Giant copper stills for a new whiskey distillery have arrived in Dingle, Co Kerry.
The distillery being planned for the old saw mill at Baile an Mhuilinn – a waterfront structure on the western seafront at Dingle – will produce premium single-malt whiskey and other spirits.
The market for whiskey has grown and whiskey is “the hottest spirit in the world right now”, according to the man behind the project, Oliver Hughes of Porterhouse Brewing Company.
While Scotland has more than 150 distilleries, Ireland, which once led the way in whiskey production, has only three.
This was due to historical reasons including prohibition in the US and trade tariffs imposed when this State left the Commonwealth.
The first 500 casks were being offered to “individuals with character”, Mr Hughes said.
They would be known as the Founding Fathers, he said.
Head brewer at Porterhouse Peter Mosley will head the production team, which also involves master distiller John McDougall.
Mr McDougall has headed production in leading Scottish distilleries.
It is hoped to begin whiskey production in September and the whiskey will be laid down for a number of years before it is ready.