Lough Ree Distillery is investing in excess of €5 million in expanding its facilities, with construction of a new distillery and visitor centre set to commence in the coming weeks ahead of an official opening in mid-2019, creating over 20 jobs locally.
Based on the banks of Lough Ree at Lanesborough’s crossing point on the River Shannon, the new distillery's owners assert that it will increase local and international tourism to the area, resulting in upwards of 25,000 visitors by 2023.
When in full production, Lough Ree Distillery will have production capacity for 50,000 cases of premium whiskey and 15,000 cases of gin and other white spirits per annum.
The announcement precedes with the launch official launch of the company's new Sling Shot gin at the Taste of the Lakelands Festival in Lanesborough, Co. Longford, on October 5. The gin is being distilled in a custom-built distillery while construction of the new distillery and visitor centre takes place.
Goal Going Forward
Commenting on the company's investment, Lough Ree Distillery CEO Peter Clancy said, “Lough Ree Distillery is the first distillery to open in Longford in 200 years and the launch of Sling Shot gin is a landmark moment for us and the community of Lanesborough. It marks the first chapter of a new story in the Midlands.
“Over the coming decades, our goal is to produce a range of gin, whiskey, vodka and liqueurs that marry the rich heritage of the local surroundings and local talent in the region with innovation, experimentation and ingenuity. We want to create spirits that are modern, innovative and confident, blending hints of the past with Ireland’s youthful, vibrant flavours.
“When we open our visitor centre in 2019, guests will get a window into a state-of-the-art production process that embraces both modernity and tradition.
“Lough Ree Distillery has entered the market at an opportune moment. The Irish spirits market is in robust health. Irish whiskey is the fastest-growing spirits category in the world. Irish gin sales rose by 44% in 2017 and gin exports trebled to 130,000 cases. We are excited and ambitious to spur on further growth in the Irish market in the years to come.”
© 2018 Hospitality Ireland – your source for the latest industry news. Article by Dave Simpson. Click subscribe to sign up for the Hospitality Ireland print edition.
