By Andy Young
Spirits Platform has announced an exclusive Australian partnership with Walsh Whiskey Distillery to manage its internationally acclaimed whiskey brands, spearheaded by The Irishman.
Spirits Platform will distribute The Irishman’s Founder’s Reserve (RRP $70), The Irishman Single Malt (RRP $80) and limited editions, The Irishman 12 Year Old Single Malt (RRP $110) and The Irishman Cask Strength (RRP $180) to selected premium retail and on-premise accounts.
The Walsh Whiskey Distillery was established in 1999 by husband and wife team Bernard and Rosemary Walsh and the company now exports to 40 countries.
Speaking about The Irishman range, Walsh Whiskey Distillery’s Global Brand Ambassador Sean Normoyle told TheShout: “It’s been a massive success in most of the markets that we’ve launched it in, and we’ve got really high hopes that it’s going to be a great success here.
“The Founder’s Reserve is 70 per cent single malt approximately and 30 per cent single pot still. The blend does change from year to year, but basically the focus is on the taste profile.
“With the Single Malt half of it is aged in first-fill ex-Bourbon casks and half in Oloroso Sherry, so that’s a little smoother and fruiter than the Founder’s and a bit sweeter.
“Then there is the 12-year-old which is a little bit stronger at 43 per cent and is only aged in ex-Bourbon casks, and unlike the other two it is a limited edition. So it’s done from one-run and there is just 6000 bottles for the global market and there are 20 cases for the Australian market this year, so it’s a very limited whiskey.
“The final one that is coming to Australia is The Irishman Cask Strength and that is the same quantity coming here. It is a really stunning whiskey. It’s a blend of five single malt casks and seven single pot still, it’s 54 per cent and that has received one of the highest scores for an Irish Whiskey from Jim Murray.”
The exclusive Australian distribution agreement follows Spirits Platform CEO Ian Atherton’s visit to Ireland in June for the opening of the new €25 million (AUD$36 million) Walsh Whiskey Distillery and Atherton said he was delighted to welcome The Irishman to the Spirits Platform portfolio.
“We could not ask to manage a more premium, artisan whiskey that is testament to the uniquely handcrafted approach undertaken by Bernard, Rosemary and their team,” Atherton said.
“On behalf of the Spirits Platform team I want to thank Walsh Whiskey Distillery and we look forward to nurturing The Irishman in Australia as we continue to develop awareness with both consumers and trade.”