Mr. Erwin Hennefarth and his wife celebrate becoming the 1 Millionth Visitor to the Kilbeggan Distillery with the Chairman John Teeling and the Distillery Tour staff

Oldest Licensed Distillery in the World Reaches Tourism Milestone

The Kilbeggan Distillery welcomed its 1 millionth visitor through its 254 year old gates today, September 8th 2011.

To celebrate this milestone, a cask was filled with Kilbeggan Malt with the 1 Millionth visitor, Mr. Erwin Hennefarth from Germany today. It was then laid down in the warehouse and after three years when the spirit has matured into fine Kilbeggan Irish whiskey, Cooley will bottle the cask for Mr. Hennefarth.

To mark the occasion, the Kilbeggan Distillery is hosting a family open day on Saturday 10th September between 12 noon-6pm. The open day will include free tours of the Distillery, whiskey master classes, artisan food, live music from the Whiskey River Band as well as face painting and balloon sculptors for the kids.

The Kilbeggan Distillery which has been located on the same spot in Kilbeggan town since 1757 is fast becoming one of the top tourist destinations in the Midlands. Investment in the distillery tour in recent years by Cooley Distillery has brought the Kilbeggan Distillery Experience to life.

Jack Teeling, Managing Director of Cooley Distillery, said, “Kilbeggan Distillery is a special place full of history dating back over 250 years. Reaching the 1 million visitor mark is a fantastic achievement for the Kilbeggan Distillery Experience. A lot of hard work has been done locally to produce a memorable and educational experience and all those efforts are now paying dividends.”

The Kilbeggan Distillery Experience sends visitors back in time mapping the methods and techniques of whiskey making from the 1700s right through to the 21st century. Visitors can witness the fully restored piston engine which once fired the giant copper stills, roar into life and learn how whiskey barrels are constructed from the two full-time on-site coopers.

The tour also includes an expert step by step guide to modern whiskey distillation. Each step of the process can be experienced on site during this entertaining and educational walking tour.

Mr. Erwin Hennefarth and his wife fill their very own cask of Kilbeggan Malt, as they are celebrated as the 1 Millionth Visitor to Kilbeggan Distillery, along with the chairman John Teeling (left) and the Distillery Manager Brian Quinn (right)

Kilbeggan Distillery Welcomes its 1 Millionth Visitor