NI distillery begins whiskey production

Rademon Estate Distillery, which claims to be Northern Ireland’s first and only craft spirits producer, has announced plans to develop a new Irish whiskey.

Fiona and David Boyd-Armstrong, co-founders of the Rademon Estate Distillery (Photo: Rademon Estate)

The first casks of the new whiskey were sealed this summer and 100 barrels are expected to be produced in the first year, with the first samples expected to be ready in August 2018.

It follows a £1.5 million investment in the expansion of the distillery, part of the £4m being spent on growing the business over the next three years, which the company says will create six new jobs.

The distillery is working to up its total spirits production capacity to 35,000 litres of pure alcohol per year, as well as creating a visitor centre.

Rademon, based in County Down, already produces Shortcross Gin, which it says is the first and only craft gin to be produced in Northern Ireland.

Founded in 2012 by Fiona and David Boyd-Armstrong, Rademon Estate Distillery is located at the couple’s family estate just outside the town of Downpatrick.

Mrs Boyd-Armstrong is the daughter of Frank Boyd, a property developer and one of Northern Ireland’s richest men.

Commenting on the new whiskey, she said that it represents a “grain to glass” approach to distilling as no third-party spirt being used in its production.

“The whiskey will be matured in a variety of casks, which the distillery hope will allow new and innovative flavours and aromas to be created and water from the estate’s own well will be used,” she revealed.

David Boyd-Armstrong, who is in charge of distilling and operations at Rademon, said that the style of whiskey being produced is “a personal favourite due to the complex flavour profile and I feel it is under represented in the market.”