Based in Northern Ireland, Rademon says the first casks of its new small batch Irish whiskey have been sealed and production is now getting under way, with 100 barrels expected to be casked within the first year.
This phase of the distillery development completes a £1.5 million investment to date, while the continued expansion of the distillery over the next three years will represent a total investment of more than £4m, creating up to six new jobs.
Rademon was founded in 2012 by husband and wife Fiona and David Boyd-Armstrong. The distillery is located at the couple’s family estate just outside Downpatrick, County Down
To develop the new product, the company has been supported with a £50,000 grant through Invest NI’s R&D Boosting Business scheme to develop the background technology, process and skills to enable the method of production to be developed. Invest NI’s research and development support is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the Sustainable Competitiveness Programme for Northern Ireland.
Rademon Estate Distillery also plans a further investment in excess of £2.5m to put to work larger pot stills and associated equipment that will give the distillery a capacity of 35,000 litres of pure alcohol per annum. They hope to create a visitor experience centre as part of this investment as the business expands over the next three years.
All aspects of production for the new Irish malt whiskey, from grain to glass, will be performed on site with no third party spirit being used, says the company. The whiskey will be matured in a variety of casks, which the distillery hope will allow new and innovative flavours and aromas to be created and water from the estate’s own well will be used.
Head distiller and operations director, David Boyd-Armstrong said: “I’m greatly looking forward to August 2018 when we will be able to sample our first three year old Irish malt whiskey. This style of whiskey is a personal favourite of mine due to the complex flavour profile and I feel it is under represented in the market.”
