Quintessential Brands Acquires The Dublin Whiskey Company

€10 million Euro investment to build distillery and visitor experience in the Liberties area of Dublin 

Dublin – 22 March 2016International drinks group, Quintessential Brands today announced the acquisition of Dublin Whiskey Company as part of a €10 million investment that will see it build a new Dublin whiskey distillery and visitor experience for its established portfolio of Irish whiskey brands including The Dubliner and The Dublin Liberties.  The development will support up to 55 jobs over the next 18 months.  It also announced the appointment of renowned Irish whiskey distiller Darryl McNally as General Manager and Master Distiller of its Irish whiskey operations.

The multi million euro acquisition includes the historic Old Mill Street building in the heart of the Liberties, which was traditionally the centre of whiskey distillation in Dublin.  The site has full planning permission for a distillery and a unique natural spring water source to be used in the process.

This latest investment follows Quintessential Brands Ireland’s acquisition of First Ireland Spirits in 2014 which included its extensive Irish creams and liqueurs brand portfolio and production facility in Abbeyleix, Co Laois, and is part of the Group’s ongoing strategy to grow its brands and operations in Ireland.

In 2015, Quintessential Brands Ireland invested €4 million in doubling the production capacity of First Ireland Spirits, including the introduction of a comprehensive whiskey bottling operation.  It already employs a total of 40 people in Ireland.

Previously, McNally was Operations Manager and Master Distiller at Bushmills Distillery where he worked for 17 years having responsibility for day to day operations, distilling and supply chain and, as Bushmills’ Distiller, for all whiskeys produced.

“I am delighted to have joined Quintessential Brands Ireland and look forward to developing the Dublin Whiskey Company by building a world class distillery in the heart of Dublin with a visitor experience like no other”, said Darryl McNally.

Added Ed O’Flaherty, joint founder of Dublin Whiskey Company “I am delighted with the sale to Quintessential Brands who are going to complete our initial vision for the distillery.  I will continue in the whiskey industry working on my own projects.”

The distillery will employ up to 15 people and up to a further 40 people will be involved in its construction.

The Dubliner Irish Whiskey and The Dublin Liberties Irish Whiskey are already sold in a number of markets including the USA, Ireland and the UK which will soon extend to over 50 countries around the world.

The company’s existing portfolio of Irish whiskey brands includes The Dubliner and The Dublin Liberties which together with Feeney’s Irish Cream and O’Mara’s Irish Country Cream provide Quintessential Brands Ireland with a comprehensive portfolio of Irish spirits. The Irish cream brands are produced by First Ireland Spirits, one of Ireland’s leading spirits & liqueur producers, selling in excess of 1.3 million cases (16 million bottles) to international markets.

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 agency and L&L, a leading manufacturer of fruit spirits and liqueurs.

Quintessential Brands has acquired all voting shares in Dublin Whiskey Company Limited.

The Quintessential Brands Company’s spirits portfolio includes Greenall’s The Original London Dry Gin, BLOOM London Dry Gin, Berkeley Square London Dry Gin, Opihr Oriental Spiced Gin, and Toussaint Coffee Rum Liqueur, 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 core brand portfolio includes:  The Dubliner Irish Whiskey, The Dublin Liberties Irish Whiskey, Feeney’s Irish Cream Liqueur and O’Mara’s Irish Country Cream.

The L&L portfolio includes the global brand Alizé.

www.quintessentialbrands.com

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