14th April 2016
International drinks group Quintessential Brands is pleased to announce the appointment of former Irish Deputy Prime Minister Dick Spring as a non-executive director of Quintessential Brands Ireland. Mr. Spring will assist the company in the development and expansion of its Irish drinks operations which includes a premium portfolio of Irish whiskies and Irish cream liqueurs sold internationally.
His appointment follows Quintessential Brands Ireland’s recent announcement of its €10 million acquisition and investment in the Dublin Whiskey Company. The investment will see it build a new whiskey distillery and visitor experience for its established portfolio of Irish whiskey brands including The Dubliner and The Dublin Liberties.
In 2014 Quintessential Brands Ireland acquired First Ireland Spirits which is Ireland’s leading independent Irish cream liqueur producer with a world class facility in Abbeyleix, Co. Laois where its portfolio of Irish cream liqueurs brands including Feeney’s Irish Cream and O’Mara’s Irish Country Cream are produced. Quintessential Brands Ireland has since invested €4 million in doubling the production capacity of the facility, including introducing a whiskey bottling operation.
Commenting on the appointment, Quintessential Brands’ CEO Warren Scott said, “I am delighted to welcome Dick to the Quintessential Brands Ireland team. His experience and business acumen will be invaluable in helping drive the growth of our Irish spirits business in both Ireland and in international markets. Our goal is to continue to diversify and expand our portfolio of Irish drinks brands and establish ourselves as a leading international player within the global drinks industry.”
Dick Spring joins Quintessential Brands Ireland following a successful political and business career. A former leader of the Irish Labour Party for 15 years, he served three terms as Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) while also holding the posts of Minister for the Environment, Minister for Energy and Minister for Foreign Affairs within the Irish Government.
He currently sits on several boards including FEXCO Holdings, International Development Ireland Ltd., Alder Capital Ltd. and Goodbody Stockbrokers.
He is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin and became a Member of King’s Inns in 1975. He also formerly played Gaelic football and hurling for Co. Kerry and represented Munster and Ireland at rugby.
Commenting Dick Spring said, “I would like to thank Quintessential Brands Ireland for this opportunity. I was drawn by the clear vision Warren and Enzo have for the development of Quintessential Brands Ireland and their commitment to continuing to invest in Ireland and its world class spirits industry.”
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Notes to editors
Quintessential Brands was founded by Enzo Visone, former CEO of Gruppo Campari, and former investment banker, Warren Scott in 2011. In addition to Quintessential Brands Ireland, which includes First Ireland Spirits, the Quintessential Brands Group is made up of the Quintessential Brands Company; G&J Distillers, the world’s oldest gin distiller; Essential Drinks Company, the business-to-business supply division; Marblehead, the UK brand development agency; and L&L, a leading manufacturer of fruit spirits and liqueurs.
The Quintessential Brands Company’s spirits portfolio includes Greenall’s The Original London Dry Gin, BLOOM London Dry Gin, Berkeley Square London Dry Gin, and Opihr Oriental Spiced Gin, which are all produced by G&J Distillers. The company also recently launched Thomas Dakin Small Batch Gin, inspired by the forefather of quality English gin.
Quintessential Brands Ireland’s brand portfolio includes: The Dubliner (Irish Whiskey and Irish Whiskey & Honeycomb Liqueur); The Dublin Liberties (Oak Devil) Irish Whiskey, Feeney’s Irish Cream Liqueur, O’Mara’s Irish Country Cream.
The L&L portfolio includes Alizé Passion Liqueurs, Toussaint Coffee Rum Liqueur and Baron de Clovignac Cognac.
For further information:
Donnchadh O’Neill
Tom Delaney
Gibney Communications
t. (353) 1 661 0402
ABOUT QUINTESSENTIAL BRANDS
Quintessential Brands owns an award-winning portfolio of world-class spirit brands, which is powered by a strong entrepreneurial vision and passion for innovation, backed by centuries of handcrafted distilling expertise.
Quintessential Brands Group was established in 2011 with the acquisition of G&J Distillers, the UK’s foremost gin distillery, which evolved from Thomas Dakin’s original 1761 operation and now produces an unrivalled quality gin selection. In Ireland, Dublin Liberties Distillery is our home of modern Irish whiskeys and First Ireland Spirits in Abbeyleix crafts award-winning Irish creams. Our French hub, L&L France, creates fine French fruit liqueurs, cognacs, brandies and vodka.
For more information, please contact the communications team at Quintessential Brands by e-mail: [email protected]
