The inaugural Irish Drinks Open Forum ‘’Irish Spirits Renaissance| Let’s Reset’’, will be hosted by BIA Innovator Campus in Athenry this week.
The forum, taking place this Thursday, September 14, serves as a platform for Ireland’s fast growing spirits and whiskey sector, agri-producers, and start-ups to come together and exchange knowledge, ideas and experiences.
It provides an opportunity for industry players to discuss current best practices and to strategically position themselves to take advantage in the best and sustainable way, of the rising global demand for Irish spirits and whiskey.
Seventeen speakers and experts from Ireland’s all-island industry across a wide cross-section of spirits producers and brands, suppliers and agencies, will share their insights and views to a group of trade delegates visiting the Campus for the Forum.
Commenting on the initiative, Mr Peter Feeney, Chair of BIA, said, “BIA Innovator Campus is delighted to host the inaugural Irish Drinks Open Forum here in Athenry”.
“Bringing together Ireland’s drinks industry innovators, thought leaders and visionaries will encourage creativity, knowledge exchange and sustainable enterprise development across the Irish spirit and whiskey sector.”
The past 25 years has seen an enormous spirits and whiskey renaissance on the Island of Ireland as it re-emerges as one of the world’s leading producers in the global spirits category.
From the Island having just two distilleries in the 1980’s, the expansion has quickly grown to the present-day situation of Ireland now being home to over 40 distilleries distilling over 110 million LPA (litres pure alcohol) of whiskey spirit every year.
Global sales having reached 15.2 million cases – over 180 million bottles – in 2022, whilst the value of spirit exports from Ireland soared by 17.3% to almost €1.5bn in the same year.
The all-island export value of Irish whiskey exceeded one billion euro for the first time, confirming the importance of the industry to the country’s shared economy, North and South.
Every year, Irish malt, barley and other grains are produced on the island in substantial volumes.
The Irish Drinks Open Forum presents an opportunity for the spirits industry players in this emerging fast-paced renaissance environment to consider current best practices and to optimally position the industry to capitalise on the rising global demand for its wares.
And the theme of resetting, means to secure a solid long-term and sustainable growth for Ireland – its agricultural and distilling practitioners, its drinks tourism providers, its land, its produce, its people and its skills base.
Delegates from the industry North and South, will join speakers such as James Doherty (Sliabh Liag Distillers & Chair of the Irish Whiskey Association), John Teeling (Great Northern Distillery), Lora Hemy (Roe & Co. Distillery/Diageo), Simon Fay (Irish Distillers/Pernod Ricard), as well as representatives from a wide cross-section of spirits producers and brands, suppliers and agencies who include Teagasc and Bord Bia.
Minister of State Martin Heydon said, “We have a unique food and drink story to tell in Ireland. This initiative sits perfectly with our 10-year roadmap for the agriculture sector Food Vision 2030, by highlighting the natural fit of agri-food and local tourism.”
“This forum will offer a unique insight into the development of a sustainable agri-food enterprise model in distilling using the knowledge and know-how from leaders in the industry.”
After the forum, delegates will have the opportunity to visit the newly opened Ahascragh Distillery to view their eco-distillery set up.
