Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard, which invested €11 million as part of a major redevelopment of the Old Jameson Distillery in Smithfield, Dublin, is aiming for its new-look Jameson brand home to strengthen Ireland’s growing whiskey tourism industry, which currently attracts 600,000 tourists a year.
The distillery, which closed for refurbishment on 31 August, will officially reopen in March 2017. The construction work, led by BRC Imagination Arts; Dublin-based firm TOTP Architects; and Flynn Management & Contractors, employed around 100 people as part of the redevelopment work.
Jean-Christophe Coutures, chairman and CEO of Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard said: “This investment marks an important moment in the history of Jameson in Ireland. We’ve grown up on Bow Street, in the heart of Smithfield, and we’ve always felt privileged to share our home with the world. Since we opened the Old Jameson Distillery visitor experience in 1997, we’ve welcomed over 4 million whiskey lovers through our doors. Now, as the renaissance of Irish whiskey continues at pace following incredible global growth over 25 years, we want to build on our efforts to share the story of Irish whiskey and Jameson around the world. We’ve enlisted the world’s best ‘experience designers’ and complemented that with a 100 per cent Irish contracting team who will work together to deliver on our vision.”
Ray Dempsey, who has been the general manager at the Old Jameson Distillery since its opening, added: “From John Jameson’s brave first steps into this building in 1780, we’ve been focused on his ambition to create unforgettable experiences. When we next open our doors you’re going to see what makes our whiskey loved the world over, with live immersive experiences delivered with the personal touch, helping to bring this story to life. We look forward to welcoming many more whiskey lovers to our Smithfield home when we reopen in March.”
