Irish whiskey brand Fercullen is set to make its American debut in 2023 thanks to a new distribution deal.
The brand's producer Powerscourt Distillery has signed a partnership with Zamora Company USA, which distributes brands including Licor 43, Martin Miller's Gin, Don Papa Rum and Double Cross Vodka in the US. Through the partnership, Zamora Company USA will import, sell, and market the Fercullen whiskey range in the US from January 2023.
Based on the Powerscourt Estate in Enniskerry, Co Wicklow, the Powerscourt Distillery uses mineral-rich waters from the nearby Wicklow Mountains and locally grown grains to create its whiskeys. Its founding master distiller was Noel Sweeney, one of Ireland's longest-practising and most decorated distillers. Fercullen's head distiller and blender, Paul Corbett, was named master distiller/blender of the year at the 2023 Icons of Whisky Ireland awards, in which Powerscourt Distillery was named visitor attraction of the year.
At the heart of the Fercullen Irish Whiskey range is Fercullen Falls, a new small-batch 50/50 blend of malt and grain whiskeys. The malt whiskey was matured in first fill ex-bourbon barrels and the grain in a combination of ex-bourbon and new heavily charred oak casks. Fercullen Falls takes its name from the Powerscourt Waterfall on the Powerscourt Estate, the largest waterfall in Ireland.
In addition to Fercullen Falls, Zamora Company USA will release Fercullen Single Malt, Fercullen 15 Years Old Irish Whiskey, and the limited-edition Fercullen 21 Years Old Single Malt in the US.
Andrew Stewart, global brand manager at Zamora Company USA, said: "As we continue to grow our world-class spirits and wines in the US, Irish whiskey has long been at the top of our list of categories to strengthen our portfolio, and Fercullen from the Powerscourt Distillery has always been our top choice. Fercullen is truly an exceptional spirit, proudly crafted by one of the most awarded distillery teams in the industry.
"We’re especially excited to introduce Fercullen Falls, a lighter-tasting and approachable Irish whiskey bottled at 43% ABV, higher than standard for a malt whiskey blend, which makes it a perfect spirit for enjoying straight or as a cocktail base."
Ryan Stapleton, Powerscourt Distillery’s global head of sales, said: "The USA is the largest market for Irish whiskey sales globally, representing 41 per cent of global market share in 2021. We at the Powerscourt Distillery have waited until the right time and crucially finding the right partner before we launched Fercullen Irish Whiskey into the US market and we are in a great position to appoint Zamora Company USA as our national importer.
"We look forward to bringing our core Fercullen and limited-release Irish whiskeys to the USA in 2023 and working closely with the excellent team at Zamora Company USA in the years to come."
According to IWSR Drinks Market Analysis, Irish whiskey is one of the fastest-growing spirits categories in the US with volumes projected to increase by two thirds (67 per cent) between 2021 and 2026.
The brand's producer Powerscourt Distillery has signed a partnership with Zamora Company USA, which distributes brands including Licor 43, Martin Miller's Gin, Don Papa Rum and Double Cross Vodka in the US. Through the partnership, Zamora Company USA will import, sell, and market the Fercullen whiskey range in the US from January 2023.
Based on the Powerscourt Estate in Enniskerry, Co Wicklow, the Powerscourt Distillery uses mineral-rich waters from the nearby Wicklow Mountains and locally grown grains to create its whiskeys. Its founding master distiller was Noel Sweeney, one of Ireland's longest-practising and most decorated distillers. Fercullen's head distiller and blender, Paul Corbett, was named master distiller/blender of the year at the 2023 Icons of Whisky Ireland awards, in which Powerscourt Distillery was named visitor attraction of the year.
The Powerscourt Distillery
At the heart of the Fercullen Irish Whiskey range is Fercullen Falls, a new small-batch 50/50 blend of malt and grain whiskeys. The malt whiskey was matured in first fill ex-bourbon barrels and the grain in a combination of ex-bourbon and new heavily charred oak casks. Fercullen Falls takes its name from the Powerscourt Waterfall on the Powerscourt Estate, the largest waterfall in Ireland.
In addition to Fercullen Falls, Zamora Company USA will release Fercullen Single Malt, Fercullen 15 Years Old Irish Whiskey, and the limited-edition Fercullen 21 Years Old Single Malt in the US.
Andrew Stewart, global brand manager at Zamora Company USA, said: "As we continue to grow our world-class spirits and wines in the US, Irish whiskey has long been at the top of our list of categories to strengthen our portfolio, and Fercullen from the Powerscourt Distillery has always been our top choice. Fercullen is truly an exceptional spirit, proudly crafted by one of the most awarded distillery teams in the industry.
"We’re especially excited to introduce Fercullen Falls, a lighter-tasting and approachable Irish whiskey bottled at 43% ABV, higher than standard for a malt whiskey blend, which makes it a perfect spirit for enjoying straight or as a cocktail base."
Ryan Stapleton, Powerscourt Distillery’s global head of sales, said: "The USA is the largest market for Irish whiskey sales globally, representing 41 per cent of global market share in 2021. We at the Powerscourt Distillery have waited until the right time and crucially finding the right partner before we launched Fercullen Irish Whiskey into the US market and we are in a great position to appoint Zamora Company USA as our national importer.
"We look forward to bringing our core Fercullen and limited-release Irish whiskeys to the USA in 2023 and working closely with the excellent team at Zamora Company USA in the years to come."
According to IWSR Drinks Market Analysis, Irish whiskey is one of the fastest-growing spirits categories in the US with volumes projected to increase by two thirds (67 per cent) between 2021 and 2026.
