Irish Distillers launches ‘A Story of Irish Whiskey’ podcast series

The five-part series brings the history of the highs and lows of Irish whiskey to life focusing on the three families that came together to save it from extinction

Dublin, May 23^rd, 2019 – Irish Distillers, Ireland’s leading supplier of spirits and wines and producer of some of the world’s most well-known and successful Irish whiskeys, today announced the launch of its first podcast, ‘A Story of Irish Whiskey’. Produced by Last Cast Media, the five-part series is a story of coming together, sharing, conquering markets and how three families, competitors for generations, united to save Irish whiskey from extinction.

‘A Story of Irish Whiskey’ begins with Irish whiskey on its knees, about to become extinct after 200 years, crippled by war, prohibition, and bootleggers. It then takes the listener on a journey through the never before heard tale of how Irish whiskey was brought back from the brink, beginning with that pivotal meeting of the Jameson, Powers and Murphy families in Tourin house in 1966, and detailing the highs and lows of business in the 20^th and 21^st centuries. Using a mix of interviews, archive recordings and dramatic recreation, the listener is welcomed into a story of community, hardship and the courage to succeed against all odds.

Conor McQuaid, CEO and Chairman of Irish Distillers said: “At our core, we believe that Irish Distillers exists to bring people together, be that through the growth of the Irish whiskey category, the experiences we create at our brand homes in Dublin and  Midleton, or the simple enjoyment of our portfolio of whiskeys around the world. From the moment three whiskey families came together in 1966, we have been working hard to sustain and grow an industry that is inextricably linked to our Irish heritage. Everything that we do is driven by a desire to see the continued growth of Irish whiskey on the world stage, and today Irish whiskey has more fans and made more connections than at any other point since the 19th century. We believe that now is the time to tell the story of Irish whiskey to an ever-growing audience and further promote the reputation of one of Ireland’s most iconic exports.”

The podcast features commentary from a variety of guests throughout including, Kristen, Tara and Andrea Jameson, Charles C O’Reilly, descended from John Power and Master Distiller Emeritus at Irish Distillers, Barry Crockett, to name a few – all of whom offer first-hand accounts of events that shaped the landscape of Irish whiskey as we know it.

“The renaissance that Irish whiskey is now enjoying is not only a testament to all those working in whiskey now, but crucially to those that have gone before us and laid the foundations for growth. In our podcast ‘A Story of Irish Whiskey’, we tell their stories and honour their contribution to the moments that have shaped the course of history for the better. We are truly honoured to be able to tell the story of Irish whiskey through our podcast series,” McQuaid added.

There has never been a more exciting time for Irish whiskey, which is now the fastest growing premium spirit globally, with sales of Irish whiskey now accounting for more than one third of all Irish beverage exports. Jameson continues to spearhead the renaissance of the Irish whiskey category with the brand reaching its 29th year of consecutive growth in 2018, with 7.3 million cases sold in 2017/18, up from 500,000 cases during the mid-90s. The amount of whiskey distilleries in Ireland has grown from four in 2013, to more than 20 in six years.

Episodes are available to download now on Audioboom, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, Castbox, RadioPublic.

Notes:

About Irish Distillers

Irish Distillers is Ireland’s leading supplier of spirits and wines and producer of the world’s most well-known and successful Irish whiskeys. Led by Jameson, our brands are driving the global renaissance of Irish whiskey. Jameson is the world’s fastest-growing Irish whiskey, experiencing 29 years of consecutive growth and hitting sales of 7.3m cases in 2018. Our brands are exported to 130+ markets, with over 80 of those experiencing double- or triple-digit growth.

Irish Distillers was formed in 1966, when a merger took place between John Power & Son, John Jameson & Son and Cork Distilleries Company. In 1988 Irish Distillers joined Pernod Ricard, gaining access to unprecedented levels of investment and an extensive global distribution network. Since 2012, we have invested over €250m to double our production and bottling capacity to meet global demand for our products.

We employ over 600 people across our operations in Cork and Dublin. 

About Pernod Ricard

Pernod Ricard is the world’s n°2 in wines and spirits with consolidated Sales of €8,987 million in FY18. Created in 1975 by the merger of Ricard and Pernod, the Group has undergone sustained development, based on both organic growth and acquisitions: Seagram (2001), Allied Domecq (2005) and Vin&Sprit (2008). Pernod Ricard holds one of the most prestigious brand portfolios in the sector: Absolut Vodka, Ricard pastis, Ballantine’s, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute and The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Martell cognac, Havana Club rum, Beefeater gin, Malibu liqueur, Mumm and Perrier-Jouët champagnes, as well Jacob’s Creek, Brancott Estate, Campo Viejo and Kenwood wines. Pernod Ricard employs a workforce of approximately 18,900 people and operates through a decentralised organisation, with 6 “Brand Companies” and 86 “Market Companies” established in each key market. Pernod Ricard is strongly committed to a sustainable development policy and encourages responsible consumption. Pernod Ricard’s strategy and ambition are based on 3 key values that guide its expansion: entrepreneurial spirit, mutual trust and a strong sense of ethics.

Pernod Ricard is listed on Euronext (Ticker: RI; ISIN code: FR0000120693) and is part of the CAC 40 index.