The Irish Whiskey Association (IWA) has congratulated Cork-based Clonakilty Distillery on becoming the 23rd operational Irish whiskey distillery on the island of Ireland.
The new distillery has opened the doors of its visitor centre to the public, which it expects to attract up to 35,000 visitors a year.
The distillery also boasts a gin school and ‘The Whale’s Tail’ bistro.
A Welcome Addition
Head of the Irish Whiskey Association, William Lavelle, welcomed the news that the distillery has commenced producing Irish whiskey.
“It’s a welcome addition to Irish whiskey distilling, as the 23rd operational distillery on the island of Ireland, and the second distillery to commence operations this year,” Lavelle said.
“With its visitor experiences, Clonakilty Distillery also contributes greatly to the Irish whiskey tourism offering along the Wild Atlantic Way.”
Last year saw 923,000 tourists visit Irish whiskey distilleries, a figure that the IWA expects to grow this year.
“Clonakilty Distillery will play a strong role in driving this growth, educating Irish and overseas visitors on the heritage and innovation of today’s booming Irish whiskey industry,” Lavelle added.
© 2019 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Aidan O’Sullivan. Click subscribe to sign up for the Checkout print edition.
