Latest news with #BlackwaterDistillery
Irish Times
11-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Revenue says it backs Scarp process amid criticism of opt-out mechanism
Revenue has reiterated its support for the Small Company Administrative Rescue Process (Scarp) process and said its recently criticised opt-out mechanism was 'reserved strictly for cases involving non‑compliance, audits, or ongoing tax appeals". This comes following an analysis of the Scarp regime published by Azets Ireland, formerly Baker Tilly Ireland, on Tuesday. The analysis found that some 1,314 jobs have been saved through the process since 2021 but recommended the Government consider removing a Revenue opt-out from the scheme. The Scarp process, which has been used in the past year to aide companies such as Waterford's Blackwater Distillery and Scrumdiddly's , is a rescue mechanism for smaller Irish businesses. In effect, an examinership-light process. Established in December 2021, it is designed to facilitate simplified out-of-court debt restructuring for small businesses deemed to be viable at a lower cost and with less bureaucracy than the more familiar examinership scheme. READ MORE Under its present construction, Revenue can exclude tax debts from the scheme if it has concerns about the company, if it has a history of noncompliance. Azets said the Government should consider removing this opt-out at the start of the process, which it said was deterring some businesses from applying for the scheme. 'Notwithstanding the Revenue's positive engagement with the scheme, the ability to opt out is a deterrent to some business owners considering the process,' said Dessie Morrow, partner in advisory and restructuring at Azets Ireland. In a statement on Friday, Revenue said it 'remains a committed participant in the Scarp process'. 'Our opt‑out right is reserved strictly for cases involving non‑compliance, audits, or ongoing tax appeals,' Revenue said. Revenue clarified that it only exercises its opt-out right in two situations. Firstly, in cases in which it cannot quantify the company's debt due to; outstanding returns or other relevant information, an ongoing audit or intervention; or an active tax appeal. Or in cases in which company or its directors have a track record of poor compliance. Since the introduction of the process, of the 99 Scarp applications that have been made, Revenue exercised its op-out right in 19 cases. Revenue referred to commentary noting the opt-out mechanism could deter companies from entering the process but said the only reason a director might be discouraged by the opt-out would be the anticipation of legitimate concerns. 'Businesses that act early, engage openly, and address compliance issues will continue to find Revenue a willing and constructive partner in achieving a successful rescue,' it said.
Irish Independent
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Irish pot still sips to sample at Whiskey Live weekend
Whiskey geeks will be busy honing their list of rarities to hunt down, but the event is also a fun opportunity for newer fans to get to grips with whiskey's different styles. Whether you're attending or not, doing a comparative tasting is a sensory-led way to lock down your understanding — say of the key Irish styles of single pot still, single malt, single grain and blended whiskeys. This can be done at home for the price of a round in a pub. Miniature 5cl bottles (or minis) are widely available in off-licences. Ordering online from the likes of Whiskey Live's organisers Celtic Whiskey Shop will broaden your choices. You could equally conduct your own comparative tasting of one style, such as single pot still. This quintessentially Irish whiskey has close connections to single malt. Both are distilled in traditional copper pot stills, whose rotund bellies and elegant necks were once standard. In the 19th century, Irishman Aeneas Coffey patented his more efficient continuous column still that now produces grain-based whiskeys, vodka and others. The term 'single' means the whiskey has come from one distillery. How they differ is that single malt is made fully from malted barley (heated to trigger germination) whereas single pot still also contains unmalted barley and, potentially, other ingredients like oats, rye or wheat in its mash bill (aka recipe). Single pot still developed in Ireland as a way to avoid late 18th-century tax on malted barley, but became beloved for its distinct spice and oily texture. Books have been written on the style's development and nuances, the bible being historian Fionnán O'Connor's A Glass Apart: Irish Single Pot Still Whiskey. Industry definitions have been written too, and feisty manifestos challenging these: Peter Mulryan of Blackwater Distillery has been doing an erudite, irreverent and ever-entertaining job of interrogating what he sees as the unfairly restrictive industry definitions of the style, which currently only allow up to 5pc of those 'other ingredients'. Each of the distilleries featured here will be pouring at least one pot still whiskey at their Whiskey Live stall and, in some cases, masterclasses. Look out too for old guard examples of single pot still such as Redbreast, Middleton Very Rare and the Spot family and other disruptors such as Killowen Distillery. Whiskeys of the week Blackwater Clashmore 1824 Irish Whisky, Waterford, €95 (50cl), 47pc, limited to 420 bottles A fascinating reimagining of a heritage pot still mash bill from 200 years ago, with 51pc unmalted barley, 24pc oats, 20pc malt and 5pc turf-smoked malt, aged fully in a sherry cask as Irish whiskey often was. Its rich amber hue heralds dark apple syrup, sticky toffee, dates and raisins, with a wisp of turf smoke and a fine spice and pithy bitterness giving grip to that richness. Or try Blackwater's 'experimental pot still' Oaty McOatFace, with nearly one-third oats. The Wine Centre, Celtic Whiskey Shop, James Fox, Micil Earls Island Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey, Galway, €59, 46pc Taking inspiration from old-school Connemara fuisce with delicate hints of turf smoke and coastal iodine character, and from Galway's trade links with a Bordeaux red wine cask finish adding red fruit to candied orchard fruit aromas and earthy notes of leather and beeswax. Selected SuperValus, McCambridge's, Bradleys, Celtic Whiskey Shop, Skellig Triple Cask Single Pot Still, Kerry, €65 (70cl), 43.4pc This award-winning Six18 Step Collection limited release was finished in PX sherry casks and briefly in a peated cask — though you'd hardly know it. Layered and moreish, fresh and earthy, with salinity and spice, orange peel and tropical fruit, heather and hay. Delicious. Molloy's, Celtic Whiskey Shop, The Wine Centre, The Vinyeard Belfast, DrinkStore, Writers' Tears Copper Pot, Carlow, €50 (70cl), 40pc Walsh Whiskey produces a Writers' Tears single pot still, but this is an unusual blend of single pot still and single malt (both produced in copper pot stills) once known as the 'Champagne of Irish whiskey'. Warm and viscous with fresh fruit salad meets vanilla fudge and spicy ginger notes. O'Briens, Mitchells, Celtic Whiskey Shop and independents, Two Stacks Single Pot Still – Double Barrel, Co Down, €60 (70cl), 43pc Finished in ex-American rye casks to embolden the spices, this is punchy with caramel, vanilla, coconut, prunes and marmalade, peppery but softened by wild honey notes and oily creaminess, finishing leafy-fresh. (Dram in a Can, €8, 10cl). Celtic Whiskey Shop, The Wine Centre, Blackrock Cellar,
Irish Times
29-04-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
‘There is hope': Rescue plan approved for Waterford's Blackwater Distillery
'Hopefully, this will be a positive end to the story for everyone', said the co-founder of Blackwater Distillery after a rescue plan was approved following a meeting of the company's creditors with a process adviser at the start of April. Nearly 95 per cent of the company's unsecured debt was written off, a sum of more than €500,000, and extended the repayment periods of other debts, stabilising the Waterford -based whiskey and gin distillery. The company had originally looked to trade through its debts, but that plan was disrupted by the 'oncoming headwinds' of uncertainty in the Irish drinks market caused by US tariffs and the impact of the cost-of-living crisis. 'We also had just got through Covid, Ukraine and the huge effect they had on our supply lines and on the costs of raw materials – prices went up and up and up,' said Peter Mulryan, co-founder and chief executive of Blackwater Distillery. READ MORE 'You come to a point where you go: 'Right, well it doesn't look like trading through this is going to be an option, so, what are our options?' That's where Scarp came in.' The Small Company Administrative Rescue Process (Scarp) is a rescue mechanism for smaller Irish businesses. With just 10 employees and a turnover far below the maximum annual turnover of €12 million, Blackwater Distillery qualified for the process and were found to have a viable business model. The distillery was founded in 2014. 'For the first five or six years the market was pretty buoyant because the gin industry was booming,' Mr Mulryan said. During this time, the company looked to expand into the whiskey industry. Unlike gin, which has a short production time, getting whiskey to market can take 'at least three years but usually four or five or six years'. 'We were moving from being a predominantly gin company to being a predominantly whiskey company, pretty much at the same time as the gin market softened,' he said, noting that cash flows from the company's gin businesses ended up being below its projections. Mr Mulryan explained that the business became 'weighed down by the burden of debt' as it tried to trade its way out of trouble, eventually that was no longer possible. 'Every month, more and more was going out the door to service debt and it got to a point where it became unsustainable.' A process adviser was appointed, Joe Walsh Accountants, and a rescue plan was put in place for the business following a majority vote of its creditors at the start of April. 'The company's unsecured debt was largely written off,' the distillery's chief executive said, explaining the sum was about €500,000 – 'mostly bank debts'. Mr Mulryan said entering the process 'is not something anyone wants to do', noting he and his co-founder Caroline Senior are planning to 'rebuild the relationships' with the businesses that had to take write-offs. Looking forward, Mr Mulryan noted the difficulties facing the drinks industry in Ireland, pointing to the receivership at the nearby Waterford Distillery in November and the recent examinership at Killarney Brewing and Distilling Company. The difficulties are even impacting the larger players in the industry too, he said, with 'many of the big multinational distilleries' stopping production temporarily. 'So that gives you a sense of just how uncertain the future is.' Despite the unpredictable market, Peter Mulryan is 'absolutely hopeful' that his business can thrive again. 'There's plenty of good news for us, and plenty of challenges – but there are always challenges in business!'
Forbes
09-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Six Top Rated Irish Whiskeys, According To The Whiskey Exchange
Shot glass full of Irish whisky with a four leaf clover as a lucky garnish. getty Irish whiskey has been the fastest-growing whiskey category in the world over the past decade. Ireland has over 45 whiskey distilleries, up from just 3 in 1990. Recently, I spoke with Dawn Davies, head buyer at The Whiskey Exchange, the world's largest online whisky vendor, about her top Irish whiskey recommendations. Here are brief descriptions and tasting notes on her six top choices. Boann is a family-owned distillery in County Meath, Ireland. One of their unique creations, the Marsala Cask expression, showcases their innovative cask finishes. The triple-distilled whiskey uses a traditional single pot still mash bill of malted and unmalted barley, oats, and rye, all locally sourced from Irish farms. The spirit is first aged in heavily charred ex-bourbon barrels from Kentucky's Brown-Forman distillery. After the initial maturation, the whiskey is transferred to Superiore and Fine Marsala butts of French oak from the esteemed Cantine de Vinci in Sicily. The Marsala cask finish adds layers of spice and juicy citrus character. The whiskey features subtle spices, resinous bark, and burnt orange aromas, complemented by freshly cut grass and honey notes. It's rich and viscous on the palate with a notable mouth weight. It features sweet marmalade, peppermint, and oak spice notes. The finish is long and flavorful, with a lingering spicy aftertaste of cinnamon and clove notes. Blackwater Distillery, in County Waterford, Ireland, is known for its innovative approach to whiskey production. Its Starburst Spicebag Peated Rye Whiskey is Ireland's first peated rye whiskey. The whiskey's mash bill is 55% rye, 31% malted barley, 9% oats, and 5% peated malt, all sourced and malted within Ireland. The whiskey is matured in a single ex-Ribera del Duero wine cask from Northern Spain. The initial release was limited to 400, 500ml bottles. The whiskey is spice-forward, complemented by rich aromas of seasoned oak, caramel, vanilla, and assorted red berry fruits. It's bold and robust on the palate, featuring vanilla, ginger, cinnamon, caramel, and cooked barley malt flavors, balanced by red wine, peppery spice, and smoky notes. The finish is long and warming, with lingering spice, red fruit notes, and a subtle smokiness. The Starburst Spicebag Peated Rye Whiskey from Blackwater Distillery was awarded 'Best Irish Rye' at the prestigious World Whiskies Awards 2024, a testament to its exceptional quality and unique flavor profile. The Midleton Distillery, County Cork, Munster, Ireland where Green Spot and Redbreast, among other well known Irish whiskey brands are produced. getty The Green Spot Leoville Barton Bordeaux Finished Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey is a unique collaboration between two historic Irish families: the Mitchells, renowned Dublin wine and whiskey merchants, and the Bartons, esteemed Bordeaux winemakers of Château Léoville Barton. This partnership brings together the best of Irish whiskey and French winemaking traditions. This expression, crafted at the Midleton Distillery in County Cork, Ireland, undergoes initial maturation in a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-Oloroso sherry casks for 7 to 10 years. It is then finished for 12 to 24 months in French oak casks previously used to age Château Léoville Barton wine, imparting unique characteristics to the final product. The whisky is aromatic on the nose, featuring delicate, perfumed aromas of honeysuckle, orange blossom, ripe strawberries, and yeasty bread dough. It's light to medium on the palate, featuring honeyed and fruity red berries, vanilla, and spice notes. The finish is long with with lingering sweet fruit and subtle spice notes. The Bushmills 16 YO is an outstanding expression from the Old Bushmills Distillery in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The triple distilled whiskey is aged for approximately 15 years in a combination of Oloroso sherry butts and bourbon barrels, followed by a finishing period of about 9 months in port wine pipes. This triple cask aging imparts a layered, complex character to the whiskey. The whiskey features honey, sweet apples, pears, bananas, and sherry aromas on the nose. It's robust, concentrated, and full-bodied on the palate, with a viscous texture and a pronounced mouth weight. It expresses orchard, stone, tropical fruit flavors, nuts, and spice, complemented by almonds, honey, Port wine, and vanilla hints. The finish is sweet and syrupy, with lingering notes of red berries, golden raisins, dried figs, and honey. Dingle Distillery, established in 2012 in County Kerry, Ireland, is among the pioneers of the new wave of Irish craft distilleries. Situated along the Wild Atlantic Way in Dingle, it was the first new distillery built in West Ireland in 150 years when distilling began in 2012. In mid-2020, Dingle released its core single malt Irish whiskey release, marking a significant milestone in its history. The whiskey is triple distilled with a 100% malted barley mash bill. It's aged in a combination of 61% Pedro Ximénez (PX) sherry casks and 39% ex-bourbon casks, creating a harmonious blend of rich, sweet, and fruity notes. The whiskey offers a flavorful and complex nose, featuring pine aromas, chalky minerality, charcoal/smoke, pronounced notes of citrus peel, and the typical PX notes of raisin, fig, and date. It's smooth and robust on the palate with an oily, viscous character and a pronounced mouth weight. Showcasing flavors of licorice, candied citrus zest, dark chocolate, dried black fruit, and creamy butterscotch. The finish is long and layered, with lingering notes of dark dried fruit, spice, and a subtle sweetness. The Redbreast Range of Irish Single Pot Irish Whiskeys Photo, courtesy Redbreast/Irish Distillers Ltd Redbreast 15 YO is a premium expression from Midleton Distillery, one of Ireland's most iconic whiskey producers. Redbreast is celebrated for its single pot still Irish whiskey style, which uses a mash bill of malted and unmalted barley, triple-distilled in copper pot stills. The 15-Year-Old expression was first introduced in 2005 as a limited edition for the French market but became a permanent addition to the range due to its popularity. This whiskey is aged in bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks, offering a richer and more complex profile than its younger sibling, the Redbreast 12 YO. Combining bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks creates a harmonious balance of sweetness, spice, and fruit. The whiskey is rich, layered, and aromatic on the nose, showcasing dried fruit notes of raisins, figs, and prunes, sweet notes of honey, caramel, subtle hints of toasted oak, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg spice. A touch of candied citrus zest and floral undertones adds brightness to the aroma. It's robust, flavorful, and silky on the palate, exhibiting flavors of rich dark chocolate, dried fruits, and orange marmalade, balanced by creamy toffee and vanilla. Spicy undertones of clove and black pepper emerge mid-palate, blending with the nuttiness of roasted almonds. A subtle Sherry sweetness and seasoned oak notes provide depth and structure. The finish is exceptionally long and warming, with lingering notes of dried fruit, sweet spice, and oak, and a gentle nuttiness that fades gracefully. These Irish whiskeys are generally available in the US. They can also be ordered directly from the Celtic Whiskey Shop, Ireland's largest whiskey retailer, or The Whisky Exchange. All six whiskies are outstanding and worth trying. If you are a fan of Irish whiskey, or just getting started, you have much to explore here. For more recommendations of top rated Irish Whiskeys see: The World's Best Irish Whiskeys From The World's Top Competitions and The Top Irish Whiskeys According To The 2025 World Whiskey Awards.
