July 2nd, 2025: Irish distilleries facing difficulties and other news
Powerscourt enters receivership, Diageo pauses Roe & Co, Kentucky-based J Mattingly 1845 sold, Whisky Hammer expands into Europe, EWA's estate whisky, Taiwanese rum and more...
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Good morning everyone!
There is a lot of whisk(e)y in the news today.
Distillery news
Powerscourt distillery enters receivership and Roe & Co paused
We have two pieces of concerning news from Irish distilleries. Diageo-owned Roe & Co is the latest distillery to halt production as part of the group’s general slowdown. Meanwhile, Wicklow-based Powerscourt distillery has announced it has gone into receivership.
An article by The Irish Times sums up the situation:
J Mattingly goes to equity firm
Jeff Mattingly, founder of the Kentucky-based distillery J Mattingly 1845, is selling its business to Gold Corn & Co. The private equity was already an investor in the distillery.
Article by Ted Simmons on The Spirits Business
Whisky Hammer expands into mainland Europe
Alphen aan den Rijn, The Netherlands, is now home to online auctioneer Whisky Hammer's first operational base in mainland Europe. The company, founded by Scottish brothers Craig and Daniel Milne, recently announced the new opening.
Article by Eleanor Yates on Drinks International:
Whisky Hammer opens first operational base in mainland Europe
Certifications
What is an “estate whiskey”
The Estate Whiskey Alliance (EWA) has announced the first products to receive its Estate Whiskey certification: it is Star Hill Farm Whisky by Maker’s Mark Distillery, which is one of the organisation’s founding members.
An “estate whiskey” must be made at the estate distillery from milling to maturation, and at least two thirds of its mash-bill grains need to be grown on land the estate owns or controls.
Here is a good article about this on Whisky Magazine:
"Estate Whiskey Certified" programme launched by University of Kentucky
Something to read
Taiwan’s sugar industry diversifies with rum
Due to sugar production growing costs and unsustainability, Tai Tang (Taiwan Sugar Corporation) has recently commissioned professor Chen Chien-Hao to start a pure juice rum production.
Leona De Pasquale wrote an article about this on The Drinks Business. Do not expect too much precision about terms and production details, but the story is interesting:
I also found this other article about a prize won earlier this year, news by Hong Chen-hong and Jason Pan on Taipei Times:
(I’m afraid they will have to avoid the term “rhum agricole” if they are planning to export to Europe ;) )
That’s all for today, see you on Friday!