Tradition vs modernity is the way forward for Ireland’s whiskey industry
The Irish Whiskey Association has pledged assistance to newcomers to the industry with the launch of The Knowledge Still, an assistance and mentoring programme aimed at getting the best out of new brands by imparting the wisdom of veteran distillers.
Print27 September 2018
The historic Midleton Distillery in Co. Cork was the location for a special event hosted by Irish Distillers and the Irish Whiskey Association, at which The Knowledge Still programme was launched. The Knowledge Still is a peer-to-peer mentoring, innovation and support programme aimed at distillers new to the industry.
In the last five years, 16 new distilleries have opened in Ireland and a further 29 are in planning or development stage. During this time, the IWA has worked closely with its member distilleries to provide mentoring and support for new entrants to the market. The Knowledge Still programme is intended to build on this work by offering these newcomers a programme of workshops, seminars and one-to-one support from experienced distillers and industry experts on a range of topics. These topics include best practice distilling, innovation in distilling and blending, and health and safety management.
The overall objective of the programme is to ensure that all whiskey producers, in particular those newcomers to the market, have access to expert knowledge and guidance from experienced mentors within the industry.
At the launch event, William Lavelle, head of the Irish Whiskey Association, said that protecting the high standards of Ireland’s whiskey industry is key to the future success of the category. At the same time, it will be important for innovation to be at the forefront of the work
“Our main goal,” he said, “is to protect and pass on the high-quality standards that have become a hallmark of Irish whiskey. Ireland is already a world leader when it comes to supporting new whiskeys. This structured programme will only further cement this leadership position.”
Lavelle said that Irish whiskey’s growing global customer base can be assured of exciting developments in the Irish whiskey category for years to come.
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