Green light for Slane Castle Distillery
Slane Castle Whiskey has officially announced the creation of 25 full time jobs at its €12 million whiskey distillery and visitors centre development.
The project, which has been granted planning permission by Meath County
Council, is due to commence construction later this year and will see the regeneration of the estate’s 18th Century stable yards adjacent to the iconic castle.
The development is expected to attract up to 50,000 visitors annually and is scheduled to open for visitors in early 2015.
The 2,000 tonnes of barley grown, malted and milled on the Slane Castle Estate will become a key ingredient in the production of the family owned brand.
The distillery’s first release will be a whiskey blend in 2018 to be followed with a range of traditional, authentic Irish whiskeys including Triple Distilled Single Malt and Pure Pot Still. On opening, visitors will be able to taste the maturing whiskey and purchase whole casks with a range of finishes.
Speaking at Slane Castle earlier today, Alex Mount Charles said: “We are passionate about sustainability and producing handcrafted whiskey from local Irish ingredients - the way an Irish whiskey should be made. The whiskey sector is an excellent growth industry as significant value is added to the finest raw materials which results in a higher value product for international export. “Making whiskey can be viewed as value added farming, something that makes sense to me as a farmer. The country's economic future will benefit from these emerging, indigenous industries that springboard off Ireland’s superior produce, creating more money and jobs here in Ireland”.
Internationally renowned, family owned spirits producer and global distributor, Camus Cognac has been secured as a project co-investor. One of the few remaining independent family owned spirits companies, with a history of craftsmanship and producing top end spirits, their involvement with Slane Castle Whiskey will bring investment and extensive branding and commercial expertise to the venture.
Originally launched in 2009, the award winning Slane Castle Whiskey’s decision to embark on building its own distillery was brought forward when the Cooley Distillery ceased the supply of whiskey for independent operators in 2012.