Powerscourt Distillery is an Irish distillery located in County Wicklow. Housed in incredible premises, including a historic mill, the distillery produces top-of-the-range whiskeys, and welcomes the public to a chic and cosy visitor center, ideal for learning more about the art of Irish distillation!
The Powerscourt Distillery and its visitor center – ©Joe Ladrigan Productions
Powerscourt Distillery, officially launched on December 5, 2018, became Ireland’s 22nd operational distillery. Located on the magnificent Powerscourt estate in Enniskerry, County Wicklow, the distillery is housed in the estate’s former mill, demonstrating a fusion of historic heritage and modern innovation.
The Powerscourt estate, known for its beauty and history, provides an ideal setting for the distillery. Founded in 1741, the estate covers 1,000 acres of ancient woodland and is home to a luxury hotel, two championship golf courses, the magical Powerscourt Waterfall and the famous Powerscourt House. The historic Mill House, dating from the 1730s, houses the distillery and features an old water mill in its foundations.
The project is the brainchild of local entrepreneurs Gerry Ginty and Ashley Gardiner, who teamed up for the venture with the owners of the Powerscourt estate, the Slazenger family, in 2016. Alex and Mike Peirce joined the project, with Mike becoming president of the distillery. Construction began with a complete installation supplied by Forsyths of Scotland, renowned for its whisky distillation equipment.
With over 30 years’ experience in the industry, Master Distiller Noel Sweeney, a member of the World Whisky Hall of Fame, played a key role in founding the Irish Whisky Association and developing the GI technical file for Irish whisky. He oversaw the first distillation in 2018 and was instrumental in establishing the Fercullen whisky range.
Powerscourt Distillery produces the Fercullen range, including blends, single malts and Irish single grains. Although some whiskies are currently supplied from other distilleries while their own spirits mature, the distillery has an annual production capacity of one million liters and deposits around 100 casks a week in its dedicated maturation warehouse.
The distillery, while enhancing the historical heritage of the estate, also focuses on innovation. Their custom-designed copper stills are crafted by skilled artisans in the same 18th-century tradition. The water used for distillation comes directly from the Powerscourt waterfall, and barley from the estate’s surrounding fields is used for production.
The Powerscourt Distillery – ©Powerscourt Distillery and Visitor Centre
Visiting Powerscourt Distillery in County Wicklow, Ireland, offers a rich, multi-dimensional experience for many reasons.
Firstly, because the distillery is located on the Powerscourt estate, one of Ireland’s most beautiful estates, known for its lush gardens, majestic waterfall and historic heritage. This unique atmosphere offers an immersive experience of Ireland’s history and natural beauty.
The distillery also features a visitor center with six individual tasting rooms, as well as a gift store and café. This is an opportunity to take a deep dive into our manufacturing processes. This includes an overview of ingredient selection, fermentation, distillation and ageing. You’ll also be able to admire the three Scottish-designed stills, which are constantly distilling the establishment’s future beverages.
You can then discover the maturation warehouse on site, allowing visitors to smell the aroma of aging casks and understand the importance of aging in whisky production.
The visit is usually followed by a tasting session (not compulsory). Visitors can discover award-winning Fercullen whisky, produced on site, in an intimate setting. This tasting allows you to discover the rich, complex flavors of Irish whiskey.
In short, exploring the Powerscourt distillery will give you a taste of Irish distilling expertise. The establishment blends ancestral and modern techniques for an ever more authentic result. If you’re an enthusiast, this is the place to visit!
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