohol (LPAs) annually, enabling the distillery to lay down substantial quantities of maturing whiskey for the long term.
“This is ABG’s second major investment in the fast-growing Irish whiskey category following our acquisition of Walsh Whiskey and its super-premium Irish whiskey brands, Writers’ Tears and The Irishman, in 2021,” Jekaterina Stuge, CEO of Amber Beverage Group, emphasized.
“In keeping with our growth ambitions as a rapidly growing global spirits company, once commissioned, our distillery will enable ABG to become one of the major global producers of Irish whiskey and to leverage the exceptional growth the category is predicted to continue to experience for the foreseeable future.”
Construction of the distillery is scheduled to commence in the new year, with an estimated duration of 18 months for completion.
Located in County Carlow, by the banks of the River Barrow, the site holds historical significance for drink and food production dating back to the 1700s.
“Our immediate focus will be on producing pot still and single malt whiskeys in traditional copper pots,” Bernard Walsh, founder and managing director of Walsh Whiskey added.
Amber Beverage Group, an independent entity under the ownership of Stoli Group, is known for its diverse portfolio of spirit brands, including Moskovskaya Vodka, Rooster Rojo Tequila, and Cross Keys Gin, among others.
The company produces approximately 17.4 million nine-litre cases and generates an annual revenue of €366 million.
In related news, in USA, distillers are urging for the permanent removal of European Union-imposed tariffs on American whiskey.
The tariffs are set to be reinstated and doubled to 50% on January 1, 2024. Despite ongoing efforts and recent negotiations, no agreement was reached during the US-EU Presidential Summit in Washington DC.
The Distilled Spirits Council of the US (Discus) expressed concern over the potential impact of these tariffs on American whiskey exports to the EU, which have shown signs of recovery since the suspension of tariffs in 2022.
