Slane Distillery celebrated a huge milestone this week as their brand new state-of-the-art distillery filled its first barrel at their new location in the iconic setting of Slane Castle.
The new distillery is located on the historic grounds of Slane Castle in the picturesque Boyne Valley. This backdrop is the setting for the inaugural cask from the distillery.
The malt whiskey is made using barley harvested on the Slane Castle Estate, marrying traditional craftsmanship with unique innovation. Slane whiskey goes through a signature triple-casked maturation process that sees it resting in virgin American oak barrels from the Brown-Forman Cooperage.
The working distillery has sustainability at its core, with every element of its design respecting the environment around the building and features a rainwater collection and recycling program. There is also an adjoining visitor centre where members of the public can get a look into the process of making this iconic whiskey.
Alan Buckley, assistant manager of Slane Distillery at Brown-Forman, spoke on the new addition, saying: “This is an important milestone for any new distillery but one we are especially grateful for at Slane Distillery.”
He added: “It’s rare that you get to build a distillery from the ground up, particularly one on grounds as historic at the Slane Castle Estate. That’s part of what makes this first barrel that much more special.”
The new distillery built by Brown-Forman is the first to be built outside the United States and has had an incredible €44 million go into its construction.
Also speaking on the exciting new venture was Alex Conyngham, Slane Irish Whiskey Co-Founder, who said: “This is a very special occasion for my family. We could not have accomplished this much in such a short space of time without the partnership, knowledge, and expertise of Brown-Forman.
He added: “The talented production team at Slane Distillery and the support of the local community in Slane. I am honoured to play a part in bringing whiskey production back to the Boyne Valley.”
For more information on Slane Distillery and to book a tour visit www.slanewhiskey.com
