Irish Distillers has unveiled plans for a €13 million redevelopment of its Midleton Distillery experience.
The ambitious plan will see the visitor attraction transformed with new whiskey tours and experiences, as well as new shopping, bar, café and restaurant facilities. In line with the company's sustainability goals, the renovation will incorporate a heat recovery system, using excess energy from whiskey production to heat the buildings, and it will be fully lit with LED lights to reduce electricity consumption.
Construction will commence immediately and is expected to be completed by 2025 - when Midleton Distillery will celebrate its 200th anniversary. Once operational, Irish Distillers hopes that the new world-class experience will attract up to 200,000 visitors annually.
Guided tours and experiences will continue at Midleton during the redevelopment in an alternative purpose-built venue.
Based in Co. Cork, Irish Distillers' Midleton Distillery is home to some of the best-known Irish whiskey brands including Jameson, Powers, Redbreast, Midleton Very Rare, the Spot family and Method and Madness, as well as the Irish Whiskey Academy, Irish Distillers' archive, and the Micro Distillery.
Conor McQuaid, chairman and CEO of Irish Distillers, said: "Over the past 30 years, Midleton Distillery has become synonymous with Irish whiskey tourism, welcoming more than three million visitors from countries all over the world to our home in East Cork. At Irish Distillers, we are always looking towards the future of Irish whiskey, which is why we are delighted to announce our plans for the redevelopment of the distillery experience at Midleton.
"Our ambition is to deliver an exceptional, world-class experiential offering which will bring whiskey lovers closer to the production process than ever before. These exciting plans will ensure that the distillery experience offers visitors a unique insight into the whiskeys produced at Midleton Distillery in exceptionally beautiful and engaging surroundings."
He added: "As we are committed to preserving and maintaining the beauty of the original distillery buildings, many of which date back to 1794, our redevelopment plan is centred around the conservation and restoration of existing structures, while transforming our visitor attraction to accommodate new and interactive whiskey tours and exciting tasting experiences."
Ralph Appelbaum Associates, a cultural attractions planning and design specialist based in New York, will lead the design of the redevelopment project.
The ambitious plan will see the visitor attraction transformed with new whiskey tours and experiences, as well as new shopping, bar, café and restaurant facilities. In line with the company's sustainability goals, the renovation will incorporate a heat recovery system, using excess energy from whiskey production to heat the buildings, and it will be fully lit with LED lights to reduce electricity consumption.
Construction will commence immediately and is expected to be completed by 2025 - when Midleton Distillery will celebrate its 200th anniversary. Once operational, Irish Distillers hopes that the new world-class experience will attract up to 200,000 visitors annually.
Designs for a new retail and bar area at Midleton Distillery
Guided tours and experiences will continue at Midleton during the redevelopment in an alternative purpose-built venue.
Based in Co. Cork, Irish Distillers' Midleton Distillery is home to some of the best-known Irish whiskey brands including Jameson, Powers, Redbreast, Midleton Very Rare, the Spot family and Method and Madness, as well as the Irish Whiskey Academy, Irish Distillers' archive, and the Micro Distillery.
Conor McQuaid, chairman and CEO of Irish Distillers, said: "Over the past 30 years, Midleton Distillery has become synonymous with Irish whiskey tourism, welcoming more than three million visitors from countries all over the world to our home in East Cork. At Irish Distillers, we are always looking towards the future of Irish whiskey, which is why we are delighted to announce our plans for the redevelopment of the distillery experience at Midleton.
"Our ambition is to deliver an exceptional, world-class experiential offering which will bring whiskey lovers closer to the production process than ever before. These exciting plans will ensure that the distillery experience offers visitors a unique insight into the whiskeys produced at Midleton Distillery in exceptionally beautiful and engaging surroundings."
He added: "As we are committed to preserving and maintaining the beauty of the original distillery buildings, many of which date back to 1794, our redevelopment plan is centred around the conservation and restoration of existing structures, while transforming our visitor attraction to accommodate new and interactive whiskey tours and exciting tasting experiences."
The distillery experience redevelopment is expected to be completed in 2025
Ralph Appelbaum Associates, a cultural attractions planning and design specialist based in New York, will lead the design of the redevelopment project.
