The Chapel Gate Irish Whiskey Co. A New Entrant into the Irish Whiskey Industry Launches with KickStarter Crowdfunding Campaign

Campaign has Raised 40% of Its £26,000 Goal in Seven Days 

Cooraclare, Co. Clare, Ireland October 23, 2015: The Chapel Gate Irish Whiskey Co. will age and produce small batch Irish whiskey with unique cask finishes in unique locations in County Clare, Ireland. The business launched a Kickstarter campaign to allow the public to back the project in return for rewards and has raised 40% of its £26,000 goal in seven days. The company was founded by Louise McGuane, a drinks industry veteran has held senior global marketing and commercial roles in Moet Hennessy, Pernod Ricard and Diageo., After living and working abroad for 20 years she has returned to Ireland to launch The Chapel Gate Irish Whiskey Co. which will be based on the McGuane Family farm in Cooraclare, Co. Clare. 10-12 local jobs are expected to be created within 3 years as a result.

Mc Guane commented “ My mission is to bring true innovation to the Irish Whiskey Category. We all know that Irish whiskey is booming and there are multiple plans for distilleries all over the country. Our model is different, rather than risking enormous capital expenditure initially on building a production facility,, we are reviving the once widespread 19th century practice of Irish Whiskey Bonding. Because of the growth of the category, the internal Irish whiskey market has opened up in the past year.  This gives us access to the highest quality Irish grain, malt and pot still whiskey. Given that 50-80% of whiskies flavour comes from the barrel the whiskey is aged in and the place where that barrel is aged, this allows us to create unique small batch single cask bottlings of innovative whiskey styles for today’s modern whiskey drinker. This business model allows us to get to market and begin building our brand and distribution much faster. Furthermore basing the business on our family farm in West Clare will mean significant rural regeneration & job creation for the area, something very important to me.”

The Kickstarter Crowdfunding platform allows individuals to back creative projects in return for rewards. Chapel Gate Irish Whiskey Co. is hoping to raise $40,000 within 31 days which will go towards purchasing the first batch of Oak barrels for ageing whiskey. “I am a big believer in the sharing economy and have backed multiple crowdfunding campaigns myself. One of our core values as a company is “Collaboration.” We are offering great value added rewards for backers which will allow our backers to truly be a part of the process of bringing a cask of whiskey to life.” said Louise.  Rewards can be claimed in exchange for pledge at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/chapelgate/reviving-the-lost-flavours-of-irish-whiskey

Rewards Include:

• An Irish whiskey masterclass in either London, Galway, New York, New Jersey, Chicago, Atlanta or San Diego £65
• The Backers name on 100 labels of the first bottling £326
• A stay at the Luxury Farm house on McGuane Family Farm for 8 people for a week £1000
• The chance to create your own cask of irish whiskey, choosing the fill for the barrel, the wood for the barrel, the char, & the position in the Rackhouse £4000
• The chance to blend your very own barrel of whiskey from a selection of aged malt and a stay at the Luxury Farm house, including a round of Golf at Doonbeg, a tour of Irish Music pubs in West Clare £5000

Contact: Louise@ChapelGateDistillery.com  http://www.chapelgatewhiskey.com/  Twitter & Instagram @WhiskeyGate