Irish Distillers has announced the appointment of Deirdre O’Carroll as blender at Midleton Distillery, Co. Cork.
In her new role, O'Carroll will work with master blender Billy Leighton in Midleton Distillery and will be responsible for the development of new and existing blends, marrying together specific and intricate flavours and aromas, ultimately, creating a palette of tastes that make up Irish Distillers’ portfolio of Irish whiskeys, the distiller said.
Deirdre O’Carroll, blender at Irish Distillers explained, “In simple terms, four simple ingredients can make an array of whiskeys; water, yeast, cereal and wooden casks."
"However, it is the sensory aspect, balancing the flavours, is what defines the taste," she added.
She will also be responsible for the management of stock, including cask profile and age profile, as well as laying down stock for future generations.
Engineering And Distiller Programmes
O'Carroll holds a degree in Food Science and Technology from University College Cork and a diploma in Distilling from the Institute of Brewing and Distilling.
She joined Irish Distillers in 2012 as part of the first year of the Jameson Engineering Programme.
According to Irish Distillers, during the two-year programme, O'Carroll gained a solid foundation in the whiskey-making process and upon completion and was appointed as a process technologist.
In this role, she was part of the team involved in the commissioning of the new pot stills in the Garden Stillhouse and the new columns in the Midleton Distillery expansion project.
Billy Leighton, master blender at Midleton Distillery, said, “Deirdre [O'Carroll] was one of the first graduates to join as part of the Graduate Distiller Programme."
"The programme is designed to give graduates ownership of their career aspirations, supported by practical experience and training to help them succeed and Deirdre is a shining example of what success looks like," he added.
Bond Supervisor
Most recently, O'Carroll served as bond supervisor for the distiller.
There are over 1.7 million casks maturing in Midleton, Irish Distillers said.
As a bond supervisor, she helped oversee the filling and emptying of these casks with a wider team of 61 people over a split shift, it added.
© 2021 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Donna Ahern. Click sign up to subscribe to Checkout.
