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Lambay Irish Whiskey Company: A family alliance in the whiskey world

The Lambay Irish Whiskey Company (LIWC) celebrated its market debut in 2018 as an independent enterprise based in Dublin. It evolved from the cooperation between Camus (Cyril Camus), the worldwide leading cognac producer in family ownership, and the Revelstoke Trust of the Baring family (Alexander Baring). The two gentlemen have a common history and came together to create a unique Irish whiskey. This relationship between Camus and the Baring Revelstoke Trust is inspired and named after the Irish isle of Lambay, which sits off the coast of Dublin and is a private nature reserve which has been in the Baring family since 1904.

Today, the brand is represented in 35 markets worldwide, in duty free shops and online. LIWC manager Jean-David Costerg is confident of future success because the unique brand history of both companies allows them to reach a new generation of whiskey consumers who are looking for exclusive, authentic, handcrafted products, positioned in the premium price category. Lambay Whiskey stands for a special category of Irish whiskey with a unique cognac barrel finish. The portfolio comprises Lambay Small Batch Blend, Lambay Single Malt, Lambay Malt and Lambay Single Cask Strength.

Lambay Single Malt matures on the isle of Lambay. There, the casks are exposed to the influence of the fresh sea air in a warehouse (‘The Sea Cask Room’) to bring a high salt content and maritime notes to the whiskey. After being blended on the mainland, the whiskeys are rounded off with the island’s Trinity Well water before being bottled.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Lambay Malt Irish and Lambay Small Batch Blend.

Destileria La Caravedo – Traditional products from Peru

The Destileria La Caravedo, founded by Juan Facundo Caravedo Roque in 1684, is said to be the oldest distillery in America. Located in the heart of the Andes, it is about three and a half hours away from Peru’s capital, Lima. These days, there is a high-tech distillery there, which combines technology, design and environmental awareness. The use of water and energy is reduced. Gravity is used for all steps of production, electric pumps are not used. The plants in the roof garden absorb carbon dioxide from the fermentation process and create oxygen. All this provides a sustainable background for a special product: Pisco Portón.

Traditional methods are paramount and much of the work has to be done by hand until a bottle is filled with the clear spirit. First come the grapes from the regional grape varieties Quebranta, Albilla and Torontel. The juice from the first pressing is fermented, but not completely, in order to retain some natural dextrose. After distillation in copper stills there follows a maturing period of up to twelve months until bottling, strictly controlled by the experienced master distiller, Johnny Schuler. With his signature on the numbered bottles he guarantees the purity and top quality of the Pisco Portón.

Pisco is a perfect partner for cocktails and mixed drinks. The name, by the way, comes from the harbour town in Peru from which the national drink was first exported. In the language of the Quechua Indians the word ‘pisco’ means ‘small bird’. The use of the term is regulated by law, from the grape varieties to distillation (without addition of water or flavours) and storage (no maturing in wood). The three main categories of Pisco are Puro (from one grape variety), Acholado (a blend) and Mosto Verde. In this highest quality, just like with Pisco Portón, only partly fermented juice is used.

Classified as a Recommended Distillery 2015, there was gold for Pisco Portón Mosto Verde Italia and silver for Pisco Portón Mosto Verde Quebranta and Pisco Mosto Verde Acholado.

Aldi Ireland: Gin and whiskey in retail

Aldi Ireland has several top products in its spirit range: Boyle’s Gin from the Blackwater Distillery and Ardfallen Whiskey from the West Cork Distillery, in addition, Mo Chara Passionfruit & Mango Gin from the Old Carrick Mill.

The Blackwater Distillery has been an Aldi partner since 2016 and developed the private label Boyle’s Gin exclusively for the Irish and British retail market. The product volume of the Blackwater Distillery for Aldi has risen strongly in recent years, whereby 140,800 bottles of the gin series were sold in 2018. The successful gin brand is manufactured in Blackwater Valley, West Waterford, with selected imported ingredients as well as regional apples, blackcurrants and elderflower. CEO Peter Mulryan – former TV producer and author of the book ‘The Whiskeys of Ireland’ – explains, “The partnership with Aldi has helped us to increase turnover enormously, and also to have the security to invest and expand. This includes on-site bottling facilities and a visitor centre.” Ardfallen Whiskey from the West Cork Distillery got its name from the region in County Cork where the malted barley comes from, and is only manufactured in small batches. The business was founded in 2003 by childhood friends who started out with only two small stills they had bought in Switzerland. Now the largest distillery in the country, it currently employs over 80 staff and exports to around 70 countries.

At the World Spirits Award, there was Gold for Ardfallen 10 Year Old Whiskey and Boyle’s Gin, and Silver for Boyle’s Sloe & Damson Gin and Ardfallen Whiskey.