Cork is set to get its first distillery in almost a century with the news that publican Benny McCabe has lodged plans for a new microbrewery and distillery at the Bodega bar on Cornmarket Street in the city.
Eveningecho.ie reports that the development is part of a major €5.2m revamp to the recently renamed The Old Town Whiskey Bar at Bodega, adding that the microbrewery will make beer for the award-winning range already being produced across the street in Rising Sons.
The new distillery will produce dark rum and the development will create 15 jobs if the planning is improved.
"We hope to begin work in March. At the moment we cannot keep up with demand at (the nearby) Rising Sons and this will give us the extra capacity," McCabe told eveningecho.ie.
"The distillery will be a significant addition and will bring traditional industries back to Cork. Something we need to see more of. We will be making dark rum. Cork historically had strong links through its shipping and naval links with the Caribbean, so we believe it will be a fitting tribute and a popular one."
"There was a time when a lot of distilling was taking place in the city. Having this type of operation in the city centre is a vital addition to Cork.” The microbrewery and distillery will take up the rear third of the Bodega building," he added.
