The November December 2023 Issue of Drinks Industry Ireland

Volume 23 Issue 6

drinks THE VOICE OF THE LICENSED TRADE

Nov/Dec 2023

INDUSTRY IRELAND

Cheers to 200 years!

Both the Palace Bar and Findlater & Co celebrate their bi-centenary birthdays

The most wonderful time of the year All your Christmas drinks essentials lie within!

Discover Northern Ireland’s distilleries Irish whiskey is having a moment!

DRINKS INDUSTRY IRELAND | November/December 2023

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COVER STORY 18 Celebrating two centuries in business Willie Aherne of The Palace Bar recounts the history of the famous pub to Fionnuala Carolan

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Volume 23 Issue 6 www.drinksindustryireland.ie Editor FIONNUALA CAROLAN (01)2046230 fionnualacarolan@mediateam.ie

NEWS & ANALYSIS 5

News Bites: What’s hot and what’s not this month

Head of Business IAN MULVANEY (01)2947766 ianmulvaney@mediateam.ie

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News: Aunty Lena’s, Adare, Co, Limerick named Irish Pub of the Year 2023; Edward Dillon announces expansion plans into Northern Ireland; Drinkaware uncovers shifting alcohol consumption habits among Irish adults

Account manager MARK MORGAN (01) 2947767 markmorgan@mediateam.ie Design LIZ MORGAN Publisher Mediateam Ltd., 55 Spruce Avenue, Sandyford, Dublin 18.

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13 DRS is nearly upon us: Re-Turn explains the impending scheme and what we should expect

14 Happy birthday to you! Richard Moriarty

of Findlaters & Co speaks to Fionnuala Carolan about the past and future of the brand on its 200th year anniversary

17 Grow with Guinness: Diageo host hospitality upskilling programme

21 Day in the life: Steve Guiney, managing

22 Irish Pub Awards 2023 Management

Training: Galway was the location for the management training program for the regional winners of the IPAs

24 Distillery days: Fionnuala Carolan

enjoys a trip to Northern Ireland to discover the many whiskey distilleries that have emerged in recent times

44 Social diary: Check out who’s been out and about this month!

46 Closing Time: Pat Nolan shares some anecdotes from the trade

FEATURES & REPORTS 26 32 36 42

Christmas Drinks No and Low Alcohol Soft Drinks Cognac

director, Original 7 Beverage Co. talks about a typical day

www.drinksindustryireland.ie NEWS • PODCASTS • MARKETING • ON-TRADE • OFF-TRADE • OPINION

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EDITORIAL

November/December 2023

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DRINKS INDUSTRY IRELAND

Cheers to 200 years!

Longevity in business is certainly something to celebrate because every business experiences ups and downs, highs and lows, good times and bad but what differentiates those businesses that stand the test of time is their ability to get back up after being knocked down, as many have valiantly done since Covid.

It’s indeed remarkable that two of our interviews in this issue are celebrating bi-centenary birthdays this year. Both Findlaters & Co and The Palace Bar on Fleet Street reflect on 200 years of business and they define what this milestone means to them as both an owner and an employee of their respective businesses.

Elsewhere this month, we took a trip to Northern Ireland courtesy of Invest Northern Ireland and it was a real treat getting the opportunity to visit some of the region’s newest (and some not even opened yet) distilleries and see the wealth of innovation and investment that is being poured into the Irish whiskey industry at present. I’ve advise anyone with a keen interest in whiskey, to take some time to visit these wonderful establishments and bring back the knowledge to your customers. For a sneak preview, see page 24.

As the holiday season approaches, we have the Christmas drinks feature inside, bringing you all the brands that you should be stocking for the festive period in order to take advantage of the most lucrative time of the year. We also have a special feature on no and low alcohol brands, a category that you should ignore at your peril. The growth in this area has been phenomenal in the past five years and is only set to increase.

Wishing you all a very happy and healthy Christmas and the best for 2024.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any news or views on the industry.

I would be delighted to hear from you.

Sláinte, Fionnuala.

It’s indeed remarkable that two of our interviews in this issue are celebrating bi-centenary birthdays this year. Both Findlaters & Co and The Palace Bar on Fleet Street reflect on 200 years of business and they define what this milestone means to them as both an owner and an employee of their respective businesses.

P.S. A publican I spoke with this month asked me to highlight the issue of rising wage bills and sick pay which he states in going to cripple the industry. We will look into this in the next issue so if you’d like to have your say, please contact me on fionnualacarolan@mediateam.ie.

Fionnuala Carolan Editor fionnualacarolan@mediateam.ie Twitter: @drinksind_ie

DRINKS INDUSTRY IRELAND | November/December 2023

NE WS BI TES

GOOD MONTH Pub of the Year!

Aunty Lena’s, Adare, Co. Limerick was named National Pub of the Year at the Irish Pub Awards 2023. The Limerick pub was crowned national champion from a field of 63 regional winners at a Gala Awards Ceremony in The Round Room at The Mansion House, Dublin. (For more see page 6) Simon Baley, Aunty Lena’s Bar & Restaurant, Adare, Limerick

BAD MONTH Heineken Ireland discontinues Island’s Edge Stout Brewer Heineken Ireland has axed its Island’s Edge stout after a multimillion euro marketing campaign failed to lure drinkers to the product. Launched two years ago, the stout was aimed at attracting 18 to 35-year-old consumers, competing with Guinness in a market it has dominated for a long time. The launch of Island’s Edge in mid 2021 came with a significant investment and the ambitious goal of securing 10% of the stout market. However, the brand did not resonate with consumers.

Tadhg Furlong unveils new sponsor of Wexford Wanderers R.F.C

A good month for Wexford Wanderers RFC when Wexford native Tadhg Furlong Michael Stafford, Tony recently arrived Connolly, Tadhg Furlong and Michael Stafford Jnr home from the pictured at the unveiling Rugby World of O’Driscolls Irish Cup and made Whiskey as new sponsor an appearance of Wexford Wanderers at Wexford R.F.C Wanderers R.F.C where O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey was revealed as the new sponsor of the club. The Wexford Wanderers Park will also now be officially known as ‘O’Driscoll’s Park’.

Duffy’s Pub Kilkelly experiences partial collapse

Duffy’s pub in Kilkelly, Co Mayo, experienced a partial collapse on 31 October, leading to a Health and Safety Authority investigation. Fortunately, five individuals residing in the building at the time avoided serious injuries and were transported to Mayo University Hospital for treatment. The community has since rallied around the pub owners, Kevin and Maureen Duffy.

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Coca-Cola achieves 100% recycled plastic bottles in Ireland

Coca-Cola announced that all plastic bottles across its soft drinks’ portfolio in Ireland and Northern Ireland are now made with 100% recycled plastic. The new 100% recycled plastic bottles will be used across the full range of Coca-Cola products.

This is a key sustainability milestone for Coca-Cola on the island of Ireland and will lead to the elimination of an additional 7,100 tonnes of virgin plastic from circulation annually.

An investment exceeding €20 million in recent years has enhanced sustainable packaging at the CocaCola HBC plant in Knockmore Hill, Lisburn.

Over 42% of hospitality workers contemplate career change, CGA report reveals

A new report, Getting Retention Right: Insights to Navigating Hospitality’s Top Talent Challenge, from CGA by NIQ and Harri, shows that labour shortages and high staff turnover continue to pose significant challenges. The report is the product of a Frontline Employee Experience platform, which caters to over 35,000 restaurant and hotel locations, serving more than four million hospitality employees globally.

QUOTES OF THE MONTH “We looked at sustainability and wondered what we could do so we coined the phrase ‘Give Wine a Future’. We take all the sustainability measures from our suppliers and talk to the trade about them.”

Richard Moriarty, wine and spirits director of Findlater & Co

“People come to The Palace Bar to read the newspaper and have conversations. They don’t want to see plates and cutlery and the smell of soup. A good sandwich, cheese and onion crips and a nice pint – perfect!”

Willie Aherne, owner and operator of The Palace Bar, Dublin

“Our pubs are rightly celebrated around the world so it’s important we have a prestigious awards ceremony that captures the unique qualities of Irish bars. The level of innovation and excellence on display in our winning pubs should act as an inspiration to publicans thinking about entering next year’s Irish Pub Awards” John Clendennen, VFI president

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November/December 2023 | DRINKS INDUSTRY IRELAND

NEWS

Aunty Lena’s, Adare named Irish Pub of the Year 2023 Aunty Lena’s, Adare, Co. Limerick was named National Pub of the Year at the Irish Pub Awards 2023. The Limerick pub was crowned national champion from a field of 63 regional winners at a Gala Awards Ceremony in The Round Room at The Mansion House, Dublin on 15 November.

The Irish Pub Awards are jointly presented by Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) and The Licenced Vintners Association (LVA). With over 900 entries from all over Ireland this awards programme continues to be recognised by publicans around Ireland as a valuable way to promote their business.

Established in 1806 by the Chawke family, Aunty Lena’s is a focal part of the community and serving both locals and visitors from all over the world. In 2018 the pub re-developed the abandoned Adare Courthouse, annexing it to Aunty Lena’s and completely refurbishing an historic building so linked to Adare since 1836, but forgotten for over 30 years.

The Adare Courthouse now has new life breathed into with a bespoke restaurant, bar, and Courthouse Museum, which can also be used as a themed function room.

The Irish Pub Awards nine category winners are: Best Food Pub sponsored by Musgrave MarketPlace: The Merrion Inn, Dublin 4 Best Tourist Pub sponsored by Fáilte Ireland: Tallons – Dying Cow, Tinahely, Wicklow Innovative Pub of the Year sponsored by BOI Payment Acceptance: Lock 13 Brewpub, Sallins, Kildare Best Local Pub sponsored by Diageo Ireland: Vine Cottage Bar, New Ross, Wexford

Pub of the Year! Laura Moriarty, chair, LVA, Simon Baley, Aunty Lena’s Bar & Restaurant, Adare, Limerick and John Clendennen, president, VFI. (Picture Conor McCabe Photography)

Outstanding Customer Service sponsored by Edward Dillon: Jimmy Brien’s Bar, Killarney, Kerry Best Music Pub sponsored by IMRO: Dolans, Limerick City Best Outdoor Space sponsored by Bulmers: The Towers Bar & Restaurant, Westport, Mayo Best Digital Innovator sponsored

by Heineken: Costigan’s Pub, Cork City Best Late-Night Bar sponsored by Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard: Bad Bobs Temple Bar, Dublin 2 Speaking at the Irish Pub Awards, John Clendennen, VFI president, said the quality of pubs who entered this year’s awards is outstanding: “Every year the standard of pubs that entered the Irish Pub Awards sets a new benchmark for

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excellence in pubs across Ireland.

“The quality is so high that to win one of tonight’s category awards is an exceptional achievement.”

LVA chair, Laura Moriarty said: “The Irish Pub Awards have clearly established themselves as the definitive awards programme within the pub industry by trebling the number of entries since their inception. The programme has been acknowledged for the excellent national and local media coverage attained, along with the in-depth management training that all finalists have received that is so beneficial to their businesses. We are very pleased with the growth and success of the Awards in such a short time, and it has now become a great vehicle to highlight the vital contribution that pubs make to Irish business, community, and tourism.”

Partners to the Irish Pub of the Year Awards are media partner, Irish Independent and trade media partner, ourselves Drinks Industry Ireland.

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NEWS

November/December 2023 | DRINKS INDUSTRY IRELAND

Guidance for taxpayers affected by Storm Babet flooding Revenue is encouraging with taxpayers to come all those in counties Cork, to a mutually agreeable Waterford, Limerick, solution. This will enable Kilkenny, and Louth, who good compliance records are facing tax payment to remain on track. difficulties due to the “Revenue has a proven disruption caused by track record in successfully the recent flooding, to agreeing flexible payment engage with Revenue arrangements with early. Exceptional weather taxpayers, and taxpayers events, like Storm Babet, can can be confident that we cause temporary cash flow will take their financial difficulties for taxpayers and circumstances and capacity Revenue understands that to pay into account.” this disruption can impact Revenue advises that on the timely payment of taxpayers who are facing tax. Revenue has worked Exceptional weather events like Storm Babet can cause temporary cash flow difficulties successfully with taxpayers and related tax payment cash flow difficulties for taxpayers when they experience difficulties, due to the temporary cash flow to temporary cash flow difficulties, disruption caused by Storm difficulties. and we are aware that this can be a Babet, should contact the collectorJoe Howley, collector-general, worrying time for those impacted. general’s office on 01 738 3663 to said: “The disruption caused by Early engagement with Revenue in agree mutually suitable payment severe weather events can give rise such cases is key, as we will work arrangements.

Edward Dillon announces expansion plans into Northern Ireland Edward Dillon has announced plans to take over the distribution of the Moët Hennessy portfolio in Northern Ireland from Dillon Bass from 1 January 2024.

Founded in 1867, Edward Dillon has a portfolio of premium brands and is owned by three of the biggest spirit companies in the Edward Dillon has a portfolio of premium brands and is owned by three of the biggest world – Moët Hennessy, spirit companies in the world – Moët Hennessy, Bacardi-Martini & Brown-Forman Bacardi-Martini & Brown-Forman. Moët Hennessy is the Wines Moët Hennessy’s exceptional and we wish Greg Elliott and his team and Spirits Division of LVMH, brands in the Republic of Ireland. the best of luck and every success for grouping 26 Maisons, including Our talented and dedicated team the future.” revered brands such as Hennessy has built market share by creating Memorable experiences and marketand an enviable champagnes award-winning activations, innovative leading activations for Edward Dillon collection – Moët & Chandon, Veuve launches and much more for both brands in recent years have included Clicquot, Dom Perignon, Krug and established brands and those new to the Hennessy Hip Hop House at Body Ruinart. the portfolio. We would like to thank & Soul Festival, the Whispering Angel According to Andy O’Hara, and congratulate Dillon Bass for their Rosé Garden and Champagne tasting Edward Dillon CEO: “At Edward time and commitment representing experiences for the consumer created Dillon we’ve been lucky to represent Moët Hennessy in Northern Ireland with its on trade partners.

DRINKS INDUSTRY IRELAND | November/December 2023

N EWS

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Momentous year for Findlater & Co as it celebrates 200th anniversary The theme of this year for Findlater & Co has been looking back at the last 200 years of the company as well as looking forward to the next 200 years.

One thing that became apparent as they took this journey was that two things have stood out: People and innovation In 1823 a 26-year-old Scotsman, Alexander Findlater came to Dublin and started a company that imported and exported spirits, wine, tea, and coffee.

This pioneering spirit weaves its way through the company’s history and all the people who have driven it on.

According to Richard Moriarty, wine director at Findlater & Co, “There are too many great people to name from the history of the company, but you don’t become 200 years old without entrepreneurial spirit.

This company has come through the famine, the founding of the state, and wars, and you can only do that with great people. I’d like to think that the team here now has that same spirit; I certainly think that the

In 1823 a 26-year-old Scotsman, Alexander Findlater came to Dublin and started a company that imported and exported spirits, wine, tea, and coffee

team here is second to none!”

That initial company specialised in import and export, using family connections and business acquaintances across the globe, including a link to the famous Scottish poet Robert Burns. That company developed over the prevailing decades into a retailer and became synonymous across Dublin and further afield.

On 26 September, Findlater & Co celebrated this significant milestone with an event in Dublin RDS, with 200

guests. The theme of the night was again the Past and the Future and guests were encouraged to wear something with a ‘Vintage Twist’ to get into the swing. Moriarty commented, “If Alexander could see us now and how his company has developed, he would certainly be proud of us and I think that he would be certain that the Findlater name will continue to service the Irish trade well into the future.” For the full interview see page 14.

The future of tipping has arrived in Ireland!

URocked is entering the industry, introducing OneDevice, an innovative all-in-one payment solution with a built-in tipping feature. OneDevice software enables seamless integration with POS systems and splits bills from tips. This lets customers pay the bill and the tip in a single transaction.

Merchants receive the full bill amount, while 100% of tips get routed directly to staff through the URocked app with no merchant meddling, providing full tip transparency and distribution.

The Irish team is led by renowned restaurateur Ronan Ryan and hospitality expert Eileen Denham boasting over 30 years’ experience within the hospitality sector,

having run some of Ireland’s most renowned restaurants, bars and nightclubs. Both Ryan and Denham understand firsthand the challenges the sector is facing following the recent change in tipping legislation in Ireland.

Recent reports reveal violations of Ireland’s laws mandating fair tip allocation to staff. URocked’s OneDevice guarantees regulatory compliance for businesses and equitable tip sharing for employees.

Client feedback already reports increased tips for their staff with staff retention and satisfaction benefiting the whole team.

“With the new tipping legislation, the demand for a legal solution

The 2022 tipping law changes in Ireland mean the hospitality industry needs to adopt modern tipping technology to stay compliant

is increasing rapidly. We believe our solution will benefit operators across the sector by increasing tips, improving transparency, and reducing the administration burden. We already see that some of our clients increase the number of tips up to five times using our OneDevice,” says Eileen Denham, head of Marketing and PR, URocked.

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NEWS

November/December 2023 | DRINKS INDUSTRY IRELAND

Irish Distillers announces partnership with the Digital Repository of Ireland Irish Distillers announced a partnership with the Digital Repository of Ireland (DRI), the national body charged with providing digital preservation and access to Ireland’s humanities, cultural heritage, and social sciences data.

Irish Distillers is the first Irish commercial company to partner with the DRI in this manner. The partnership will see records from the Irish Distillers archive digitised and uploaded to the Repository and made openly available Carol Quinn, Irish Distillers and Dr Lisa Griffith, DRI from anywhere in the world.

Preserved in the archive are items such as handwritten ledgers term will offer researchers and the containing financial records, some public alike a unique insight into Irish dating from the late 1700s, as well as history. Work has already begun on more modern commercial records, identifying suitable archives from the historic mashbills and labels from collection at Midleton. The selected across the globe. materials will be uploaded to the DRI In partnership with the DRI’s team portal over the next 18 months. of digital archivists, records will be Carol Quinn, head of archives, identified, digitised and then ingested Irish Distillers, said: “We have to the Repository. Preserving such a rich documentary archive important records for the longwith unexpected research value.

Even routine correspondence with distinctive letterheads can offer a glimpse into the history of printing and design in Ireland. We have been looking for a way to make as much material as possible available for public research to as a wide a community as possible, and now in partnership with the DRI we have someone one who can help and advise on that process.”

Dr Lisa Griffith, interim director, DRI, said: “Irish Distillers Archive are the first commercial archive to make its records available for open access online through the Digital Repository of Ireland. This will provide ground-breaking access to their archive, allowing researchers to investigate these collections from a wide range of angles, and share this rich resource with the wider public.”

Legislation to prohibit sale of vaping products to minors The Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill to prohibit the sale of nicotine inhaling products such as e-cigarettes to under 18 years old has passed all stages of the legislative process in the Dáil. The Bill will now proceed to the Seanad. Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly and Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Hildegarde Naughton’s intention is that the law will be enacted and commenced as soon as possible.

The ban on selling nicotine inhaling products to individuals under 18 will be implemented as soon as possible

The Bill contains wide-ranging measures to tackle smoking and vaping among children and adults.

These measures focus on preventing young people from beginning to smoke or vape to protect their health.

Along with prohibiting the sale of nicotine inhaling products to under 18s the Bill will also prohibit the sale of tobacco products and nicotine inhaling products at events for children, prohibit the selfservice sale of tobacco products and nicotine inhaling products, introduce a strict licensing system for the retail sale of tobacco products and nicotine inhaling products, prohibit the advertising of nicotine inhaling products around schools and on public transport and provide additional enforcement powers to the Environmental Health Service for measures in the Bill and for all previous Tobacco Control Acts.

Minister Donnelly said: “The Bill will

ensure that our children cannot legally buy nicotine inhaling products such as e-cigarettes and I look forward to introducing this measure as soon as possible. We are also introducing a licensing system for both tobacco products and nicotine inhaling products in order to better reflect the potentially harmful nature of the products being sold. Under the new system, retailers will have to apply for and be granted an annual licence for the sale of these products.”

Minister Naughton said: “Ireland is recognised as a global leader in tobacco control. We are continuing to innovate with the measures in this Bill with a particular focus on children.

We are banning the sale of tobacco and nicotine inhaling products at events for children and further restricting the advertising of nicotine inhaling products in order to reduce the exposure of our children to these products in their daily lives.”

N EWS

DRINKS INDUSTRY IRELAND | November/December 2023

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Dublin pubs face soaring insurance costs with average premiums approaching €30k – LVA The average insurance premiums for Dublin pubs rose to €29,811.62 in their most recent renewals, marking an increase of €1,714.53 from the premiums for the previous year, according to the Licensed Vintners Association (LVA). The LVA surveyed their members on this matter last month, following recent suggestions that insurance premiums for pubs were starting to reduce.

Of the 92 pubs who provided detailed insurance details, more than seven out of 10 (72%) had experienced an increase in their most recent renewal. Half of all the respondents (50%) in the survey had renewed their insurance since the beginning of July 2023, while almost nine out of 10 (88%) had not had an insurance claim in the previous 12 months.

The cost of insurance premiums for late night venues also stood out, with the average premium for late night bars and nightclubs coming to €92,117.10.

City centre venues (which represented approximately one third of the total respondents) also had considerably more expensive premiums than their suburban counterparts. For those in the city the average premium came to €41,572.97, while the suburban premiums came to €24,970.23 – a

The cost of insurance premiums for late night bars and nightclubs are averaging at €92,117.10

difference of €16,602.74.

The survey also showed the difficulty pubs have in securing multiple quotes from the insurance providers with 45% of publicans saying they were unable to source more than one quote.

Donall O’Keeffe, chief executive, LVA, said: “As the data in this survey highlights, pubs continue to face substantial and growing insurance premiums. The average cost of insurance for pubs in Dublin comes to almost €30,000 per year, which represents an increase of more than €1,700 on average from premiums for the previous year.

“For those who offer late night hospitality the costs are eye watering.

The average came in at €92,000 while several premises had premium costs that reached six figures.

“We are conscious that the

Government has implemented several important initiatives on insurance reform, particularly the judicial guidelines on awards and the recent changes to duty of care legislation – which are aimed at reducing the cost of insurance for businesses.

Unfortunately though, the numbers in this survey show the benefits are yet to be seen.

“There are no signs of premiums starting to come down, despite the policy changes. The trend is still significantly in the opposition direction and given the sums involved these are major additional costs. Sums of this magnitude are very damaging to competitiveness, are adding to the inflationary pressures facing pubs and are ultimately making hospitality more expensive for consumers.

“The lack of competition between insurers also remains a serious problem. There is no additional insurance capacity for the licensed trade.

“We have written to Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill on this matter, and we are encouraging the Government to bring further pressure to bear on the insurance providers.

The acid test of insurance reform is to deliver lower cost premia for business and looking at the survey data, that outcome still seems some way off,” O’Keeffe concluded.

JD Wetherspoon puts up Irish regional pubs for sale JD Wetherspoon is selling its regional portfolio in Ireland, including premises in Cork, Waterford, Galway, and Carlow. After almost a decade in the

JD Wetherspoon will continue operating in Dublin with key establishments.

Pictured is the Wetherspoon’s Silver Penny pub in Dublin 1, which is to remain open

Irish market, the entire portfolio is offered at €10m.

An Geata Arundel in Waterford, The Linen Weaver in Cork and The Tullow Gate in Carlow are all currently in operation, with each of these pubs having undergone refurbishment and are available for sale. The other available property is the late Carbon nightclub situated in Galway, which is not currently operating at the moment. Although, it has secured planning permission for licensed premises and restaurant use.

While selling its regional portfolio, JD Wetherspoon will continue operating in Dublin with key establishments, including The Old Borough Hotel, The Forty Foot, The

Great Wood, Keavan’s Port Hotel and The Silver Penny.

Potential buyers are encouraged to reach out to the joint selling agents, Savills and CBRE, for details on individual pricing.

According to The Irish Times, Stephen McCarthy, Savills, said: “This is a rare opportunity to acquire an exceptional collection of landmark licensed properties in some of the most coveted locations in the country. We expect this sale to appeal to a broad cross-section of hospitality groups seeking to scale their existing operation and benefit from the extensive investment which has already being committed to these assets.” n

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O F F - T RA DE NEW S

November/December 2023 | DRINKS INDUSTRY IRELAND

Weekly at-home alcohol consumption levels remain high For the fourth year in a row, over half of adults in Ireland drink alcohol on “at least a weekly basis" and this figure is now just shy of 60%. For the second year in a row over a quarter of drinkers say that they typically engage in binge drinking when they drink. And for the second year in a row, well over half (56%) of adults who currently drink have engaged in binge drinking in the past 30 days.

These stats come from the annual Drinkaware Barometer which aims to provide an overview of adults’ drinking behaviour in Ireland. The research reveals that positive indicators and behavioural shifts continue to grow, many to their highest level ever, however, when and how we drink continues to be an ongoing concern as evidenced by the report findings.

The research, carried out by Behaviour & Attitudes during July and August 2023 reveals a complex relationship between Irish adults and alcohol. As a nation we are experiencing a cultural shift regarding alcohol with evidence of positive intentions continuing to grow, however the “at least weekly” consumption levels remain high, and the figures for binge drinking continue to increase year on year.

Binge drinking is defined as the consumption of 60 grams of pure alcohol or six standard drinks in one sitting. One in four Irish adults, when they do drink, are now typically binge drinking.

These figures are released against the backdrop of continued costof-living pressures and the legacy of the Covid-19 pandemic. The top three most mentioned drinking

While 59% of Irish adults consume alcohol at least once a week the Drinkaware Barometer indicates positive shifts with 41% making small changes in their drinking habits

occasions from the research are all based in the home, a trend that has become normalised since the Covid -19 pandemic, with 33% drinking with family over mealtimes or 29% drinking with a partner/housemate during the day or evening at least once a week.

Potentially worrying is that 32% of drinkers are now drinking at home alone at least once a week, compared to 8% who report going out for a drink alone. Data shows that almost one in four adults (24%) are now putting alcohol in their supermarket shopping at least once a week – despite the cost-of-living pressures.

This year’s Barometer also uncovers several positive indicators like the fact that 36% of adults now agree they would like to drink alcohol less often and 41% say they have made small positive changes to their drinking habits in the past 30 days, peaking amongst those under 25 years, with 54% of 18–24-year-olds saying they would like to drink less often and 57% having made small positive changes.

Dearbhla O’Brien, chief executive officer, Drinkaware, believes more needs to be done to curb harmful

binge drinking and at-home drinking patterns.

“There is, however, room for optimism,” she says. “Most adults now believe that the HSE’s low-risk weekly guidelines are reasonable, and for the first time ever, over half of adults say they would follow them if they knew what they were. That said, with national awareness of the guidelines once again being almost non-existent (3%), there remains a job to be done in terms of educating, informing, and empowering the public when it comes to alcohol consumption with almost 1 in 3 adults (29%) stating that clear information on the guidelines would be a useful tool for them to moderate their own drinking.

“It is very encouraging that the signs of a positive cultural shift in attitudes and expectations around alcohol continue to grow, particularly among young adult populations…We must continue to build on and sustain these green shoots to support and enable a societal shift regarding alcohol misuse,” said O’Brien. n

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DRINKS INDUSTRY IRELAND | November/December 2023

DEP OSI T AN D RE TURN SC HEME

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Irish retailers urged to register now for Ireland’s Deposit Return Scheme

The Deposit Return Scheme starts on 1 February 2024. Retailers selling drinks in PET plastic bottles and aluminium/steel cans are reminded of mandatory registration with only weeks to go. Drinks Industry Ireland looks at all you need to know regarding the new scheme

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here are only a number of weeks remaining before Ireland’s Deposit and Return Scheme goes live. Re-turn is reminding all retailers who sell drinks in PET plastic bottles and aluminium/steel cans, that they are legally obliged to register with the scheme.

From 1 February 2024 onwards, when consumers buy a drink in a plastic bottle, aluminium or steel can that features the Re-turn logo, they will pay a small deposit in addition to the price of the drink. When they return the empty, undamaged container to shops and supermarkets with designated return points, the deposit is refunded in full. A deposit of 15c will apply to containers from 150ml – 500mls and a deposit of 25c for containers over 500ml to three litres.

Ireland’s Deposit Return Scheme legislation defines a ‘retailer’ as any person who for the purpose of trade or otherwise in the course of business sells or otherwise supplies ‘in-scope’ products to a final consumer.

What are in-scope products?

In-scope products are defined as: • PET Plastic bottles from 150ml – 3 litres • Aluminium and steel cans from 150ml – 3 litres Following registration, retailers must then decide on the method of take back – reverse vending machine (RVM) or Manual Take Back – or alternatively apply for a take back exemption based on meeting certain criteria. These criteria are detailed on the Take Back Exemptions document available to view and download on the Re-turn website.

Deposit Return starts on 1 February 2024 and marks the beginning of the 4-month transition period for retailers.

Following registration, retailers must then decide on the method of take back – Reverse Vending Machine (pictured) or Manual Take Back. Pictured Sean Murphy, LPP, collections partner for Re-turn, Ossian Smyth TD, Tony Keohane, chair of Re-turn and Séamus Clancy, acting CEO, Re-turn using a reverse vending machine.

During this time, retailers may sell both non-deposit stock and Re-turn logo stock, ensuring there is no wastage.

From 1 June 2024, only Re-turn logo stock may be stocked on retailer shelves or sold to consumers.

The Deposit Return Scheme is a circular economy initiative that aims to create a closed loop recycling system guaranteeing high quality recycled material is returned and recycled.

Under the EU Single Use Plastic (SUP) directive, Ireland must ensure the separate collection of 77% of plastic beverage bottles by 2025, rising to 90% by 2029.

Key information for Irish retailers 1. Mandatory registration: All retailers that sell ‘in-scope’ drinks containers must register with Re-turn at www.re-turn.ie. Registration is a straightforward process and ensures compliance with the scheme.

2. Take Back Exemption application: Retailers may apply for a Take Back

Exemption based on meeting certain criteria. Re-turn is dedicated to helping retailers navigate this process smoothly.

3. Transition period timelines: For full details of the transition period timelines for retailers, please visit the Re-turn website at www.re-turn.ie/ retailer 4. Transition assistance: Re-turn is committed to supporting retailers through this critical transition period and welcomes the opportunity to provide guidance and assistance.

5. Access to resources: To assist retailers, Re-turn has made extensive information available on its website.

Retailers can find comprehensive resources, guidelines, and FAQs to better understand the Deposit Return Scheme and what it means for their business.

Irish retailers are strongly encouraged to visit www.re-turn.ie to become informed about the incoming scheme. n

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I N D U S T RY INTER VIEW

November/December 2023 | DRINKS INDUSTRY IRELAND

Celebrating 200 years of Findlater & Co Wine and spirit director of Findlater & Co, Richard Moriarty speaks to Fionnuala Carolan about how they have marked the 200 year milestone and what they are doing to ensure the longevity of this inspiring company into the future

Findlater’s Corner, 28-32 Upper O’Connell Street from 1835-1969

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ou know you are part and parcel of Dublin’s rich history when you are mentioned not once but on several occasions throughout Ulysses.

James Joyce obviously thought a lot of the Findlater & Co wine merchants which was then situated at the top of Harcourt St when he used it as a landmark in his famous book. The company, which today represents prestigious wine and coffee brands such as Masi, Torres, Bolinger, Lavazza and Robert Roberts, celebrates 200 years in Ireland and although owned

by Valeo Foods since 2014, the Findlater history is very important to the company and they celebrated it in style with a gala evening in the RDS back in September.

Richard Moriarty, the wine and spirit director of Findlater & Co conveys the importance of this rich history to the company when talking about the planning of the 200th birthday celebrations.

“We wanted to make the evening more interactive than a traditional sit down dinner so we created an area with

a bar in the middle and food stations all around the edge,” he explains. “The idea was that you picked up a plate and you walked around and mixed with a host of different people and it worked really well.”

No surprise that wine was a central part of the evening and guests were invited to try some of the company’s most prestigious wines and it gave

them a chance to showcase some of the newer varieties. Half way through the night while the guests mingled, the lights went out and drummers emerged in LED suits with base drums as a nod to the company being focused on the future.

In attendance on the evening were staff and colleagues, wine journalists, winery partners from around the world and some of Findlater’s key customers and by all accounts, it was a resounding success.

The start of it all

Findlater & Co conduct long distance deliveries deep into the Kildare and Meath countryside

Moriarty stresses the fact that being in business for 200 years is an incredible feat. “This is a 200 year old company and I’m in charge of the wine side of the business and it really gave me a sense of don’t mess this up now. We want to be here for another 200 years.

When myself and my team sat down to talk about how to celebrate this company, we looked at the past and the history and two things really stood out. Innovation was one as it started out as an import business and then

DRINKS INDUSTRY IRELAND | November/December 2023

moved into retail and now in its current iteration it’s a tea, coffee and wine distribution company. Innovation is the first strand we needed to celebrate and the second was its people. It’s the people that make a business,” he says.

There are 66 people working in the company today and they are moulding the business for the future, he explains. . Moriarty himself has 30 years’ experience in the wine industry, having previously worked for Booker in the UK – part of the Tesco Group.

Quite astonishing is that a young Scottish man named Alexander Findlater started it all when he came to Dublin in 1923 to establish a wine. and spirits import/export business on Burgh Quay.

“Alexander became famous for being a good bottler,” explains Moriarty. “He would have bought barrels of sherry and barrels of port and exported them abroad but he was a great business man and a shrewd operator.”

I N DUSTRY I N TE RVI EW

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A selection of Findlater’s wine brands

Give Wine a Future While celebrating the past, they are very much looking towards the future and a big focus for the company is sustainability. They work with about 100 wineries across the globe from Spain to South America and Moriarty says that they are lucky that a lot of these wineries are doing fantastic projects around sustainability. “The problem we had is how do you talk to people about this,” says Moriarty.

“Sustainability encompasses a huge amount from packaging materials to sustainable farming practices to thinner glass.

“We looked at sustainability and wondered what we could do so we coined the phrase Give Wine a Future.

We take all the sustainability measures from our suppliers and talk to the trade about them. We talk to them about their wine lists and say you’ve got no sustainability measures on your wine list. You look at hotels and they have sustainability measures everywhere from their websites, to towels in the rooms, to explaining where the food comes from on restaurant menus. So everywhere in hospitality they talk about sustainability but they don’t talk about it in wine. So we are using Give Wine a Future to encourage restaurants to give customers a choice and help them explain why choosing a particular wine is better for the environment.”

The company carried out a unique

and first-in-the-industry tasting in the Shelborne Hotel in Dublin earlier this year to talk about sustainability in the wine industry.

Moriarty gives an example of a particular Masi wine that encompasses sustainability, called Fresco de Masi.

“It’s organic, it’s biodynamic, it’s unfiltered, lightweight glass and it doesn’t have a plastic cap. All these kinds of modern cues are appealing to a different consumer than their more

historic wines. This is much lighter and fresher,” he explains.

He believes that most wineries are looking at some sustainable practices but the problem with sustainability is that there are so many different accreditations around the world.

“B Corp seems to be gaining worldwide recognition and we have four wineries we work with that are B Corp certified.

That seems to be the gold standard in sustainability,” he says.

The next steps is to draw a line in the sand when they will ensure that all their supplying wineries must have some sustainable accreditation. “That will be at some point next year,” he promises.

“Our coffee partners have the same sustainability principles”.

Women in wine

Richard Moriarty, wine and spirits director of Findlater & Co at the company’s 200 year celebration in the RDS in September 2023

Another strand to the business is an initiative called Women in Wine which aims to put the spotlight on the many women working in the industry and to encourage more women to join this traditionally male dominated space.

“We’ve got really amazing female wine makers in our portfolio so we decided to highlight them in events during the year with tastings. We started the Women in Wine trade group and we sponsor a bursary to give further education to those who want to get >>

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I N D U S T RY INTER VIEW

into wine. Michelle O’Sullivan is our grocery wine director and she runs that.

She’s brilliant,” he says.

Findlater & Co works with all of the main hotel and restaurants groups in Ireland and the company has two separate wine businesses, the hospitality business and the retail business. Moriarty explains how the supermarket business sells completely separate wines and a completely different portfolio to the hospitality side of the business. “If you have a wine in the supermarket you’d find it very difficult to sell it hospitality. You don’t see those brands on menus,” he states.

Consumption levels falling While all these great strides are being made in the industry, it’s surely sobering for them to admit that alcohol consumption levels are falling across the board as younger people are drinking less than the previous generations.

Moriarty says that this is something they accept and have to work around.

“Younger people are choosing not to drink alcohol at all or drink less alcohol.

And a lot of that is to do with their health. They don’t want to be waking up on a Monday feeling groggy. They are in gyms and more concerned with how they look.”

Consumption levels have been falling here since 2000. To counter this there is a lot of innovation around no and low alcohol brands and even more recently in mid-strength options due to the UK’s change in duty in August of this year.

Moriarty explains what is happening: “The duty in the UK is now tied directly to alcohol volume, so the lower the alcohol volume, the lower the duty. So it’s opening up in the UK a whole load of brands with the likes of McGuigan 7%. It’s also about the whole issue of drinking in moderation as well. I’d love

As a nod to the future of the company, LED dancers entertained guests as part of the 200th anniversary celebrations

Gala celebrations in the RDS for the 200th anniversary of Findlater & Co

7/8/9% wines to be a thing. When my children are of drinking age the message from me will be that drinking in moderation is a good thing. Binge drinking and being drunk is not good. It will be interesting to see if that taxation change will have an impact in the UK.” According to Moriarty, one of their brands that has excelled in producing non-alcoholic wine is Torres with its product Natureo, which he says is the best non-alcoholic wine on the market.

He explains the complicated process of making non-alcoholic wine. “You make the wine and then you take the alcohol out and that is an expensive process as it’s an extra step. It’s a spinning cone process where you separate the wine into different parts but you do lose some aromatics when you do it. Torres has been doing it the longest and I think they manage to make the best non-alcoholic wine on the market. We do a lot of blind tasting and it always outperforms everything else. They’ve perfected the process.”

Ireland as a test bed for Europe The Irish drinks industry is dealing with a lot of legislative changes at present and Moriarty points out that we

Richard Moriarty and the Findlater & Co team celebrate the company’s 200th anniversary

don’t see that happening in any other country in Europe. “We are dealing with health labelling issues, single unit pricing, restrictions on multi-buy promotions. Ireland is a real test bed for a lot of legislation that might come down the line in Europe. A lot like the smoking ban – we were the first in Europe to do it and now it’s widespread across Europe. I think there’s definitely something cultural about how we drink here and in the UK compared to most of Europe. In my opinion, legislative changes don’t change that cultural link that you have,” he says.

The Irish drinks market is certainly robust and Alex Findlater definitely made a good punt on choosing to set up shop in Dublin in 1823.

A mausoleum in Harold’s Cross in Dublin houses the remains of members of the Findlater family, the most recent to be buried there in 2018, was also an Alex Findlater who was the last of the family to lead the wine merchants and retailing business. While the family are now gone, they have left behind a wonderful legacy and employees who are keen to keep the Findlater name going strong well into the future.

Reaching a bi-centenary is certainly no mean feat. Congratulations! n

DRINKS INDUSTRY IRELAND | November/December 2023

GROW WI TH GUI N N ESS

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Grow with Guinness upskills hospitality workers The Grow with Guinness programme trains 1,200 hospitality workers and is supported by Skillnet Ireland and designed to support hospitality staff retention and career development

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staff recruitment and retention in the iageo’s ‘Grow with Guinness’ industry. hospitality upskilling Grow with Guinness is operated programme has reached a in partnership with Positive 2 Work significant milestone with 1,200 Skillnet, who develop bespoke staff employed in pubs, bars, hotels, training programmes to empower and restaurants participating in the people to create positive workplaces. programme since it was launched in The curriculum includes topics such July 2022.

This landmark was reached following as digital presence, sustainability, management and leadership, and the most recent training programme innovation. in The Guinness Storehouse last month where 60 participants undertook training to provide them with the necessary skills and knowledge to help them progress to management level in the hospitality sector.

To date, staff from over 100 different hospitality businesses, located across 30 counties on the island of Ireland have participated in the programme.

The training ranges from entry level bar staff to management Matt Guest, head of training for Diageo Europe level and was initially launched presented to the 60 guests from the hospitality in response to challenges on industry

Speaking about the programme, Diageo Ireland managing director, Barry O’Sullivan said: “As part of our commitment to be the number one partner to the trade, we launched Grow with Guinness to support our customers in training, upskilling and retaining the best talent. We’re really proud to be able to use our resources and knowledge to support workers in the industry on their career journey and to support a thriving hospitality sector in Ireland.”

Grainne O’Boyle of Positive 2 Work Skillnet said: “We are delighted to be involved in this unique project with Diageo who we have worked with since 2012. The project helps to develop participant skills to address digitalisation, customer engagement and the need to build an understanding of environmental factors within the industry and the implementation of an environmental roadmap.” n

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P U B P ROF IL E

Willie Aherne, owner and operator of The Palace Bar

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200 years in the making One of Dublin’s oldest landmarks, The Palace Bar on Fleet Street in Dublin city centre is steeped in history.

Proprietor Willie Aherne, speaks to Fionnuala Carolan about growing up and working in one of Dublin’s most famous haunts and the pride he feels on its 200th anniversary

he morning I met with Willie Aherne, the news broke that Wetherspoons was closing its regional pubs in Ireland. Aherne, a lover and protector of the traditional Irish pub was nonplussed by the news.

“Wetherspoons is not what I look for in a pub,” he says. “They are lacking in soul.”

Soul is something The Palace Bar has in spades and if the walls could talk, it would reveal a lot about the Dublin of old and a broad history of thespians who regularly frequented it during the last century. 2023 sees it celebrating the extraordinary occasion of 200 years in existence and Aherne explains that his family have been at the helm for 75 of those.

“It probably dawned on me during the Covid years that we were 75 years as a family here and at the time we didn’t know how things were going from week to week and what the future held so the fact that we are open and operating a good business here in 2023 and The Palace is 200 years old, we needed to mark the occasion,” he says.

As part of the celebrations they launched an own-label whiskey in conjunction with Irish Distillers and Powers, and another one with Echlinville Distillery in Northern Ireland and they have a special limited edition whiskey coming out before Christmas.

“We’ve really put ourselves out there on the whiskey front since the early 2000s and we were the first pub to revive that tradition of having our own whiskey label again since the early 70s,” he explains.

They’ve released about 11 whiskeys since then. “I respect whiskey and I

DRINKS INDUSTRY IRELAND | November/December 2023

P UB PROFI LE History

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The Palace Bar was originally a drapery owned by John Standford who ran it through the 1830s and 1840s. It evolved into a pub and Patrick Hall took over in 1878 and commissioned a renovation and from this renovation came a lot of the Victorian features that you still see today. Aherne explains how it came to be in his family. “The Ryan Family came in around 1912 and George Ryan died in the early 40’s and the Widow Ryan was running the show here and she sold it to my grandparents Bill and Bridie Aherne in 1946 just as

Willie Aherne’s grandparents Bill and Bridie Aherne bought the Palace in 1946

love a whiskey tasting evening,” he admits. “I find it very sociable to talk through 4/5 whiskeys and have a pint or two as well”.

Having completed whiskey courses in Midleton he tasked himself with making The Palace Bar one of the premier Irish whiskey houses. “It was on our doorstep and we weren’t embracing Irish whiskey until the early 2000s,” he says.

So what level of input does Aherne have on producing a bespoke whiskey for The Palace Bar? “We look at the age profile and what kind of cask we want to use. We get 3/5 samples whether we go to the distillery or we come here. I tend to always bring them home as your mood and your palate can be different in a relaxed setting and you make your own decision over a period of a week.

With the help of my right hand man Alan, we come to a decision,” he says.

Irish whiskey is riding the crest of the a wave at present. We’ve seen this for craft beer and gin and now a lot of focus and investment is on the Irish whiskey category. What whiskey would he offer to a tourist who wanted to taste a good Irish whiskey we wondered?

“If they wanted to try something different that they wouldn’t get back home we encourage them to try one of our own whiskeys, Echlinville, Dingle or Fercullen maybe,” he suggests.

the shelves, putting the beer mats out and wiping down tables.”

He also remembers ‘holy hour’ cleanup, which was when the bar used to close between 2pm-4pm every day and then it became just Sundays, with the hope that men would go home for their dinner.

After school Aherne did a marketing course in Business Studies in DIT and then went travelling for a year and a half. He says it was an easy choice to come on board here full time after that. Ahern’s grandfather Bill died in 1978 and his father and his sisters took over. His father Liam is still working – coming in 5/6 mornings a week. “He meets a few regulars, has his lunch.

He’s immersed in the trade,” explains Aherne.

A music session taking place in The Palace Bar

WW2 came to an end. They paid a high price for the pub which was a remarkable achievement just after WW2, as money would have been tight and my grandfather was in his early 30s. He had come up from Tipperary along with his two brothers and they all got involved with the licenced trade and served their time and eventually got the deposit for a pub up in James Street and did very well there and then he went on to buy here.”

The Palace has long been known as a journalists hang out with The Irish Times and Irish Press offices situated just across the road on D’olier Street.

The famous Irish Times editor Bertie

Growing up in the business

Growing up as part of an establishment such as this nurtured a real love of tradition and instilled the importance of social connection for Aherne and he recalls coming in “as a young fella washing bottles, cleaning

“People come to The Palace Bar to read the newspaper and have conversations,” says Aherne

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P U B P ROF IL E

November/December 2023 | DRINKS INDUSTRY IRELAND

Smyllie used to hold court in the back room, reveals Aherne. “Patrick Kavanagh, Flann O’Brien, Brendan Behan, the artist Harry Kernoff all came in here. It was one of the melting pots like The Duke, McDaids and The Waterloo. There was a bit of a bohemian thing going on during the 40s and 50s in Dublin.”

Change afoot

Change was in the air in the 1960s and traditional Irish pubs began to modernise as they were encouraged to move with the times. “It was the swinging sixties and they were putting down carpet in pubs, formica counters, taking away snugs and gilded mirrors etc. They were all going in skips. My grandfather’s peers were saying, you have to move with the times or you’ll be left behind,” explains Aherne.

He recounts how his grandfather decided to stick with tradition after a conversation with another publican.

“Bill went for a walk one day to Ryans of Parkgate Street and the boss man Bongo Ryan was there and they were having a drink and Bill asked him was he modernising and he said no and they both shook hands on it. The Palace and Ryans are still here today. I think in Dublin we are blessed because we have about 15 of that ilk like The Long Haul, The Stags Head, The Swan, Keoghs, McDaids etc and they are all doing well.”

So The Palace remained the same but in the 1970s inevitable change came as women started to frequent bars and the first ladies bathroom was installed in the late 70s. “Before that they used to have to let them upstairs to the family home,” laughs Aherne.

Loss of the afterwork drinks crowd

Covid changed things irretrievably for The Palace Bar having always been a great ‘teatime house’ which was busiest between 5pm-8pm but that trade is hit and miss now, says Aherne.

“Our regulars are not in town as much or they might have moved down the country. We rely on tourism, events, corporate business and some regulars to make up for it.”

Coivd was a harrowing time for Aherne as he describes the ‘not knowing what was going to happen’ as the worst part.

When the ‘€9 meal’ rule came in where customers had to purchase food worth €9 with their drinks, they were quick to innovate by installing a pizza oven and joining forces with a restaurant across the road to offer four or five dishes. They had never served food bar a “good toastie” so this was a huge effort to organise. “It was good

Liam and Willie Aherne, father and son, launching The Palace Bar whiskey

for our heads to be back working,” he says. “It covered its costs and the place was open which was important.

There were no tourists around but the support we got from regulars was unbelievable. People were coming in during the day to support us and we got to know a lot of our regulars better during the period as we had to seat everybody and sign them in.”

After Covid they reverted to just doing toasted sandwiches again and Aherne said the furthest he would like to go is maybe creating a better sandwich but he doesn’t want the smell of food in the bar. “People come to The Palace Bar to read the newspaper and have conversations.

They don’t want to see plates and cutlery and the smell of soup. A good sandwich, cheese and onion crips and a nice pint – perfect!”

Staff

Getting the right staff is important for Aherne and he always looks for a nice manner and a good work ethic and makes sure they are a little bit streetwise. He sends his staff on regular whiskey training so make sure

The beautiful Victorian features in The Palace Bar

there is good knowledge across the board.

“Whiskey is a big feature of the house so knowledge is key. Some staff are good in some areas, and others are stronger in others so you need to play to their strengths.”

It’s no secret that a lot of staff left the industry during the Pandemic and Aherne can attest to this as he feels like a lot of older staff got out of this game and wanted to spend more time with families. “It is an industry of unsociable hours. All industries are looking for staff; guards, teachers, retail. You need a good package. A lot of pubs have gone to a four day working week to try to retain staff and keep costs down.”

Handing on the reins

Aherne says it would be lovely if his kids, who are still very young, one day took over but he is adamant that they will have to find their own way and they certainly won’t be forced.

“It would be lovely if it stayed in the Aherne family. I thank my mother and father for giving me a love for the business. I love old buildings, bars, architecture. He remembers trips down the country to see relations and stopping off in pubs like Mooney’s of Monasterevin and Morrissey’s of Abbeyleix along the way. “I love tradition. We were down in Dingle during the summer and the whole family was in the snug in Dick Macks for a drink and the kids for crisps and 7up. You don’t get that in the Canary Islands or Spain,” he plainly states.

LVA

Aherne will be taking over from Laura Moriarty as chair of the Licensed Vintners Association next year and he’s looking forward to the challenge and following in the footsteps of many strong chairs.

“We have a good man there in Donal O’Keefe to guide us. It’s an important role to speak for the trade and to build relationships with suppliers and I’ll aim for few improvements in the trade for our members. It’s amazing how liaising with your peers can solve a problem or you can ask advice and get moral support. It was a huge learning experience for me when I joined 12 years ago.” With two small children and a baby on the way, Aherne and his wife Miriam have plenty on their plate but you can be sure they will hand down the great love and respect they have for the history of one of Dublin’s oldest pubs to the next generation with the hope that the Palace Bar will still be standing in another 200 years’ time. n

DRINKS INDUSTRY IRELAND | November/December 2023

MARKETI NG

A day in the life

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Steve Guiney, managing director, Original 7 Beverage Co tells Drinks Industry Ireland about his typical day in the Irish drinks industry What time do you get up on a weekday?

Mornings begin between 6:30am and 7am. My son Oscar often assumes the role of the household timekeeper!

Steve Guiney, managing director, Original 7 Beverage Co.

Typical breakfast?

What is your favourite drink?

The best start to the day involves a cup of coffee, followed by either scrambled or poached eggs with mushrooms, toast, and a touch of Franks Sauce. I also blend up a quick smoothie if I have time.

Do you commute or work from home?

I mostly work from home and dedicate one day a week to oversee operations at the brewery and engage with the team. I set aside two evenings each week to connect with our on-trade clientele, gathering their valuable feedback and exploring ways to enhance our offerings.

How long have you been in your current job?

I’ve been managing director for a year and a half now. The fact that I already had a good working relationship with Shane Long (founder of Original 7) meant I could hit the ground running.

Anything from Original 7 Beverage Co, especially the Revolution IPA! And of course, coffee!

In 1998, Shane Long established the 7th microbrewery in Ireland based in Cork naming it Original 7 and it has since produced some award winning beers

What does a typical day at work include?

My workday entails a diverse array of tasks, ranging from website maintenance, managing accounts, and handling payroll and HR, to delving into social media management and lead generation. I also collaborate with our graphic designer and PR consultant and assist our brewer with maintenance issues.

Who is your favourite politician and why?

Without a doubt, it has to be Michael D. Higgins. Who doesn’t like Michael D?!

Who is the most annoying celebrity in your opinion?

For me, it’s any of the Kardashians.

I’ve yet to fathom the point of their celebrity status.

What is the best ad (apart from the brand’s you represent)?

I was particularly impressed with the Guinness ad featuring Brian O’Driscoll.

Humorous and clever, the tagline ‘Don’t jinx it!’ perfectly tapped into the Irish psyche.

Worst ad on television?

Shane Long, founder of original 7 with Steve Guiney, managing director, original 7

There are quite a few, but anything that becomes an earworm truly gets under my skin, like the Quote Devil car insurance ad!

If you had to pick three famous people to have a drink with, who would they be?

I’d love to have a drink or two with Anthony Kiedis from The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Damon Albarn from Blur, and Sir Alex Ferguson!

Favourite no/low brand on the market?

Erdinger Non-Alcoholic holds a special place as my go-to choice.

Favourite pub in Ireland and abroad?

Back home, The Franciscan Well is a firm favourite, while abroad, the Dead Rabbit in New York holds a special spot - those guys are personal heroes of mine.

Best pub for grub?

In Cork, the pizzas from Pompeii Pizza at The Franciscan Well never disappoint. They are the perfect accompaniment to Original 7 beers. For a casual lunch, I’d opt for Dwyer’s, and for something more sophisticated, 76 on the Mall is excellent.

Achievement you are most proud of?

On a personal level, being a father to my two incredible kids is my greatest source of pride. Professionally, bringing the award winning Original 7 brand to life and our special limited-edition Extra Stout aged in Jameson casks which are available to buy on our website since November. The perfect Christmas gift for the discerning craft beer lover.

Favourite saying?

A: “Life is too short to drink bad beer!” n

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I RI S H P U B M A NA G EMENT TR AI NI NG

November/December 2023 | DRINKS INDUSTRY IRELAND

The Irish Pub Awards Management Training Day Last month, the Galmont Hotel in Galway hosted an exclusive management training program for the regional winners of the Irish Pub Awards.

The event, attended by over 50 members of the Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) and the Licensed Vintners Association (LVA), provided a unique platform for publicans to connect, engage in meaningful discussions, and explore shared opportunities and challenges

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hroughout the management training day, participants were enlightened by expert speakers who delved into crucial topics such as enhancing profitability, fostering workplace inclusivity, elevating digital presence and addressing tourism and talent-related concerns.

This comprehensive training initiative, a pivotal component of the prize package awarded to regional champions, was made possible through the support of the Irish Pub Awards sponsors, including BOI Payment Acceptance, Bulmers, Diageo, Edward Dillon, Fáilte Ireland, Heineken, IMRO, Irish Distillers-Pernod Ricard, and Musgrave MarketPlace. The awards media partners are Irish Independent and ourselves, Drinks Industry Ireland. n

The Irish Pub Management Training Day took place in the Galmont Hotel in Galway on 24 October

Jimmy Tobin, O’Connells, Skyrne, Meath; Valerie Dolan, Dolans, Limerick City; Anna Prendergast, Bobby Byrnes, Limerick City and James McMahon, Mother Macs, Limerick City

Anna Prendergast, Bobby Byrnes, Limerick City; Mima Augustin, The Central Bar, Navan, Meath; Maureen O’Sullivan Strand Bar, Vicarstown, Cork and Nina Frisby, Kickham House, Tipperary

Ronan Kinsella, Dew Drop Inn, Kill, Kildare

Claude Gough, Gearys Bar, Charleville, Cork

Nina Frisby, Kickham House, Tipperary

James Perry, Lock 13 Brewpub, Sallins, Kildare; Louise Tyrrell, Irish Pub Awards and Pat Crotty, CEO, VFI

Fearghus McCormack, Merrion Inn, Dublin 4; Sue O’Neill, Irish Pub Awards and Neal Kelly, Murrays Bar, Dublin 1

Suzie Doyle, Mary Barry’s Seafood Bar & Restaurant, Kilmore, Wexford; Tom Walsh, Vine Cottage Bar, New Ross and Pat Crotty, CEO VFI

Fred Malzard, Malzards, Stoneyford, Kilkenny; Anthony Morrison, Christy’s Bar, Kilkenny City and Pat Crotty, CEO VFI

Patrick McGowan, Bad Bobs Temple Bar, Dublin 1; Fearghus McCormack, Merrion Inn, Dublin 4 and Neal Kelly, Murrays Bar, Dublin 1

Brian Renaghan, Renaghans Bar, Clontibret, Monaghan; Marie Mellet, Mellet’s Emporium, Swinford, Mayo and Pat Crotty, CEO VFI

Brian Lacey, The Reg, Waterford City, Greg Gormley, Russell’s Saloon Gin Emporium, Dundalk, Louth and Brian Renaghan, Renaghans Bar, Clontibret, Monaghan

Patrick McGowan, Bad Bobs Temple Bar, Dublin 1 and Lorraine O’Connell, Dwyers of Cork, Cork City

Maureen O’Sullivan, Strand Bar, Vicarstown, Cork

Norma Carkery, Megan Carkery, Jordans Bar, Clarinbridge, Galway; Jenny McHugh Nancys Bar, Ardara, Donegal and Trevor Burke, Flannery’s Bistro, Ballinrobe, Mayo

Niall Ryan, O’Sullivans Bar, Rathkeale, Limerick; Aaron Friel, McCaffertys Bar, Donegal Town and Kieran O’Dea, O’Dea’s Bar & Bistro, Portarlington, Laois

Tom Walsh, Vine Cottage Bar, New Ross, Wexford, Eamonn Dolan, Tallons – Dying Cow, Tinahealy, Wicklow and Dan Boland, The Ensign Bar, Monkstown, Cork

Alan Conroy, Peter Scully from Peadars Bar, Moate, Westmeath and Susie Doyle, Mary Barry’s Seafood Bar & Restaurant, Kilmore, Wexford

Lorraine O’Connell, Dwyers of Cork, Cork City; Stephen O’Sullivan, The Liberty Bar x Resistance, Cork City and Colm O’Connor, Costigan’s Bar, Cork City

Craig Hourihane, Pauric Keaney from The Phoenix Tavern, Bundoran, Donegal and Dylan Naughton, The Old Quarter Pub Café & Townhouse, Limerick City

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I N V E S T NOR TH ER N IR EL A ND TOUR

Whiskey bliss Hinch Distillery located on the Killaney Estate in Co Down

A tour with Invest Northern Ireland introduced me to some of Belfast’s newest and most innovative distilleries. Fionnuala Carolan found that the whiskey scene is very strong north of the border and recommends anyone to take a few days to discover the wonderful distilleries in some of the most beautiful locations this country has to offer

M

y visit to Northern Ireland last month was peppered with so many highlights that it’s hard to name them all but I will endeavour to give a snapshot of some of the really innovative businesses that are going to put Northern Ireland on the map when it comes to Irish whiskey.

The first stop was Invest NI’s live Showcase at the Clandeboye Lodge Hotel, Bangor, to meet Northern Ireland’s spirit producers including Echlinville Distillery (Dunville Irish Whiskey), Hinch Distillery, Rademon Estate Distillery (Shortcross Whiskey), Titanic Distillers, Belfast Distillery Co (McConnell’s Irish Whisky), Boatyard Distillery, Copeland Distillery and Two Stacks Irish Whiskey. It was a real education and a privilege to speak with the people behind all these great businesses and witness the entrepreneurship and passion that’s brough these businesses to where they are today.

Locking in flavour After lunch we were brought on a Tour of Belfast Distillery Co (home to McConnell’s Whisky) situated in Crumlin Road Gaol, Belfast and still a work in progress. McConnell’s is investing €22 million in this very unique

McConnell’s Irish Whisky is produced by the Belfast Distillery Company

distillery and visitor centre.

The group donned our hard hats and steel-toe boots and were brought on a fascinating tour of the gaol, which was designed by Charles Lanyon. It opened in 1846 and was operated as a prison for 150 years until 1996. The McConnell’s Distillery is going to inhabit one wing of the former goal but it’s still possible to have a tour of the original goal in another wing.

The Belfast Distillery Company was granted a lease by the Department of Infrastructure to renovate this wing of the former prison and use it for the purpose of development of Irish whiskey and also to entice visitors to see a piece of history along the way. McConnell’s 5 year old Irish Whisky and McConnell’s Sherry Cask Finish are already winning international awards and building their

Work is ongoing at the Crumlin Road Gaol which will house a very unique distillery and visitor centre

portfolio of in global spirits markets.

It won’t be long before visitors are filing through the front doors and enjoying some authentic Irish whiskey surrounded by history.

Fun Fact – whisky or whiskey?

In the 1800s, some of Ireland’s distillers began to use the ‘e’ to differentiate their ‘uisce beatha’ from their Celtic whisky cousins in Scotland producing Scotch Whisky. McConnells Irish Whisky was founded in 1776, predated this change and because it was already so established with 125 years of production behind them, the McConnell brothers James and John decided to stick with tradition and never included the ‘e’.

DRINKS INDUSTRY IRELAND | November/December 2023

Blood, sweat and years

Next on the list was a tour of Titanic Distillers www.titanicdistillers.com, situated at The Pump House at Thompson Dock in the Titanic District/ Quarter. The writing is on the wall here.

Blood, sweat and years says it all about the sheer graft, love and history that went into bringing a project like this to fruition.

I N VE ST NORTHE RN I RELAND TOU R

Head distiller, Damien Rafferty explained how this distillery is destined for exciting things. We were also treated to a wonderful tasting and invited to try their existing premium blended whiskeys and their smooth vodka, which was the icing on the cake.

Whiskey dreams Day two and a half hour drive from the city centre sees us arrive at the wonderful Hinch Distillery on the Killaney Estate, Co Down.

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Redefining Irish whiskey

The last distillery for me on this trip was Rademon Estate Distillery that produces Shortcross, the name coming from the local village Crossgar, which means Short Cross in Irish.

Rademon Estate Distillery is nestled within the heart of the beautiful and historic 500-acre estate in Co. Down, founded in 2012 by Fiona and David Boyd-Armstrong. The husband and wife team set out to create a gin with a vision of re-defining what an Irish gin should be. Four years later they began making whiskey in an impressive new copper pot still. Not surprisingly, the distillery’s inaugural release of Shortcross Single Malt Irish Whiskey won Best New Irish Whiskey at the 2021 Irish Whiskey Awards.

Wall of whiskey dreams in the Spectrum Room at Hinch Distillery The writing is on the wall - literally!

Inspired by the people who worked in Belfast’s shipyard more than a century ago - you can now walk in their footsteps in the very pump-house and dry dock that represents such an authentic part of the Titanic story as this pumphouse was used to drain 26 million gallons of water from the dock in 90 minutes to allow workers repair the underside of ships like Titanic. The dock was constructed by the Belfast Harbour Commissioners and opened in 1911 ready to accommodate the new wave of White Star Liners; Olympic and Titanic.

Visitors can see the workings of the distillery and hear the story of Belfast’s whiskey tradition, why it disappeared and how it has returned with the city’s first working whiskey distillery in almost 90 years.

Titanic Distillers is situated in Thompson Dock and Pumphouse in the heart of the Maritime Mile, where the Titanic once stood

The distillery produces Hinch Irish Whiskey and also Ninth Wave Irish Gin

Just reaching their third anniversary, the distillery produces Hinch Irish Whiskey but also Ninth Wave Irish Gin. Visitors to Hinch Distillery have the opportunity to see behind the scenes of its distilling operations on one of the guided tours and even make their own gin if desired. From the earliest design stage of the distillery, which displays three impressive copper stills through huge glass windows, it has been designed to allow visitors an unprecedented up-close view of the operation from the Ingredients Room, the Mash House, Still House, Spectrum Room (where you get to spray yourself in whiskey mist!) and finally finishing in one of the bespoke tasting areas where we got the chance to sample 5 year old triple distilled double wood and their new make too.

The passion from the team including William Stafford, head distiller and Claire McLernon, head of tours is evident throughout the tour.

Rademon Estate Distillery was founded in 2012 and is still run by Fiona and David Boyd-Armstrong

During the tour we tasted a 5 and a half year aged single pot still whiskey straight from the bourbon cask which was a real treat. This was followed by a blind tasting of rye and malt whiskeys which showed the complexities in these whiskeys and the broad range being produced there.

The distillery runs a full programme of tours which can be booked at www. rademonestatedistilley.com.

That concluded our tour of Northern Ireland’s whiskey distilleries which was a great education and showed clearly the huge investment of time, money and expertise that is being pumped into this dynamic industry which will no doubt encourage whiskey enthusiasts and tourists from across the globe to to make Northern Ireland a destination. n

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The most wonderful time of the year is here again, the time when people make a special effort to go out to socialise and meet friends that they might not have met since last Christmas.

Drinks Industry Ireland looks at some of the brands that are primed and ready for the holiday season

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas E

With Covid restrictions a painful very sector feels the uplift at memory, the cost of energy coming Christmas but none so much as down and a generous budget behind the on trade and the off trade us, it would be surprising if this and it’s definitely a case of make December did not outdo the last with hay while the sun shines. Enticing the appetite for celebrating strong. customers in with seasonal cocktails and mocktails and having areas for All the way from Carlow groups to meet definitely helps entice people in the door and Discover The Busker Small after that it’s up to you!

Batch Double Aged Collection.

According to Bank of Ireland The Small Batch Whiskeys are social spending during December double matured by using a limited last year increased by 10% number of casks accurately month-on-month, with retail selected by the team from spend also spiking by its warehouse in Royal Oak 10% in the same period.

Distillery, Co. Carlow. The It was a positive month Small Batch Collection has across business sectors, been personally selected with a yearly jump of 18% by their master blender in spending compared to Caroline Martin. These December 2021. exclusive releases are the Pub spending rose best expression of what significantly by 28%, due in the Royal Oak Distillery part to World Cup matches has to offer within the but more so to do with premium category.

Christmas parties providing The first in this collection people with even more to be released in late incentive to meet friends 2023, is the Single Pot Still and colleagues. Monthly Small Batch. Double aged restaurant spending went in bourbon and oloroso The Small Batch Single up by 9% in December sherry casks, and non-chill Pot Still has already (+41% versus December filtered to preserve the won Gold at the San 2021), while outlay on fast Francisco World Spirits taste and aromas. Tasting Competition 2023 food rose by 3%. notes include fruit notes,

raisins, sultanas, prunes and figs, warming spice ginger and cinnamon.

Long, smooth and mellow finish. On the nose, the Single Pot Still gives leathery, profoundly rich, complex, robust, fresh pipe tobacco, aromatic, rounded and perfectly balanced aromas. Best enjoyed neat, or on the rocks.

The Small Batch Single Pot Still has already won Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2023 and 93 points in the Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2023 before it had been released.

With a new take on the packaging side, the Small Batch Single Pot Still is corked, and has the Royal Oak Distillery embedded into the glass, this new look will be what we see for the Busker single range coming into 2024. Busker is distributed by Barry & Fitzwilliam.

The world’s favourite Italian liqueur Disaronno enjoys cult status as an Italian style icon: smooth taste, unmistakable aroma, unique and distinctive design of the bottle, original square cap and the golden label that adds a sense of contemporary elegance and style.

Disaronno is the proud ambassador of the endless Dolce Vita, telling a

DRINKS INDUSTRY IRELAND | November/December 2023

Live La Dolce Vita with Disaronno!

story through the iconic postcards of the Italian beauty, thanks to a new world of reference.

La Dolce Vita, the endless pursuit of pleasure, is an attitude, a lifestyle ascribed to the Italians. The “contemporary dolce vita” lifestyle is full of worldly immersive pleasures.

Nowadays it is suspended between the new and the ancient, tradition and contemporary.

Disaronno Amaretto captures the senses with its amber colour, rich aroma and incomparable taste which has made it the world’s favourite Italian liqueur.

Enjoy Disaronno your way, in a cocktail or even with cola and a slice of lemon, this festive season.

How to make a Disaronno Sour: With over 100 perfect mixes, the brand and fan base continues to grow. Disaronno Sour is a unique and refreshing drink in which the distinctive notes of Disaronno blend with the scent of freshly-squeezed lemons. It’s easy to make too. All that’s required is 50ml Disaronno, 25ml fresh lemon juice, 5ml of sugar syrup and egg-white. You shake all the ingredients with ice and serve with a garnish of lemon for a beautiful cocktail.

The most popular Disaronno cocktails include the Disaronno Sour, the Irish Godfather and the Disaronno Fizz. For more cocktail ideas from Disaronno, check out Disaronno.com.

Disaronno is distributed by Barry & Fitzwilliam.

It’s Espresso Martini time!

Tia Maria has been designed for the Espresso Martini. It is the must-have ingredient for this classic cocktail.

The Espresso Martini is the 7th most popular cocktail sold in the world.

The Tia Espresso Martini has been the classic evening pick-me-up since its creation in the 1980s. It’s as delicious today as it’s always been.

The combination of cold brew coffee and hot espresso coffee enhance the true coffee taste in your espresso martini.

Made with Madagascar vanilla, Jamaican rum, and 100% arabica coffee, Tia Maria has a classic roasted, full-bodied, and rich taste.

An exclusive cold brew extraction process gives it its distinctive intense coffee aroma, which is followed by notes of chocolate and pipe tobacco, caramelised cane sugar and vanilla.

The Espresso Martini is the 7th most popular cocktail sold in the world.

Learn how to make The Perfect Espresso Martini with Tia Maria. All you need is: 25ML Tia Maria, 25ml vodka, single or double shot of espresso and coffee beans to garnish.

Fill a martini glass with ice and set aside to chill. Pour Tia Maria, vodka and espresso into a cocktail shaker.

Fill the rest of the shaker with ice.

Shake the ingredients together.

Empty the martini glass of ice. Pour in the contents of the shaker using a strainer and sieve into the glass.

Finish with three coffee beans. Check out TiaMaria.com for more cocktail inspiration. Distributed by Barry & Fitzwilliam.

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Cointreau is the cornerstone of more than 350 internationally renowned cocktails such as the Margarita, Sidecar and Cosmopolitan

Brand refresh for Cointreau Cointreau has launched a redesigned version of its liqueur bottles, which are now made from “two-thirds recycled glass”.

Describing the brand refresh as the “most momentous of its kind in 140 years”, both the bottle and the label have been altered.

As well as looking to boost its sustainability credentials by using recycled glass, convenience and practicality was also a consideration when redesigning the bottle. The bottle has been made “four millimetres taller to facilitate its grip” and make it “easier to hold”. Similarly, the newly textured cap “provides better grip for an easier twist-off” while simulating the skin of an orange.

However, the bottle still displays traditional design features such as the Cointreau medallion.

Spirit lovers, both past and present, recognise Cointreau as a core building block in premium cocktails creation.

Cointreau is the cornerstone of more than 350 internationally renowned cocktails such as the Margarita, Sidecar and Cosmopolitan. It enhances your cocktails with its perfect balance.

Check out cointrau.com for some cocktail ideas.

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“A masterpiece crafted through the unique distillation of all-natural sweet and bitter orange peels, resulting in a crystal clear liqueur that strikes the perfect balance between sweetness and freshness”. For more than 30 years, the finest orange peels are carefully selected by master distiller, Carole Quinton, to create the definitive orange liqueur.

It is distributed by Barry & Fitzwilliam.

Celebrate the festive season with Powerscourt Distillery’s Wicklow Hampers The Powerscourt Distillery is delighted to announce the return of the acclaimed Fercullen Irish Whiskey & Food Pairing Hampers, available for delivery nationwide, bringing the authentic Wicklow experience right to your doorstep.

Back by popular demand, following the sell-out success of previous years, the 2023 Fercullen Whiskey Hampers are brimming with premium Irish produce, promising to elevate festive celebrations with a taste of the Garden of Ireland.

November/December 2023 | DRINKS INDUSTRY IRELAND

All orders include a complimentary whiskey tour and tasting experience for two, valued at €50. The last order date for pre-Christmas delivery is 15 December, while a click-and-collect option from the Distillery will be available until 21 December . Shipping is free on all hamper orders! Order here https://powerscourtdistillery.com/ product-category/gift-hampers/ Customers can choose from a range of hampers, each offering a curated selection of Fercullen Whiskeys and selected with gourmet pairings.

Notable hampers for 2023 include:

• Estate Series Hamper- €165 Limited Edition Estate Series 3, awardwinning Wicklow Way Wines, and a selection of premium local produce, including Coolattin Mature Cheddar and Powerscourt Honey, exclusive items like Glencairn tasting glasses and a complimentary Whiskey Tour and Tasting Experience for Two. • Single Malt Hamper - €120 Fercullen Single Malt, assorted gourmet chocolates and cheeses, 2 Glencairn Glasses, and a complimentary Whiskey Tour and Tasting Experience for Two. • Fercullen Whiskey Start Pack Hamper - €66 Trilogy Pack of Irish Whiskey, Metal Hip Flask, Glencairn Glass, and a complimentary Whiskey Tour and Tasting Experience for Two.

All hampers orders include a complimentary whiskey tour and tasting experience for two

Promoting the spirit of shop local, The Powerscourt Distillery emphasises its commitment to utilising high-quality, local produce, allowing each hamper to represent the exquisite flavours >>

ROE & CO IRISH WHISKEY FOR OCCASIONS THAT DESERVE AWARD-WINNING WHISKEY.

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C H RI S T M A S DR INKS

of Wicklow and support many local businesses and artisans.

Christmas is a time to relax, indulge, and savour. Fercullen Whiskey Hampers represent not just the supreme pairing of quality Irish whiskey and gourmet food but also the spirit and richness of local produce from the garden of Ireland.

Whether gifting a loved one, a colleague, or treating yourself, these hampers deliver an immersive Irish experience straight to your doorstep.

The Powerscourt Distillery extend warm festive wishes to all its customers and look forward to welcoming them to its Whiskey Lounge at the Distillery Visitors Centre this festive season.

Hampers can be ordered online for nationwide delivery or click and collect directly from The Powerscourt Distillery; https://powerscourtdistillery.com/ product-category/gift-hampers/

Put a little Hendrick’s in your holidays The long-awaited festive season is here!

To celebrate the season, Put A Little Hendrick’s in Your Holidays to revel in all the festivities! The perfect gift for a loved one, the hostess with the mostess, the cocktail connoisseur, the master chef or the dancing queen at the office party. From an extravagant feast to an intimate soirée, Hendrick’s gin is a super premium gin, made with a number of unusual twists.

To deliver a most curious and delightfully unique flavour, Hendrick’s combines a distinct blend of eleven botanicals, as well as the signature infusions of cucumber and rose petals, producing a wonderfully refreshing gin with a delightfully unique aroma. Hand crafted in Scotland in miniscule batches

by William Grant & Sons, Hendrick’s is the only gin that uses a marriage of spirits from both Carterhead and Bennett Copper Pot Still, a combination that produces a divinely smooth gin that has both the required character and balance of subtle flavours.

Put A Little Hendrick’s in Your Holidays with their ‘maestro of the gin and tonic’ Christmas gift box, now available in leading retailers nationwide. RRP €38.

Cocktails with a punch Irish brand Little & Green have been awarded two gold medals for their ready to drink canned cocktail flavours, at the Spirits Business Global

November/December 2023 | DRINKS INDUSTRY IRELAND

Masters Series in London.

Launched in summer 2022, Little & Green is the first range of canned cocktails to be made with poitín, the original spirit of Ireland. Offering two uniquely Irish flavours, Sneaky Orchard is a refreshing harvest festival of ripe pear, crisp apple, and elderflower, and Shady Bramble bursts with flavours of wild juicy blackberry, raspberry, and violet. Little & Green is crafted with all natural flavours, contains no artificial sweeteners, and is both vegan and gluten free with an ABV of 5%.

The Spirits Business Global Masters Series is the world’s most highly regarded series of blind-tasting competitions, unique in its exclusive use of completely independent expert judges to find and recognise excellence in spirits and mixers on the world stage. The gold medals were awarded in the pre-mixed and ready to drink (RTD) category for each of Little & Green’s two flavours.

Poitín is gaining real momentum as consumers and bartenders across Ireland, and increasingly around the world are discovering the quality, flavours and versatility of the world’s oldest spirit category. The growing popularity has been spurred on by the success of Bar 1661, the multiaward winning cocktail bar that showcases the spirit across its cocktail menu and as its core mission. Crafted around trailblazing poitín brands: Mad March Hare; and Bán, Little & Green was created by the team at Bar 1661 in partnership with Intrepid Spirits, as a way to bring poitín to a new generation, in a fun, convenient format that delivers on flavour. The name Little & Green references the corner where Bar 1661 is located, at the intersection of Little Britain Street and Green Street in Dublin 7.

Dave Mulligan, owner of Bar 1661 said: “I’m delighted to see poitín picking up awards internationally.

Little & Green was developed by the Bar 1661 team just like our in-house cocktails, and we love that people like what we do. Named for our corner of the city, we believe Little & Green has the potential to be a global brand that can ultimately change the people’s perception of Irish Poitín.”

Distributed by Intrepid Spirits, Little & Green are available from www. littleandgreen.ie.

Website: www.littleandgreen. ie Instagram: www.instagram.com/ littleandgreen_

Whiskey of the sea

O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey is a pitch perfect Irish whiskey, ideal to gift this Christmas to a loved one who always seeks the best.

O’Driscolls is a beautifully blended Irish Whiskey and is currently the only Irish owned Irish Whiskey in the standard blend category. Inspired

by Michael Stafford’s grandfather Diarmuid O’Driscoll the O’Driscolls were a famous pirate clan from Baltimore, West Cork.

The O’Driscolls were men of the sea. They were pirates and smugglers who built castles and harbours and by the fifteenth century were one of the strongest clans in Ireland. It was the wild Atlantic Ocean that was their real domain. O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey is a tribute to those famous men of the sea and encapsulates that wild Atlantic spirit of adventure, bravery, and survival.

O’Driscolls the only Irish owned Irish Whiskey in the standard blend category

An exceptional blend of golden grain and malted barley, triple distilled and aged in bourbon casks for a minimum of 3 years, giving the signature smoothness of Irish whiskey.

Maturation of whiskey is an art form. The influence of 100% bourbon cask maturation beautifully enhances the sweet vanilla profile of the whiskey.

Put this on your Christmas list Original 7 Beverage Co, an awardwinning microbrewery based in Cork City, is excited to launch its limitededition Extra Stout aged in Jameson casks.

DRINKS INDUSTRY IRELAND | November/December 2023

a design that reflects the grains of Extra Stout is the first in Original 7’s wood on the casks along with the ‘barrel aged series’ and is sure to be established Original 7 branding. on the Christmas list of all discerning Original 7’s Extra Stout is available craft beer and whiskey connoisseurs to buy from their website www. this year. This premium Irish stout will original7.ie and from limited be available in limited quantities Cork City premises including the only 1,000 bottles will be available to Franciscan Well Brewpub and purchase - ensuring that each bottle Bradley’s off licence. and pour is a treasured experience Indulge in the extraordinary – for those lucky enough to enjoy it. raise your glass and toast to the Brewed by head brewer, Páidí harmonious marriage of stout and Scully, using Irish ale malt, flaked oats, whiskey – made in Cork, obviously! malted wheat, roast barley, and dark crystal malts; Original 7’s Extra Stout Award winning wine for a snip! packs a punch. Expect a full-bodied stout (close to 8% ABV) with notes Feeling the pinch this Christmas, why of strong coffee and winter berry not try an Irish Wine Show Gold Star coupled with dark chocolate and award winning wine with a few years coffee bean aromas. And thanks to of age for an absolute snip. Winner their friends in Jameson Distillery of the Best New World White under Cork, this barrel-aged stout was €12 Santa Rita Estates Semillon matured for six months in six ex2017 proved a hit at a recent press bourbon Jameson whiskey casks, tasting with many recommendations. adding subtle undertones of caramel, Superb quality and craftsmanship are vanilla, nuttiness and a little spice. the hallmarks of Santa Rita, one of Shane Long, founding director, Chile’s most admired and innovative Original 7 explains why its Extra Stout wine estates. The dynamic Reserva is a cut above the rest; “After 25 years series has a well-structured, fruity in the brewery and pub trade and as style, perfect for any occasion. This the first beer partner to Jameson 11 Semillon has an elegant golden years ago, it is a full circle moment colour. Its shows soft aromas to be back using Jameson casks to of pineapple and melon, nicely produce Original 7 Extra Stout. The complemented with white roses and combination of our brewing process honey caramel. It is balanced with a and the flavours that Jameson brings smooth mouthfeel, it is also still fresh to this brew make it truly special. It is, with a lingering finish. without doubt, the best extra stout Irish Wine Show Gold Star I have ever tasted. I would like to Winner of the Best New World thank Jameson for their support Red under €12 was the 2015 and Taste4Success Skillnet for Carmen Premier 1850 Cabernet their help and support in funding Sauvignon. This is a beautifully the experts to help us develop and mature Cabernet, with leafy promote our Original 7 brand”. aromas, cassis and blackcurrant Whether shared amongst on the palate and a soft, friends, savoured in solitude, smooth finish. or paired with a hearty meal, For those watching the Original 7’s Extra Stout invites calories or alcohol units, you to experience the fusion of there’s the 120 Dealcoholised two Irish legacies. It’s not just range which includes a zesty a beverage; it’s a celebration Sauvignon Blanc and fruity of heritage and brewing Cabernet Sauvignon. craftsmanship that’s meant to For those seeking the be cherished. pleasure of a warming glass Retailing at €29 a bottle, this of red, the Doña Paula Estate is a special gift for someone Malbec from Argentina is a who really appreciates must. This elegant, refined exceptional craft beer. Extra yet very approachable Stout comes in a traditional Malbec is made by renowned dark brown stout bottle with winemaker and viticulturalist a branded label front and of the year Martin Kaiser using back and a swing stopper cap. Santa Rita is one grapes grown at 1,350 meters of Chile’s most The bottle is presented in a in the foothills of the Andes. admired and premium branded presentation innovative wine The range also includes Doña box in dark wine colours with estates Paula Estate Blue Velvet,

C HRI STMAS DRI NK S

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an alluring blend of Malbec, Pinot Noir and Bonarda and the Estate Black Edition which is a complex and full-bodied blend of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon. A single varietal Doña Paula Estate Sauvignon Blanc completes the line-up.

It’s thyme for a vodka This season, stand under the mistletoe and spend some quality thyme with Tito’s Handmade Vodka. Sip on this tart cocktail topped with the aroma of savory thyme, a bit of a sparkle, and a burst of colour. It is called the Tito’s “Holiday Thyme” cocktail.

Simply shake 45ml of Tito’s, 45ml of cranberry juice, and 15ml of lime juice with ice, pour into a glass and then top with 90ml of sparkling water and a sprig of thyme for garnish.

Tito’s Handmade Vodka is one of the fastest growing spirits brands in Ireland

Tito’s Handmade Vodka is America’s Original Craft Vodka, and it’s also one of the fastest growing spirits brands in Ireland. In 1995, sixth-generation Texan Bert “Tito” Beveridge obtained the first legal permit to distill in Texas and created Tito’s Handmade Vodka on a plot of land in rural Austin where he built a small shack, rigged a pot still with spare parts and batch distilled his corn-based, naturally gluten-free vodka.

Today, Tito’s Handmade Vodka is now available in over 140 markets including the Americas, Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Middle East, and is distilled and bottled in Austin on the very same land where the whole thing started.

Tito’s is also highly committed to community causes, charitable organisations, and disaster relief efforts across the world, through the brand’s “Love, Tito’s” initiatives, including especially pet welfare efforts.

In Ireland, Tito’s is proudly represented

by Comans Beverages Ltd. n

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The arrival of no and low alcohol brands has been the biggest phenomenon to hit the drinks industry in years and consumers now enjoy having the confidence to moderate their consumption if and when they need to.

Drinks Industry Ireland looks at the wealth of innovation in this growing sector

How low can you go?

T

he annual Drinkaware Barometer, which provides an overview of adults’ drinking behaviours in Ireland, which was carried out by Behaviour & Attitudes during July and August 2023 reveals a complex relationship between Irish adults and alcohol. 36% of adults now agree they would like to drink alcohol less often, the highest such incidence in the Drinkaware Barometer to date. 41% say they have made small positive changes to their drinking habits in the past 30 days and both of these sentiments peak amongst those under 25 years, with 54% of 18–24-year-olds saying they would like to drink less often and 57% having made small positive changes.

According to Dearbhla O’Brien, chief executive officer, Drinkaware, “It is very encouraging that the signs of a positive cultural shift in attitudes and expectations around alcohol continue to grow, particularly among young adult populations. Over half of those aged 18-24 now say they would like to drink less and 57% of younger adults have made small positive changes to their drinking habits in the last 30 days.”

Backing this up, figures compiled

by Drinks Ireland show that nonalcoholic beer sales in Ireland more than tripled between 2017 and 2021, from 1.79 million to 5.55 million litres.

The market share for non-alcoholic

beer soared by 275% during this time, from 0.4% to 1.5% and the industry anticipates that non-alcoholic beer will soar in popularity this year and beyond as Irish consumers seek more balance in their drinking and avail of the growing range of alternatives now available.

Cormac Healy, director of Drinks Ireland said: “We’re seeing that consumers in Ireland are seeking more balance when it comes to their drinking which is positive. Revenue data also shows that overall alcohol consumption continues to fall in Ireland, down by around 33% in 20 years. We see research that young people in particular are cutting back and making changes. Drinks producers across the country are responding to growing consumer demand, through innovation and creating these great tasting alternatives.”

According to IWSR’s 2022 Global study, the alcoholic drinks market grew by just 2.2%.

The same study also suggests that global no/low alcohol sales rose to $9.9 billion in 2021. And a study conducted by KAM Media suggests 55% of people intend to reduce their alcohol consumption over the next 12 months, offering a vast new market for low/no drinks brands to thrive. With non-alcoholic beers now making up 2% of the Irish long alcoholic drinks market, watch this space!

Zero explanation needed

Non-alcoholic beers now make up 2% of the Irish long alcoholic drinks market and continues to see growth with consumers looking for more 0.0% options that don’t compromise on taste. Consumers are more considerate on nights out and non-alcoholic drinking occasions have evolved in a move from moderation to liberation.

Heineken® 0.0 is the market leader with 49% share of the market within the on-trade

Heineken® 0.0 is the market leader with 49% share of the market within the on-trade. It is a premium choice for consumers that offers the same taste as Heineken®, Ireland’s no.1 lager, but with 0.0% alcohol.

Research shows that over half of Irish people feel an increased sense of pressure to drink alcohol over Christmas, and 40% of surveyed admitted to giving a false reason as to why they’re not drinking at social events. Heineken® 0.0 helps consumers

Time for that not-so-sneaky pint.

Zero explanation needed

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socialise on their own terms – with Zero explanation needed.

Heineken’s master brewers spent years exploring, brewing, and tasting before they finally created a recipe that deserves the Heineken® mark.

The result, a perfectly balanced taste with a refreshing, soft malty body. Heineken ® 0.0% is widely available on counter from 20L kegs and our Heineken ® 0.0% blade, re-enforcing its leadership position in the zero-alcohol category. This gives confidence to consumers that when they choose to moderate their consumption, they’ve always a choice to do so with Heineken ® 0.0%. *Research by MCCP 2022

Punked up flavour No-alcohol just got punked up. And Punk AF lives up to its billing, with all the flavour but none of the alcohol.

Brewed with eight different hops from North America, New Zealand and Europe: juicy tropical fruit mixes it up with grassy and pine notes, for a beer

BrewDog is on a mission to prove that alcohol-free does not equate to taste-free

that’s all flavour, no alcohol. All sitting on a solid malt bassline. The bitter finish belies its ABV, rolling in at 35 IBUs to provide the perfect retort to those who push alcohol-free beer devoid of character. BrewDog is on a mission to prove that alcohol-free does not equate to taste-free. And now the brand has delivered a new alternative to the mainstream. A beer for those seeking a point of difference at 0.5% ABV that brings all the attitude of the flagship, Punk IPA. Punk IPA was the beer that kick-started the craft beer revolution and Punk AF is the next step in the brand’s desire to brew beer for every taste, for every occasion.

BrewDog is distributed by Barry & Fitzwilliam.

November/December 2023 | DRINKS INDUSTRY IRELAND

US style craft beer

Athletic Brewing was founded in 2017 by Bill Shufelt and John Walker.

It is America’s leading producer of alcohol-free craft beer and launched in the EU in 2022. Athletic has won dozens of prestigious brewing awards.

In 2023, Athletic was ranked as the 4th fastest-growing company in the Americas by Financial Times. Athletic was also ranked as the fastest-growing US beverage manufacturer by Inc. Magazine in 2022, and named one of Time’s 100 Most Influential Companies.

Athletic operates two custom breweries in the US and its ‘Two For The Trails’ initiative donates up to $2 million annually to protecting and restoring outdoor spaces across the globe.

Athletic Brewing is proudly a Certified B Corporation™. Its fullflavoured alcohol-free craft brews are made in the USA and are available for purchase in Ireland exclusively from Grand Cru Beers Follow Athletic Brewing on Instagram: @athleticbrewingeu

Irish actress, Amy Huberman has become Tanqueray 0.0% brand ambassador

With an extensive collection of awardwinning premium spirits products, the brand’s craftmanship and premium credentials is a go-to choice for consumers who are seeking to No compromise elevate an occasion and not compromise on quality.

This Christmas, Gordon’s 0.0% Capturing the growing trends lets you to do it all without having in the alcohol-free category, to compromise! People want to Tanqueray 0.0% launched be able to do it all, see their in Ireland this year and mates, go out to the parties announced Irish actress, and events while still being Amy Huberman as brand able to get up and go to the ambassador. gym or work the next day.

Tanqueray 0.0% brings an Therefore, Gordon’s 0.0% exciting new addition to the can help you balance all life’s market allowing consumers to commitments without having discover the same quality taste to compromise. Your chances as a definitive Tanqueray G&T, of missing out are zero with without comprising and the Gordon’s 0.0%. alcohol.

Gordon’s 0.0 alcohol-free Ireland is the number one has the same iconic flavour fastest growing alcohol-free as of the original Gordon’s market globally (KAM Media London Dry Gin, with a June 2022), with eight out smooth texture, and a complex With only six calories per of ten Irish adults say it flavour profile featuring bold would be helpful to have juniper notes and a subtle hint 50ml serving and sugar-free, an alcohol-free alternative of citrus. With only six calories Gordons Zero 0.0 readily available for social per 50ml serving and sugaris significantly occasions and 78% likely to free, it is significantly lighter lighter than a traditional gin try an alcohol-free alternative than a traditional gin. of a brand they know and Gordon’s 0.0 alcohol-free love (Diageo Pulse Survey, October). is available in all major retailers, The alcohol-free gin has been crafted wholesalers, and pubs nationwide. and perfectly balanced using the same Bartenders’ choice distinct blend of four quality botanicals used in the making of Tanqueray Spanning a legacy of nearly two London Dry gin, resulting in a citrus centuries, Tanqueray is one of the and juniper led profile, with a delicate most iconic spirit brands and the botanical complexity. Tanqueray’s bartender´s choice for the perfect four quality botanicals (piney juniper, G&T and fabulous gin-based cocktails.

DRINKS INDUSTRY IRELAND | November/December 2023

peppery coriander, aromatic angelica and sweet liquorice) are individually immersed in water, heated, and then distilled to give a complex, delicious flavour, yet zero-alcohol.

Tanqueray 0.0% makes the most refreshing non-alcoholic G&T’s and cocktails for celebrating this Christmas.

Available in retailers and selected ontrade locations nationwide. Visit www. tanqueray.com

Changing the way the world drinks Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic Spirits is a range of 18 alcohol-free classic spirits, eight ready to drink cocktails and a non-alcoholic sparkling wine created using a unique understanding of food science and flavour architecture.

Founded in 2019 by entrepreneurs Mark Livings and Carl Hartmann, the range is the world’s most comprehensive and awarded solution for mindful drinking, equivalent to the most popular spirits in a non-alcoholic format – each as close to the original premium volume spirit as possible.

Lyre’s portfolio of premium nonalcoholic spirits is capable of crafting 90% of the world’s best-selling cocktails. A frictionless swap of a Lyre’s non-alcoholic spirit for the original alcoholic ingredient delivers all the benefits of a premium sophisticated noalcohol drink without any compromise.

Lyre’s currently sells one bottle every 30 seconds in over 60 countries across multiple channels, including direct-toconsumer, and in leading restaurants, bars, hotels, retailers, and airlines. All products are vegan, and packaging is 100% recyclable. Lyre’s was created to change the way the world drinks.

The refreshing Italian taste Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% is one of the leading Super Premium nonalcoholic beers in Ireland and caters to the growing consumer demand for premium, great tasting non-alcoholic options when they are choosing to moderate. Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% aims to serve occasions and social moments where beer lovers are seeking a superior tasting alcohol-free beer with 0.0% alcohol.

Within a growing non-alcoholic beer category, Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% is growing exponentially in 2023, with sales out growing +38%** in 2023 year to date. Peroni Nastro Azzurro has a strong presence in the Super Premium Beer Category with 93% of customers

N O AND LOW ALC OHO L

aware of the brand – it is also seen as the most stylish and high quality beer brand in Ireland amongst beer consumers *.

Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% is recognisable as it is crafted with superior Italian ingredients including the signature Nostrano dell‘Isola maize – grown exclusively for Peroni Nastro Azzurro in the north of Italy – to create ‘taste without compromise’, with 0.0% alcohol.

Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% is brewed using new technology which allows the same signature recipe as Peroni Nastro Azzurro to be used, and only after the characteristic aroma and taste profile of Peroni Nastro Azzurro is fully developed, is the alcohol gently removed to deliver the crisp and refreshing Italian taste.

Christmas is a time when consumers and shoppers trade up to high quality brands they love even more than usual, and Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% is the perfect option to cater for this demand, both at home and in the pub. So make sure to stock up to meet consumers demand for super-premium nonalcoholic options this festive season with Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0%!

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tasting adult drinks suitable for every occasion. From enjoying a night out in a pub or restaurant to at-home settings with friends and family, people love the convenience and price-point friendly option of cans.”

Ireland West Distillery has been set up to meet the demand for zero-alcohol drinks choices, and works with master distillers from Germany to create the best-tasting and highest quality, premium pre-mixed zero-alcohol RTD’s in convenient 250ml cans.

For more information contact info@irelandwestdistillery.com

The perfect alternative

With two in five wine drinkers globally reducing their alcohol consumption Santa Rita is continuing to beat the drum for this category with their Santa Rita 120 0% de-alcoholised wine.

Available as a sauvignon blanc or cabernet sauvignon, these are the perfect alternative for those who choose not to drink alcohol. The wine is made using traditional methods with the spinning cone column distillation process used to de-alcoholise the wine after alcoholic fermentation is completed.

The spinning cones gently and repeatedly spin the wine out into thin *Source: Red C Brand Tracker, October 2023 liquid films, simultaneously a cool **Source : Richmond Marketing ROI sales out data, vapour created from the wine itself October 2023 rises from below and carries off all the Shake it up! lightest molecules in the liquid. The process is repeated until the desired Shaker & Co. is an exciting new range level of alcohol is reached. This is a of zero-alcohol RTD’s in 250ml cans.

Produced by Ireland West Distillery, it’s very gentle and sympathetic technique made “the old-school way”, according to which works well in reducing alcoholic content yet retains the delicate founder Eamon McLoughlin. “We distill aromas and flavours of the wines. RRP our zero-alcohol gin using traditional for Santa Rita 0% is £5.00, steam distillation methods available in Tesco in order to extract the best Terry Pennington, export possible botanical flavours. Our commercial director of Santa quality ingredients are sourced Rita Estates says: from the Mediterranean region “Research has shown that and the result is a refreshing regular wine drinkers have G&T with juniper and citrus been decreasing over the last notes, elevated by blending couple of years and consumers with premium tonic water.” are now shopping with mental “The Shaker & Co. G&T is the and physical wellness in mind. first in a range which will see a Current trends are towards Margarita, Mojito and Espresso healthier lifestyles and more Martini released in 2024. moderate alcohol consumption We’re also looking at a few with the younger generations other exciting variations, and looking for low/no alcohol we’ve a lot of interest in our The Shaker & Co. G&T is the alternatives. The addition of our zero-alcohol sparkling rosé Santa Rita 120 ‘0%’ alcohol wines and white wine versions.” said first in a range which will see a is perfect for those looking for McLoughlin.

Margarita, Mojito low and no alcohol alternatives “There’s a clear demand and Espresso for zero-alcohol choices that Martini released without compromising taste, flavour, or enjoyment.” n meet the demand for greatin 2024

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S O F T D R INKS

C

oca Cola’s Designated Driver campaign throws the spotlight on how important soft drinks are as part of the Christmas celebrations. Those kind souls doing the needful for their friends and families also want to enjoy a nice drink and people are willing to pay for high quality soft drinks and mocktails, so your mixer selection is also an important consideration.

The trend towards sugar reduction has not waned, and many of the premium offerings are focusing on better quality, all natural ingredients.

Following the rise in popularity of customers drinking less but more premium drinks, means there has been a need for these brands to broaden their product offering to include healthier choices that improve the consumers’ experience in terms of taste, serve and enjoyment.

According to Brian Greer, marketing manager at Britvic Ireland representing London Essence mixers, “A sign of a sophisticated mixer is when they can be enjoyed in any form – with or without a spirit – to satisfy all drinking occasions and preferences.”

We have chosen a few brands that should certainly be a priority to stock behind your bar or off-licence during the festive season ahead.

Socialising with a twist Founded in 1783 by Jacob Schweppe, Schweppes offers a range of delicately balanced mixers, created with carefully selected ingredients for mixing drinks and quenching

Softly does it

Ensuring your soft drink selection is in order ahead of the Christmas party season is vital in order to cater for nondrinkers and designated drivers. Drinks Industry Ireland looks at the brands that have the most appeal around this time of year

Schweppes is Ireland’s number one mixer

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S O F T D R INKS

November/December 2023 | DRINKS INDUSTRY IRELAND

your thirst. As Ireland’s number one mixer, Schweppes continues to bring bubbles into consumers lives through its unique effervescence and sparkling campaigns. This year has seen some exciting changes for the brand, with the launch of the new ‘Born Social’ marketing campaign. Inviting people to step out of their normal routine instead of playing it safe. Schweppes is bringing back socialising with a twist. With the aim of elevating the socialising experience, turning everlasting bubbles into everlasting experiences.

Coca-Cola helps bring out ‘inner Santa’ to Christmas festivities For Christmas 2023, Coca-Cola will ignite the world with Christmas spirit and invite people to bring more joy and kindness to the world. In recent years, the true meaning of Christmas may have become lost to some, with people turning away from the holiday because of surface expectations and distractions. Sometimes, we all need a reminder of the real significance of Christmas and the magic it brings.

Designated Driver 2023 rewards responsible drivers with free soft drinks or water

Famously, Coca-Cola is the brand that helped create Santa, and this year it plans to expand its meaning to remind everyone of the real magic of Christmas. The Coca-Cola Santa will return to help people discover their inner Santa and remind us that kindness and generosity rules.

At the launch of the Designated Driver initiative at the Radisson Blu St. Helen’s Hotel were Agnese Filippi, country manager, The Coca-Cola Company, Davide Franzetti, general manager, Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland, influencer and broadcast Miriam Mullins and Minister of State at the Department of Transport and at the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, Jack Chambers

Mirium Mullins leads Coca Cola Designated Drive campaign As the Christmas season returns in full swing, Coca-Cola HBC, alongside its partner The Coca-Cola Company, is excited to see the return of its annual Designated Driver initiative.

Designated drivers can avail of the two free soft drinks from the Coca-Cola range by simply making themselves known to bar staff at participating venues. Drinks from the range include Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Fanta, Sprite, Deep RiverRock and Fruice.

For the 19th year in a row, Coca-Cola HBC’s Designated Driver campaign is back to reward those drivers who get loved ones home safely after a night out. With a 26%* increase in deaths on our roads so far this year, planning your route home and potentially being the designated driver has never been more important.

To help get the message out, radio presenter and influencer Miriam Mullins has joined the campaign. With 25% of fatalities on the roads in Ireland aged 24 – 30* between January – August 2023, Mullins hopes to drive the designated driver message home to young people across the island.

According to Mullins she is delighted to be involved with the Coca-Cola campaign. “We all love celebrating with our friends over Christmas and there is no better way to finish a night out than getting that message to say

a friend is home safe. I hope I can do a small part to get the message out to encourage everyone to be a Designated Driver with Coca-Cola this Christmas”.

Also speaking at the launch was Minister of State at the Department of Transport and at the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, Jack Chambers said that a disappointing trend in recent years has seen an increase in road deaths and 2023 has proven to be an incredibly tragic year on our roads. “Unfortunately, 166 deaths have occurred on our roads already this year, an increase from 132 compared to the same period in 2022,” he said.

“We are doing everything we can to reduce road deaths and prevent further tragedies from devastating families, friends and communities.

The Designated Driver campaign encourages safe behaviour, recognises that staying sober should be celebrated and rewards those that get their loved ones home safe.”

Designated Driver runs from 1 December 2023 to 1 January 2023 and participating venues will be feature on www.coca-cola.ie/designated-driver.

Speaking on behalf of Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland, Davide Franzetti, general manager said: “I am incredibly proud that we are marking 19 years of the CocaCola Designated Driver campaign of rewarding safe drivers and of

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I N D U S T RY R EPOR T

partnering with our incredible customers in the hospitality industry who make this initiative possible.”

Designated Driver is supported by the Department of Transport, the Road Safety Authority, An Garda Síochána, Drinkaware, Licenced Vintners Federation, Vintners Federation of Ireland, Irish Hotels Federation and Restaurants Association of Ireland in the Republic of Ireland. *26% increase is based on year to date comparisons available on An Garda Síochana website. **Age demographic is based on the RSA’s Provisional fatality statistics 2021 – 2023 report

Reaching fever pitch In 2013, Fever-Tree was introduced to the Irish market via Richmond Marketing and has since become Ireland’s No 1 premium mixer brand.

Throughout the past 10 years, we’ve seen a market wide shift towards premiumisation with Fever-Tree pioneering the premium mixer category, bringing choice, quality, and excitement back into the previously overlooked space.

Since launching in Ireland, Fever-Tree has continued to diversify its portfolio to meet the ever-evolving needs of the Irish consumer. For the brand, it’s all about putting quality back into both the on trade and at home occasion with one simple premise - If ¾ of your drink is the mixer, mix with the best.

Fever-Tree now offers one of the market’s most expansive mixer ranges encompassing flavoured tonics, ginger ale, ginger beer, soda water, Mexican lime soda water and most recently, pink grapefruit soda, which is made using naturally sourced ingredients to achieve the perfectly balanced, bitter-yet-sweet flavour with fresh and floral notes.

From old school classics to modern

Fever-Tree has pioneered the premium mixer category

November/December 2023 | DRINKS INDUSTRY IRELAND

innovation, curious consumers now have plenty of options in terms of flavour and pairing. However, it is important to offer quality, taste, Taste of London and versatility first and foremost.

A sign of a sophisticated mixer is Following the rise in the popularity when they can be enjoyed in any of consumers drinking less but better quality liquids, and the long-term trend form – with or without a spirit – to satisfy all drinking occasions of lighter, lower calorie and lower and preferences. Therefore, not sugar drinks, means there has been only do we have a fantastic range a need for brands to of tonics and gingers, but also broaden their product a delicious selection of crafted offering to include soda’s includes our Pink Grapefruit ‘healthier choices’ that and Roasted Pineapple which we strengthen consumer’s launched last year and are already overall drinking receiving fantastic reviews from experience in terms bartenders and found on many of taste, serve and drinks lists nationwide. We are also enjoyment. overwhelmed with recent industry At the forefront of recognition that a selection of this evolving category leading bartenders – from the and lighter drinking best bars in the world – made movement is London their selections for the best mixers Essence, producing and voted London Essence as @ elegantly distilled drinksinternational number 2 top mixers designed trending mixer brand and the to accentuate number 4 bestselling mixer brand” the finest spirits.

The London Essence range is Each expression is London Essence designed to bring out the best delicately light at produces in gins, vodkas and dark spirits under 20 kcal per elegantly 100ml, low in sugar at distilled mixers through mixer varieties including Original Indian Tonic Water, under 4g per 100ml designed to Grapefruit & Rosemary Tonic, Blood and is crafted without accentuate the finest spirits Orange & Elderflower Tonic, Pomelo the use of artificial and Pink Peppercorn Tonic Water sweeteners, thanks to as well as a delicate Ginger Ale and its unique use of distilled essences. a Spiced Ginger Beer. Crafted Soda Brian Greer, marketing manager range includes Pink Grapefruit, at Britvic Ireland said: “Following White Peach & Jasmine and Roasted the long-term trend towards sugar Pineapple reduction across the world, and being consumers of premium drinks Grab Christmas by the baubles ourselves, we found that many “premium” options focused on natural Lucozade Energy is ready to refresh credentials but were also very high in the nation in the run up to and sugar. It’s important to deliver light, across Christmas. The brand has natural options that also have great a very significant investment on taste to ensure overall enjoyment.” social throughout the Christmas Through its relationship with the break, including TikTok, Snapchat on-trade and conversations with world and Meta platforms. The campaign, leading bartenders, London Essence “Grab Christmas By The Baubles” also recognised that high sugar mixers is a contextual campaign that will often overpowered the characteristics resonate with consumers and keep of the spirit partner, instead of them refreshed and revitalised as enhancing them. they navigate the fun, trials and With that in mind, the brand took tribulations of the coming Christmas inspiration from its heritage in creating period. Research shows Lucozade is distilled essences which capture the Ireland’s No.2 FMCG brand** which is flavour of the finest ingredients to a testament to the high level of brand deliver aromatic signature notes and investment ensuring Lucozade Energy great taste, with only a dusting of is “Always On” in high-reach media sugar. across the year. n Greer adds: “Thanks to the growing *Source: Ttl Scantrack, Value sales, Impulse mixer market and continual product Energy, YTD 8th Oct 2023

twists, Fever-Tree’s award-winning range of mixers will enhance the taste of any long drink or cocktail.

DRINKS INDUSTRY IRELAND | November/December 2023

C AMPAI GN TRAIL

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Hospitality Expo is back for 2024!

Hospitality Expo 2024 is taking place on 20 and 21 February at the RDS Dublin from 10am to 5pm daily.

The event, which is already 70% booked, will play host to over 250 exhibitors, five feature stages, expert panel discussions, industry speakers, competitions, demonstrations and much more.

Originally billed to take place in the RDS Main Hall only, the team behind Hospitality Expo 2024 have just announced the addition of The Industries Hall to the floorplan. Francis

McGinley, commercial lead on the expo noted; “Demand for stand space has been phenomenal so it made sense to us to expand the floorspace for HEX24. The Industries Hall will serve as a dedicated “Food & Drink” area and will hold our chef demonstration stage, food and beverage stands and a networking area”.

Speaking on the 2024 Hospitality Expo, head of marketing & operations, Deirdre Byrne said, “We have so many fantastic brands and partners on board already and stand bookings are growing daily. Our extensive marketing plans and partnerships with

the very best in the business have already created a bigger show than in previous years.

“The expo will be a fantastic day out for all who are involved in the hospitality industry, not only will we see the latest sustainability solutions and technology on offer but we’ll hear from industry leaders and innovators,” Byrne added.

To keep up to date with the event, follow @hositalityexpo2024 on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. To book a stand at Hospitality Expo 2024, visit www.hospitalityexpo.ie

Ireland’s newest microbrewery Original 7 is Ireland’s newest and most exciting microbrewery. Located on the grounds of the Franciscan Well pub in Cork’s historic quarter, Original 7 was founded by experienced brewer and publican Shane Long. This small but mighty brewery is managed by Steve Guiney with brewing expertise from head brewer Páidí Scully.

Together they are producing a range of easy to drink, artisan beers with big flavours and a respectful nod to their proud brewing heritage.

Shane Long, Steve Guiney and Paidi Scully from Original 7 Beverage Co

The range includes, Revolution IPA, Hazy Pale Ale, Wonderland Red Ale, Original 7 Lager and Weisse.

The brewery has also produced three special brews: Shelby Dascher Spiced IPA, Juice Bomb NEIPA and Knockboy Mountain IPA with two more planned in October.

Shane and Steve’s relationship with a famous whiskey brand has led to plans for an exciting new craft stout product, brewed for six months in whiskey casks. The stout will be a premium limited edition bottled beer and is due to launch in the next few months.

Original 7 is available on draught to pubs in Cork City and directly from the Franciscan Well pub. The business plans to grow its customers with a view to supplying pubs in Cork County, Waterford, Limerick and Kerry and to canned product in 2024.

Harking back to the establishment of the original brewery by Long in 1998, the range stands out at the bar taps with a nostalgic 90’s look and feel. It even has its own 90’s playlist!

For more see www.original7.ie n

Receiving their silver medal award from awards organiser Fallon Moore at the annual Blas na hEireann Awards in Dingle, Co. Kerry on the 29 September are Shane Long, founding director and Steve Guiney, managing director of Original 7 Beverage Company, Cork.

The popular new microbrewery won the coveted award for their Wonderland Red Ale brew currently available in 56 pubs in Cork City. www.original7.ie

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COGNAC

November/December 2023 | DRINKS INDUSTRY IRELAND

The right blend Both opulent and indulgent in equal measures, a bottle of Cognac is probably the perfect gift for any spirits connoisseurs in your life.

Drinks Industry Ireland takes a look at the most iconic Cognac brands on the market

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ognac is a type of brandy, produced by twice distilling wine made from grapes grown in any of the designated growing regions of France. Only about 2% of global Cognac production is consumed in its home market of France. The rest is exported to 160 countries around the world, with it being particularly popular in the Chinese market.

The use of the name Cognac is protected under French law. It is AOC, Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée, and there are three main requirements to satisfy: it must be made with specific grape varieties, it must be twice distilled in copper pot stills and finally, it must be aged in oak barrels for at least two years.

Traditionally thought of as a stuffy drink, Cognac would have been considered a drink for older men but the rise in cocktail culture has changed this immeasurably. Bartenders are now using Cognac in a host of popular drinks like an Old Fashioned and a Side Car cocktail.

Despite the impact of the Covid-19 on global spirits sales, the Cognac sector is preparing for an economic recovery with a gradual recovery in the coming months, according to by the IWSR. Hennessy was the leading brand of Cognac in the world in 2022 at 7.9 million cases sold.

that, one day, their Cognac would have travelled the world over, ignoring borders and challenging traditions? A keeper of tradition and an honourer of heritage, Hennessy is the undisputed drink of choice for crafting the perfect cocktail and basking in the good times this Christmas season.

The classic Hennessy VS Gift Box (RSP €41) is the perfect gift for the Cognac lover in your life. Hennessy Very Special is an intense and lively Cognac with an appearance of a golden hue typical of the V.S style. Full bodied and packed with lively citrus, apple and fresh grape flavours, the aroma is intense and fruity, with notes of oak and grilled almonds.

V.S.O.P is the first Hennessy blend that was created more than 200 years ago when in 1817, Hennessy received a special order to create a specific blend for the future King of England,

George IV. Today, for the first time, the Hennessy V.S.O.P Gift Box (RSP €71) comes with a new design but the same timeless blend - flamboyant mahogany in colour and flavours of juicy fruits, spices, vanilla and mild tobacco.

The gift box, a new eye-catching bold colour inspired by passion and vibrancy with gold and embossed details for a luxurious finish. The bottle comes with a wooden stopper, an elegant natural material to preserve the precious liquid and pay tribute to Hennessy’s craftsmanship, while a new distinctive engraved shield is stylish and modern and pays homage to Hennessy’s history.

Hennessy X.O (RSP €202) remains the original, the emblematic icon of the Hennessy Maison. Deep and powerful, the eaux-de-vie of this Hennessy X.O Cognac are aged in young barrels and marked out by their

A keeper of tradition Could Richard Hennessy and his eldest son James possibly have imagined at the end of the eighteenth century

Hennessy X.O (RSP €202) remains the original, the emblematic icon of the Hennessy Maison

DRINKS INDUSTRY IRELAND | November/December 2023

power and energy, but also by their capacity to achieve a great roundness through time. With a deep and intense amber with glimpses of mahogany, X.O is notably darker than the rest of the collection and has a powerful, albeit soft, tonality, with hints of cocoa and a warm, fruity presence, followed by a tremendous length.

For something extra special, why not share the gift that is the Hennessy X.O X Kim Jones Limited Edition Bottle & Decanter (RSP €200). The prolific creative director and fashion designer joins forces with Hennessy to launch a 2023 limited edition that celebrates the greatness of X.O. It is the first time Hennessy has collaborated with a fashion designer and the collaboration takes inspiration from the rich heritage of Hennessy X.O. while recognising the brand’s undeniable impact on pop culture through artistic partnerships and Jones’ own mark on the fashion industry. Encased in an aluminium second skin, the Hennessy X.O Limited Edition stays true to the iconic shape of Hennessy X.O while evoking a couture silhouette.

Hennessy is available nationwide through grocers and independent off-licences. The Hennessy X.O X Kim Jones Limited Edition is available exclusively from O’Briens since early November. Hennessy is perfect to enjoy neat, over ice or in the incomparable Hennessy Holiday Cocktails.

The Hennessy Ginger Cocktail Hennessy and Ginger is the right drink for any time of the day or evening. The spice of the ginger ale brings out the natural spice of Hennessy V.S. Ingredients: 40 ml Hennessy Very Special 100 ml Ginger Ale Recipe: • Pour the Hennessy Cognac into a balloon glass.

• Add ice cubes to fill the glass.

• Top with ginger ale.

• Garnish with a lime wedge or slices of fresh ginger.

Hennessy V.S.O.P Old Fashioned Cocktail Created in Louisville, Kentucky in 1881, the Old-Fashioned found its spiritual home at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel bar in New York City. Cognac, warm and aromatically spiced, a dash of bitters

C OGN AC

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and sweet syrup all blend perfectly to make up this legendary cocktail.

Ingredients: 50 ml Hennessy V.S.O.P Privilege 15 ml Simple Syrup 2 Angostura bitter dashes 1 orange zest Recipe: • Drop bitters into an Old-Fashioned glass filled with ice cubes.

• Add a splash of water and the syrup.

• Pour in the Hennessy V.S.O.P Privilege slowly.

• Garnish with a twist of orange.

Hennessy X.O Over Ice Ice makes the greatness of Hennessy X.O a never-ending discovery. When ice greets Hennessy X.O, it sets in motion a sensory odyssey. Fingers feel the warm glass cool, ears hear a gentle clinking, eyes witness the ambercoloured Cognac lighten, palates discover an ever-evolving tastes cape. Discover new experiences, new sensations and new occasions through three main drinks: On 3 rocks, On a rock, Over Ice.

Rémy Martin VSOP is composed of eaux-de-vie coming exclusively from the highest-quality vineyards of Cognac, the Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne

An exceptional spirit

Since 1724, the House of Rémy Martin has produced exceptional spirits that consistently appeal to the world’s most discerning connoisseurs. A profound love of the land, a continuity of family ownership and a passionate commitment to excellence have sustained Rémy Martin for nearly three centuries. As a result of its masterful production and generations of tradition in Cognac, today, Rémy Martin produces Cognacs Fine Champagne, including Rémy Martin XO, Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal and Rémy Martin V.S.O. Rémy Martin VSOP is composed of eaux-de-vie coming exclusively from the highest-quality vineyards of Cognac, the Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne. Such eaux-de-vie offer an exceptional ageing potential and are known as Cognac Fine Champagne.

In 1927, Rémy Martin’s cellar master André Renaud created the very first VSOP Fine Champagne—a truly visionary and audacious decision.

This prestigious appellation would be officially recognised 11 years later as an AOC (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée - a specific growing area protected by French law).

Accounting for one in three bottles of VSOP consumed worldwide, Remy Martin is the benchmark for the VSOP category and is blended from spirits aged from 4 to 12 years. This latest version finishes the Cognac in old barrels for a year before bottling. Rémy Martin VSOP embodies the perfect harmony of powerful and elegant aromas. It is the symbol of the Cellar Master’s art of blending. Rémy Martin VSOP is extremely versatile, so you may enjoy it neat, on the rocks, or in cocktails. We recommend drinking Rémy Martin VSOP with ginger ale or as Remy Grand Tonic made by mixing Remy Martin VSOP over ice, topped with tonic and finished with a wedge of fresh lemon. Remy Martin is proudly distributed by Barry & Fitzwilliam n

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November/December 2023 | DRINKS INDUSTRY IRELAND

S O C I A L DIA R Y

Release of Redbreast Tawny Port Cask Edition 28 September held at Dylan Hotel, Dublin 2

Anthony Nolan and Oisin Davis

Byron Kumbula and Siobhan McAuley

Ian Madigan and Mike Ross

Daniella Scully and Kate McCarthy

Edward O Rourke and Sean Munsanje

Emma Power

Emma Waldron and Ros Lipsett Ian and Anna Madigan

Launch of Little Pyg Terrace

12 October held at Little Pyg, Powerscourt Centre, Dublin 2

Avila Lipsett and January Winters

Clarabelle Riordan, Conor and Andrew Sam Kelly and Helen Gregan Galgey

Jack Lowe and Audrey Hamilton

Paul McGlade and Samantha Mumba

Rob Kenny and Holly Carpenter

DRINKS INDUSTRY IRELAND | November/December 2023

SOC I AL DI AR Y

45

Launch of Donal Skehan Home Kitchen cook book and TV show 18 October held at The Sidecar at The Westbury, Dublin 2

Donal Skehan

Sofie Larsson and Donal Skehan

Brian Dowling and Arthur Gourounlian

David Whelan and Ruth Devine

Joe Conlan

Maia Dunphy

Leighann Gibbons

Baírbre Power

Conrad Jones and Ellen Kavanagh

Michele McGrath

Yomiko Chen

Kathryn Thomas

Launch of the College Green Dublin Hotel Autograph Collection 20 October held at College Green Dublin Hotel, Dublin 2

Aidan Gleeson and Jess O’Sullivan

Bryan Walsh, Louise David Mitchell, Dee Evan and Sarah Spotten and Billy O’Keeffe Woods and Clint Singer Drieberg

Greg Martin and Niamh Broderick

Joanne Dillon and Jennifer Zamparelli

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C L O S I N G TIM E

November/December 2023 | DRINKS INDUSTRY IRELAND

WITH PAT NOLAN

Dewars logic

“Life may be difficult but it’s the only thing worth living” is a worthy saying from the Book of Dewar, as is “Never invest in a going concern until you know which way it’s going”.

Around the turn of this Millennium, Dewars Whisky produced a little book entitled The Wit & Wisdom of Tommy Dewar which comprised a selection from various speeches made by the Scotch whisky baron Sir Thomas R Dewar who was born in 1864 and died in 1930.

“Imagine you’re in your twenties” runs the forward to the booklet, “your father has just died and you’ve been sent to London to make vital sales for the family business.

You have two ‘leads’ – one turns out to be bankrupt and the other is dead. What do you do?”

According to Dewars Whisky, the

enterprising and resourceful Thomas Dewar relied on his native wit and considerable charm which, over the years, brought him success in both business and politics. As he said himself, “There’s no fun like work”.

The Wit & Wisdom of Tommy Dewar contains many of his best aphorisms entirely relevant to the drinks industry such as “We should not say ‘how’s business’, but we should say ‘where’s business’” and even more pertinently, “We have a great regard for old age only when it is bottled”.

Or how about, “When a man says his word is as good as his bond, get the bond”.

Particularly relevant to today’s hectic industry and an appropriate call-out for this magazine’s sales department, “If you do not advertise, you fossilise”.

Chair for one…

Age before beauty

This summer was a mostly wet one for tourism and the licensed trade would do a lot to keep up the spirits of our tourists - but it has its limits. We understand that one particularly selfish tourist was not best pleased at having to wait for a table in order to partake of some pub grub in a busy County Louth lounge late this summer.

Being well back in the queue didn’t stop him from espying a small table for two becoming vacant deep in the heart of the hostelry and he simply jumped the queue to take a seat at the table.

His move was spotted by the waitress. But he refused all requests to vacate the table for more worthy couples who’d been before him the queue.

Being of a stubborn suit he resolutely sat through a long period during which his oft repeated food order was steadfastly ignored by the waiting staff.

Eventually, being of the same stubborn suit herself, the head waitress had had enough of him.

She and an assistant approached his table and removed both the table and the spare chair leaving him just sitting on his own in the middle of the room.

Sometimes spotting young men and women purchasing underage can be a trying task for the publican who has to make a split-second decision followed by the awkward calling-out of the miscreant deemed guilty. However it was certainly not a problem for one waitress regarding a young chap whose pluck we can only greatly admire.

Of little more than 11 summers, the young hopeful strode purposefully into a

The Wit & Wisdom of Tommy Dewar contains many of his best aphorisms entirely relevant to the drinks industry

tavern in West Cork – judging by his nylon shorts and GAA top he was obviously on holiday and had escaped his parents for a while - and valiantly tried to get a drink.

“Bring me a whiskey” he ordered of the waitress who promptly called him out on his non-advanced years by asking, “Do you want to get me into trouble?”.

Without missing a beat young Lochinvar replied, “Maybe later, but get me that whiskey first!”.

Original taste - as one pretends to read one’s Having read that the 200th newspaper.

Anniversary of Dublin City Sitting not far away, two Centre’s Palace Bar - one businessmen were quietly of the capital’s last original discussing the perils of Victorian pubs – was being teaching their offspring the art celebrated this year with a of safe motoring. special-edition Guinness porter One explained to the other on draught made from a recipe that his own 18 year-old had dating back to 1823, we had just passed his test and had to chance in for a taster one taken out his car for the first afternoon recently. We weren’t time for a sober evening with disappointed. friends. On returning home, The Palace on the edge of Dublin City Centre’s he’d come into his father in Temple Bar is one of those in Palace Bar - one the TV room and told him, which one could easily relax of the capital’s last “Dad, I’ve good news and bad down for the afternoon - and original Victorian pubs – celebrated its news….” we were sorely tempted. bi-centenary this year.

-- “Give me the good news It oozes old world charm.

Furthermore, gaining a seat first” father suggested of son at the bar enables one to tune into nearby with steadily growing foreboding. conversations – seldom a dull undertaking -- “The airbags work amazingly well….” n

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