Boyle’s Gin: Blackwater wins garden Gold

The Distillery, founded in 2012, is located on the banks of the Blackwater River in County Waterford with the company rapidly expanding through the launch of products such as Boyle’s Gin, Blackwater No 5 – a London dry gin, Woulfe’s Irish Vodka and the limited-edition Barry’s Tea-Infused Gin. In 2018, it became Ireland’s 21^st whiskey distillery.
At this year’s Bloom the Blackwater Gin garden was one of 22 show gardens nominated for the Best Medium Size Garden. The category celebrates the skill and creativity of Ireland’s garden designers, landscapers and horticulturalists.
The Blackwater Gin garden was designed by Peter Cowell and Monty Richardson and showcases how inventive up-cycling of reclaimed and salvaged materials can lead to the creation of a garden that’s both planet-friendly and lovely to look at.
Over 115,000 people attended Bord Bia’s Bloom festival in Dublin’s Phoenix Park over the June Bank Holiday weekend.
“Bloom 2019 was also a hive of activity for business,” said Bord Bia Chief Executive Tara McCarthy, “Now in its 13^th year Bloom provides Bord Bia with an invaluable opportunity to engage with the public, helping us to build insight and share new ideas while also celebrating and showcasing the best of Ireland’s horticulture, food and drink industry.
“Bloom has a strong track-record of delivering sales and new business for those exhibiting both here onsite and in the key months following the festival. Over 250 UK and Irish food buyers attended Bord Bia’s trade breakfast on Friday for face-to-face meetings with over 100 food and drink companies while we estimate in excess of €10 million was spent onsite.”
To make the annual show happen, a total of 4,000 people worked onsite over the five days including 200 Bord Bia volunteers.
It will take 14 days to clear the Bloom site.
Plans and preparations are already well underway for Bloom 2020 with many show gardens, sponsors and designers already signed-up. Bord Bia has also confirmed that Bloom 2020 will take place from Thursday May 28th to Monday June 1st 2020.

An article from Drinks Industry Ireland
https://www.drinksindustryireland.ie/blackwater-wins-garden-gold/

The House of Camus launches an Irish whiskey

Cognac producer Camus has unveiled a project to make an Irish whiskey, using old cognac barrels with ex-bourbon casks blended and aged on an Irish island.
Lambay whiskey takes its name from the island off the Irish coast near Dublin, which is owned by the Baring family, of Baring Bank fame.
The whiskey was unveiledbut it will be formally launched at the TFWA travel retail/duty free show in Cannes in October. It comprises a blend and a single malt, both 40% abv.
The suggested retail prices are €25-30 and €45-50 respectively.
The young spirit (4YO for the small batch blend and 7YO for the unpeated single malt) comes from West Cork Distillers. Camus master blender Patrick Leger, then blends the whiskeys and the casks are left on the island to marry and age.
The company has experienced the effects of a maritime climate on the ageing process through its Île de Ré Fine Island Cognac. Leger said that ageing close to the sea means more alcohol than volume is lost than in a ‘dry’ cellar and apart from possible salty notes, the humidity gives a roundness to the spirit.
Both Camus CEO, Cyril Camus and Leger were at great pains to stress that the whiskey is still “work in progress” but the three-year project is in its “final stages”.
Just as Lambay island is privately owned and strictly by invitation only, both parties see Lambay whiskey as a limited edition, luxury, bespoke product for discerning palates.
Camus said there are no immediate plans to build a distillery on the island but growing barley on the island and using it for distillation is a possible long term plan.

An article from Drinks International by Christian Davis
http://drinksint.com/news/fullstory.php/aid/7241/The_House_of_Camus_launches_an_Irish_whiskey.html

The Pearse Lyons Distillery will Open its Doors to the Public this September (Ireland)

Dublin’s newest addition to a new generation of premium boutique distilleries is the Pearse Lyons Distillery at St. James. Located in the heart of The Liberties in Dublin 8, it will open its doors to the public in September.
The property was acquired by Pearse and Deirdre Lyons in 2013. Deirdre, director of corporate image and design, pointed out that Pearse’s family has strong ties to the area. Originally from Dublin, Pearse holds a Ph.D. in yeast fermentation and was the first Irishman to receive a formal degree in brewing and distilling from the British School of Malting and Brewing. “Five generations on his mother’s side, the Dunnes, traded as coopers — it was in the DNA, if you like”, Deirdre said.
After working for Irish Distillers, he moved to the US in 1977 and in 1999, Pearse purchased the Lexington Brewing and Distilling Company in Kentucky.
He’s now bringing the know-how acquired in Kentucky back to Ireland, and has expressed his interest in becoming part of a whiskey trail in Dublin. Deirdre pointed out that the potential for job creation is “huge” and that the region’s rich distilling history makes it ideal for such initiative.
An investment of over €20 million has been dedicated to this project. “Restoration costs, additional facilities, distillery equipment, artworks and our new glass spire, which we have named The Liberties Lantern, has pushed the cost”, explains Deirdre.
Founder Pearse Lyons added that the new distillery and visitor centre “will showcase the history of distilling in Dublin’s Liberties. Visitors will have the opportunity to witness, smell, taste and learn all about the process of distilling Pearse Irish Whiskey.” They are expecting to host up to 75,000 visitors per year.

An article from The Taste
https://thetaste.ie/wp/pearse-lyons-distillery-opening-september-2017/

Guinness Storehouse announces €16 million expansion plan to double the size of iconic gravity bar

The multi award winning Guinness Storehouse has announced details of a €16 million expansion plan which will see the iconic Gravity Bar double in size. With its spectacular unparalleled panoramic 360 degree views, Dublin’s highest bar has proven to be a highlight for the 16.5 million people who have visited the Guinness Storehouse since it opened in 2000.

Upon completion, the expansion will enhance the visitor experience, allowing the Guinness Storehouse to continue to provide a world-class tourism product, providing visitors with an immersive experience and a warm welcome to the ‘Home of Guinness’. Subject to planning permission, it is hoped that construction will commence in 2018 and that the newly enhanced Gravity Bar will welcome visitors by 2019.

An Press Release from Diageo
https://www.diageo.com/en/news-and-media/features/guinness-storehouse-announces-16-million-expansion-plan-to-double-the-size-of-iconic-gravity-bar/